Has anyone looked at the bracket? Normally a tournament's opening game is at the top of the bracket and it works its way down. Not at this year's state baseball tournament. Have a look:

 

1 - Apollo vs. CAL 12:30 - Thursday

2 - Christian County vs. PRP 8:30 - Thursday

3 - Lawrence County vs. Greenup County 10:00am - Thursday

4 - Lexington Catholic vs. Harrison County 6:00 - Thursday

 

Semifinals and finals appear to be at normal times.

 

My question is this...did the KHSAA alter the game times so that the 11th Region winner (presumably a Lexington school) and the 6th Region winner (presumably Pleasure Ridge Park) would both be playing in the evening, guaranteeing a very big crowd ($$$) Thursday night?

 

I'm not suggesting its wrong...it makes good financial sense. It just seems like an odd plan, contrary to how they schedule the Sweet Sixteen basketball tournament.

I'd say you are onto something...

Has anyone looked at the bracket? Normally a tournament's opening game is at the top of the bracket and it works its way down. Not at this year's state baseball tournament. Have a look:

 

1 - Apollo vs. CAL 12:30 - Thursday

2 - Christian County vs. PRP 8:30 - Thursday

3 - Lawrence County vs. Greenup County 10:00am - Thursday

4 - Lexington Catholic vs. Harrison County 6:00 - Thursday

 

Semifinals and finals appear to be at normal times.

 

My question is this...did the KHSAA alter the game times so that the 11th Region winner (presumably a Lexington school) and the 6th Region winner (presumably Pleasure Ridge Park) would both be playing in the evening, guaranteeing a very big crowd ($$$) Thursday night?

 

I'm not suggesting its wrong...it makes good financial sense. It just seems like an odd plan, contrary to how they schedule the Sweet Sixteen basketball tournament.

 

I think its more about crossing up the opponents for the next round so that more people come to the opposite session thus increasing the crowd. Example Harrison and Lex Cath will be there checking out Greenup and Lawrence on Thursday morning and the winner of Greenup and Lawrence will come back and watch Harrison and Lex Cath. If they played the winner of the next game the crowd might be smaller. That is just what I thought when I saw the pairings.

The set-up is odd, but another problem I see is that it takes way too long to get the high school baseball season over with. I mean, the middle of June is too long. Why do they have to wait one week after the semi-state tournament games for the teams to begin the games at Applebees?

First year for this set-up (hopefully last) a morning session attendence of 2000 was announced looked more like 200. Evening session announced attendence was 5200 new tourny record. Some of this had to do with match-ups.

 

Understand why they tried this set-up as for years people have complained it creates an unfair advantage for those that played on wed. (pitchers gaining an extra day of rest).

 

Gotta believe thrusday morning session will always be a bust regardless of who plays. 90 plus degree heat people working and such. But if they can sell enough of those $8 soft drinks maybe they can overcome the gate.

 

Talked with an D-1 college coach that drove 2 hours and stayed all day he was charged the same $3 to park and $10 to get in that everybody else was. Thought that was a little over the top, but he was from out of state so maybe it will help keep kids in state.

First year for this set-up (hopefully last) a morning session attendence of 2000 was announced looked more like 200. Evening session announced attendence was 5200 new tourny record. Some of this had to do with match-ups..

 

 

Of those 5200 at least 3000 - 3500 must have been Harrison County fans. I'm sure Allen Stein was hoping the Thorobreds would advance in order to keep the stands full.

First year for this set-up (hopefully last) a morning session attendence of 2000 was announced looked more like 200. Evening session announced attendence was 5200 new tourny record. Some of this had to do with match-ups.

 

If you add it all up 2000 was probably right, considering basically all of the Greenup and Lawrence County fans left after their game. CAL had a nice crowd, but it was very spread out. Some stayed behind the dugout (in the sun), some move up from the dugout (under the awning) and some just went to the first base side (shade). Apollo had a very small crowd, but that's reasonable considering the long trip and start time. I'd expect a bigger crowd from Apollo tonight.

Of those 5200 at least 3000 - 3500 must have been Harrison County fans. I'm sure Allen Stein was hoping the Thorobreds would advance in order to keep the stands full.

 

No doubt, you guys doooo travel well, I sat in the middle of that section during the game(thats where the shade was:D) The highlight of my day was when Mironde(sp) threw that 90plus fastball that staggered the homeplate umpire when it hit his facemask, some little kid looked to be about 6yrs. old wearing a maroon cap with HC and a BOYS OF SUMMER baseball camp T-shirt stood up and screamed (GET TOUGH RUB SOME DIRT ON IT) truely a classic.:thumb:

Of those 5200 at least 3000 - 3500 must have been Harrison County fans. I'm sure Allen Stein was hoping the Thorobreds would advance in order to keep the stands full.

Half of the Lexington Catholic fans were on that side. 1st base side was all hot sun, and the only concessions stand open was on the 3rd base side--horrible decision by whomever made it. Took me a full two innings to get through the line.

Half of the Lexington Catholic fans were on that side. 1st base side was all hot sun, and the only concessions stand open was on the 3rd base side--horrible decision by whomever made it. Took me a full two innings to get through the line.

 

Okay so maybe another 150 of the people were Lex Cath fans. The large majoority of the crowd was Harrison County. I think that the people who had no interest in the game were pulling for the young Thorobreds by the end of the game as well.