If Covington Catholic would win the state title, Maile would hands down be MR. Baseball. I just wonder that the team that wins state could put a player on that time in prime position to be Mr. Baseball.

Luke Maile CovCath, University of Kentucky. Two time POY of the Ninth Region. Luke now holds or soon will hold literally every single offensive record there is to hold at CovCath in his four years starting for Coach Krumps. He can do it all from hitting for average, power, scoring runs or knocking them in and there is no better catcher in Kentucky period. If you have seen this young man play, then you understand how good he is.

 

With all due respect to Maile, John Fidanza is the best defensive catcher in the state.

With all due respect to Maile, John Fidanza is the best defensive catcher in the state.

 

I haven't seen Fidanza but I don't think you can get much better than Maile at the high school level. He's nearly flawless with his blocking schemes and has an absolute cannon. Maybe they're about even but I don't think he can be better.

Fidanza is remarkable, and is immensely talented, but I think Maile is more consistent and has a more polished approach to the game - and he's older, which helps.

I think Maile will get the award and he deserves it. I don't think anyone can match his game all around.

The frontrunners have to be Maile, Clarkson, Curtis McCombs (Ballard), Ben Lady (Eastern), and Neil Fogle (Apollo)

The frontrunners have to be Maile, Clarkson, Curtis McCombs (Ballard), Ben Lady (Eastern), and Neil Fogle (Apollo)

 

McCombs is having a down year. Fogle broke his ankle a few weeks ago.

I hadn't heard that about Fogle. That's a shame.

He is a good player. I think it was only about a week ago actually. It has seemed like longer with all this rain.

He is a good player. I think it was only about a week ago actually. It has seemed like longer with all this rain.

 

That is indeed a shame. What about his teammate Morrow, that kid impressed the heck out of me with his bat!

Morrow is doing pretty well. He's got a nice stick and is hitting about .320 with 5 HR's. The story for that Apollo team is their Freshman catcher Dalton West. The kid is hitting nearly .500 and has started every game. He's going to be an absolute force - the kind of dominance in that region of the state as Maile has shown in Northern Kentucky since his sophomore year.

Western end of the state candidates - Marshall Co's Tyler Johnson and Calloway Co's Casey Brockman. I'm told both are hitting over .500 and both are very effective pitchers for their teams. Johnson is 3B/P for a loaded Marshals team. Brockman plays everywhere for a short-handed Lakers team and doesn't get much protection in the lineup. But, Jackson Purchase area players usually get the Rodney Dangerfield treatment anyway. Both deserve consideration.

Personally, I believe the best all around player in the state is Trevor Gott. Unfortunatley, he is only a junior and isn't even eligible for the award. He's given up 1 (not a typo, ONE) earned run in 25 innings pitched and has racked up 37 K's. He's also batting around .420. Mind you, he plays for Tates Creek and sees top-notch competition day in, and day out.

Fidanza is remarkable, and is immensely talented, but I think Maile is more consistent and has a more polished approach to the game - and he's older, which helps.

 

That's a good point because Fidanze is a very young Junior and could play 16U ball this summer. Maile hits the ball very well. I believe he will hit very well in the SEC, which may be the toughest baseball conference in America. Maile has a great athletic frame. I wonder, though, if Maile might play another position than catcher at U of K? Didn't Corey Farris do that? I thought that Fidanza's pop time as well as arm strength might be better than Maile's. Is Maile 19 years old now? Maile will have a lot of success at U of K. I wish him the very best.

Luke Maile