Ken Wilfong's curve and then his fast ball was simply overpowering. I believe his ERA during his junior/senior year were off the charts. Jim Minshall from NewCath may have been the most intimidating. 6'-5" in 1966 with a mid 90 fast ball.

John Smith from Middlesboro was the toughest I faced. After that, I had trouble with another Middlesboro guy, a lefty and I think his name was Hood (early 90's) and Brian Schubert from Cumberland.

Back in the late '80's Lafayette had a kid named Jed Durough. Tough, tough, tough. Tates Creek had Kevin Jarvis, who pitched for the Reds, and he got no pub b.c of Durough at Lafayette. Don Chandler threw this kid's arm way too much. We faced Jarvis, Lorne Frazier (Rowan Co, UK), PRP, and Harrison twice and no one, NO ONE, threw like Durough. High 80's-low 90's, great slider, and the scouts at the game when we asked if he could throw like this for seven said, "He can throw like this for 20 innings boys." Think he couldn't pass a class though, or at least some of his old teammates told me that in college. GREAT high school pitcher though. I know Lafayette won a state riding his arm, maybe two. Anyone else remember any of these kids?

Didn't think anybody around here would remember the only guy I ever faced who threw nothing but sliders!!! Does he still play around Louisville at Derby City?

 

 

 

J.D. Littrell-Oldham Co.(1977)

I think he made it to at least AA in Dodgers organization. Went 2-3 with a walk and a run batted in.

Back in the late '80's Lafayette had a kid named Jed Durough. Tough, tough, tough. Tates Creek had Kevin Jarvis, who pitched for the Reds, and he got no pub b.c of Durough at Lafayette. Don Chandler threw this kid's arm way too much. We faced Jarvis, Lorne Frazier (Rowan Co, UK), PRP, and Harrison twice and no one, NO ONE, threw like Durough. High 80's-low 90's, great slider, and the scouts at the game when we asked if he could throw like this for seven said, "He can throw like this for 20 innings boys." Think he couldn't pass a class though, or at least some of his old teammates told me that in college. GREAT high school pitcher though. I know Lafayette won a state riding his arm, maybe two. Anyone else remember any of these kids?

I remember Durough. Very tough. If I'm correct, I saw Chris Snopek hit a BOMB off Durough at Somerset's field (don't remember why they were playing there), but I think it was the only run Harrison scored.

 

Is Jed an insurance salesman now?

BEST GAME - I ever saw pitched was Ownesboro Apollo vs Henderson County - 1975 I think - Regional Tournament at MAdisonville - game went either 14 or 17 innings - my memory is foggy - and Henderson won 2-1

 

David Zoerner pitched for Apollo and John "Wolf" Lindsey pitched for Henderson - there were no silly pitching limitations then - I believe both pitchers pitched at least 14 - but could be wrong

Ive seen Robbie Ross pitch and he was the best. Ive stood in wile he has thrown a couple pitches also!

I remember Durough. Very tough. If I'm correct, I saw Chris Snopek hit a BOMB off Durough at Somerset's field (don't remember why they were playing there), but I think it was the only run Harrison scored.

 

Is Jed an insurance salesman now?

 

I think that BOMB is still going! Of course Snopek hit a lot of BOMBS in his day.

I believe that was a 1989 Sectional tournament game.

Let me rephrase then, All went on to play professional baseball.

 

Round Pick

1994 19 519 Paul Morse P Minnesota Twins

1994 Undrafted(i believe)Troy Trumbo P Colorado Rockies

1998 1 7 Austin Kearns OF Cincinnati Reds (P in HS though)

2001 Undrafted Jon Hooker P Chicago White Sox

2002 1 24 Joe Blanton P Oakland Athletics

2003 16 484 Heath Castle P New York Yankees

2004 1 6 Jeremy Sowers P Cleveland Indians

 

Trumbo died of an unknown infection following winter ball, never actually got to play. Hatz may be able to shine some more light on this than I can.

 

John Rauch is the closer for the Washington Nationals now. He is from Oldham Co and pitched at Morehead.

Brandon Webb played at Ashland and is arguably the best pitcher in the majors today.

Those are a couple of more names.

Morgan Cyrus was one of the two best coach Adkins ever coached at Paintsville (he was from Lawrence Co). He had the best curve I've faced.

Donnie Payne pitched at Ill and was from Ashland. I'd say he threw the hardest (90's) that I faced or Brian Fletcher from Raceland.

Brad Stultz kept us from going to state for a 3rd straight year growing up. He also no hit us my Soph year.

Now that's a name that everyone should know: Chris Snopek. What a player, but I believe the year he hit that would have had to have been 1988 when Harrison won the state b.c I believe Lafayette and Jed won it in '89, or am I totally backward and have the years reversed. Thanks for reeling in the years with me though. Jed was the toughest we faced, and funny thing was Kevin Jarvis of the Reds wasn't that great in high school. Guess Rauch wasn't either or he wouldn't have been at Morehead. What about the kid from Oldham last year?

Now that's a name that everyone should know: Chris Snopek. What a player, but I believe the year he hit that would have had to have been 1988 when Harrison won the state b.c I believe Lafayette and Jed won it in '89, or am I totally backward and have the years reversed. Thanks for reeling in the years with me though. Jed was the toughest we faced, and funny thing was Kevin Jarvis of the Reds wasn't that great in high school. Guess Rauch wasn't either or he wouldn't have been at Morehead. What about the kid from Oldham last year?

 

Harrison Co. did not win the state in 88. Their only 3 championships came in 93, 97, 98.

Chris by the way is doing very well. He is currently living in Jackson, MS running something called the Performance Sports Academy.

http://www.performancesportsacademy.com/

Ive seen Robbie Ross pitch and he was the best. Ive stood in wile he has thrown a couple pitches also!

 

I seen him pitch the 7th inning of a game this year and he was low to mid 90,s every pitch of his 3 strike outs. Hardest thrower I have ever seen by far.

I seen him pitch the 7th inning of a game this year and he was low to mid 90,s every pitch of his 3 strike outs. Hardest thrower I have ever seen by far.

 

He hasn't signed a pro contract yet , right? I heard he was asking for some serious bonus money .

 

I would not be disappointed to see him in the blue and white in Lexington next spring.

He hasn't signed a pro contract yet , right? I heard he was asking for some serious bonus money .

 

I would not be disappointed to see him in the blue and white in Lexington next spring.

 

I would too, however being selected that high will just about guarantee that he will sign eventually. I have to think he is getting some bad advice from someone if he hasnt signed yet. He would absolutely dominate in college ball from his freshman year on.

Found this online about Lafayette and Jed Dorough. When you see who he outpitched you should know this kid was MLB quality. See if you can figure out why we have pitching limits now, and why he didn't last. This was his Jr. year and he did the same thing his Sr. year. Think he PITCHED EVERY GAME FOR LAFAYETTE but the district finals. Don Chandler had his stud and rode him.

"Lafayette beats St. Xavier 5-2 in the state baseball semifinals. Junior lefthander Jed Dorough is the winning pitcher. He has 12 strikeouts and scatters six hits in improving his record to 11-0. St. X senior ace Paul Byrd gives up five hits and strikes out 11 in taking the loss. Lafayette beats Boyd County 12-1 in the finals. Dorough, who went seven innings only 15 hours earlier, starts and goes five innings before leaving with the Generals leading 9-0. Shawn Wiglesworth smacks a grand slam, Kevin Goins has a two-run homer and Todd Baxter has a solo shot to fuel the championship game rout."

Jed was without a doubt the most dominant pitcher I've ever seen on the high school level. Just thought I'd share. Jed and Lafayette won the state in '89 too. Thanks for the info on Snopek. Best all-around player I ever played against or with. Mike Harris, Tates Creek/UK, was a better hitter. Took our pitcher's glove off his hand with a line drive. CRAZY!!