Per Les at the Time Tribune

 

http://www.thetimestribune.com/sportseditorials/local_story_085093313.html?keyword=topstory

1. South: But only because of experience

2. North: Still think they will miss Sears when it comes crunch time.

 

(The gap is closing, but is still pretty wide)

 

3. Corbin: Disagree with Hart building the program, like him or not, Gary Akins built it. Before him, it was a lower tier program, don't think they even had their own field. Hart has done good with it, but give credit where credit is due. SS that replaced Rogers was very impressive against M'boro.

4. Middlesboro: Yea their defense struggled against Corbin, Powers did leave the ball up in the zone some, but until HC or BC beats them in district, they deserve the 4 spot.

5. Harlan County: Les didn't give them any love on another post, but combining the Cumberland team led by Day and Pennington with the two young kids from Evarts(yea, Evarts), they will challenge for 3rd in the region.

 

The best of the rest: Williamsburg (just to schedule North says something about Ellis), Clay(lack of a overpowering pitcher may hurt them in the long run), Bell(still say they're too young, Campbell did luck into a great job though, ton of young talent), in no particular order. Knox Central may surprise some people. Maybe...

1. South: But only because of experience

2. North: Still think they will miss Sears when it comes crunch time.

 

(The gap is closing, but is still pretty wide)

 

3. Corbin: Disagree with Hart building the program, like him or not, Gary Akins built it. Before him, it was a lower tier program, don't think they even had their own field. Hart has done good with it, but give credit where credit is due. SS that replaced Rogers was very impressive against M'boro.

4. Middlesboro: Yea their defense struggled against Corbin, Powers did leave the ball up in the zone some, but until HC or BC beats them in district, they deserve the 4 spot.

5. Harlan County: Les didn't give them any love on another post, but combining the Cumberland team led by Day and Pennington with the two young kids from Evarts(yea, Evarts), they will challenge for 3rd in the region.

 

The best of the rest: Williamsburg (just to schedule North says something about Ellis), Clay(lack of a overpowering pitcher may hurt them in the long run), Bell(still say they're too young, Campbell did luck into a great job though, ton of young talent), in no particular order. Knox Central may surprise some people. Maybe...

 

I agree that North will miss Sears who could completely shut many teams down and often, didn't need many runs to get the win. They will also miss her bat as well. But this team has something different from last year's team. Much more speed. They should score more runs than last season, which will help Taylor (who was on the State All Tourney team as a sophomore last season) ease into her role as the #1 pitcher. Plus the majority of the best hitters from last season are back. The kids are totally bought into what Weaver wants them to do. They hit Kosmecki and put 8 runs on the board on Thursday, ... spoke with Weaver shortly this evening and he was pleased with how his young team responded to a very solid pitcher who was bringing it, when I asked him how they did, his response was:

..."We executed short game push and sac bunts, had 4 stolen bases to move runners up, and 3 big timely hits to drive in 6 of the runs with RISP. We only struck out 6 times which I thought was good against her."

 

South and North will battle for the region again this year. And I think the games will be closer than the last 3 games which were lopsided affairs. But by the time the season ends, ... I think this North team will be very deserving of a top 5 ranking. I think #2 in the state right now may be a little premature. I do think that South Laurel has IMHO the best hitter in the state in Emily Gaines. She is one of the best hitters I have seen and if she stays healthy, watch out! But losing Wombles and Sizemore from last year's team will hurt the Cardinals a little bit similar to what North lost from last year.