In an article from Friday May 15 Lexington Herald leader: Mike Fields

High school notebook: Future Cat a surefire hit at CovCath

 

Opponents avoiding CovCath catcher who is batting .529

 

Mike Fields - Herald-Leader Staff Writer

Covington Catholic baseball coach Bill Krumpelbeck says that Luke Maile, his star catcher, isn't getting a lot of chances to show his stuff at the plate this season. "Up in Northern Kentucky, nobody's pitching to him. Even when we went to Louisville and Ashland, he didn't get much to hit." Krumpelbeck doesn't like it, but he understands it.

 

Maile, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior, is paying the price for being perhaps the best everyday player in the state and is probably the leading candidate for Mr. Baseball this year. As a sophomore he hit .486. As a junior he hit .554. This spring, despite getting pitched around, he's batting .529. Over the last three years, he's hitting .522 (160-for-306). Throw in 101 walks, he's been to the plate more than 400 times and has struck out only 11 times.

 

Maile holds school records for hits, runs, RBI, doubles, triples, walks, batting average and on-base percentage.

 

Maile, who has developed into a terrific defensive catcher, signed with the University of Kentucky last fall. Why did he pick the Cats? "Most notably, it was the coaching staff," he said. "They're tremendous people. It's a program on the upswing, and it plays in a difficult conference. That's the place I'll have the most fun, and it'll prepare me the best for the next level."

Maile and senior pitcher Zach Isler give CovCath one of the strongest batteries in the state. Isler, who had Tommy John surgery after blowing out his elbow his freshman season, is 9-0 with a 1.37 ERA this year. He has signed with the University of Cincinnati.

 

CovCath (27-3) has won at least 20 games in 23 consecutive seasons under Krumpelbeck, including 40 victories in its state championship season in 2002.

Great article about a great kid with great parents. I'm very happy for his success. I'd love to see what the kid could have done in football pads the past two seasons. He'd have been a force to be reckoned with. But I fully understand and support his decision not to play football.

Mr. Old Guy:

I have seen alot of games at Boyd Co. High School. The game I witnessed from Cov. Cath. and Franklin was probably one of the best I have seen ever. I have encouraged our coach to vote for Mr. Maile. I had the opportunity to talk to this young man after the game and he was as good of a kid as I have ever met. Good luck to him and Cov. Cath. for the rest of the year. Look forward to having you all again next year at our tournament. We will get some free bbq. next time.

Maile is a remarkable talent and has the poise and tact to go with it. He will most likely have a great college career, and I don't doubt that in a few years, we'll be following his rise through the professional ranks.

Mr. Old Guy:

I have seen alot of games at Boyd Co. High School. The game I witnessed from Cov. Cath. and Franklin was probably one of the best I have seen ever. I have encouraged our coach to vote for Mr. Maile. I had the opportunity to talk to this young man after the game and he was as good of a kid as I have ever met. Good luck to him and Cov. Cath. for the rest of the year. Look forward to having you all again next year at our tournament. We will get some free bbq. next time.

 

 

Please see your PM Pride44.

 

Thank you and I always look forward to the Boyd County Tourney, as it's the nicest tourney there is to attend.