Baseball will begin March 23rd. Let's use this thread to discuss the 1st Region, Teams, Players to watch, Schedules, Sr college commits and the season.

 

Ballard Memorial

Calloway County

Carlisle County

Christian Fellowship

Community Christian (Paducah)

Fulton City

Fulton County

Graves County

Heath

Hickman County

Lone Oak

Marshall County

Mayfield

Murray

Paducah Tilghman

Reidland

St. Mary

Three of the region's top six teams reside in the same district with Marshall, Calloway and Murray. Ballard can be a force, but losing Shelley hurt them. Lone Oak should also be a factor. Graves and a surprise in Reidland should also figure in the mix. Pretty much the same story year in and out, except Heath's run is over, for sure. Marshall is the clear early favorite.

Marshall and Ballard would have been the two favorites, but Ballard lefty Caleb Shelley, who shut out the Marshals in the regional semifinals last year, had Tommy John surgery in December and won't pitch again until late summer at the earliest. Reports are that Shelley will be able play 1B, DH and swing the bat.

 

Shelley, a junior, might have been the region's top pitcher this spring. With him, Ballard might have been able to make a run in the All A Classic state tournament.

 

That makes Marshall the definite favorite. Also in the mix: as diamondog said ... Calloway County, Lone Oak and Murray, maybe Graves County, and I wouldn't count Heath out either, because they have some decent talent in the junior class.