What is their blueprint for continued success? Can someone that knows please fill me in on how they run their entire program from elementary to middle school to high school. Would really like to know how their youth(t-ball,coach pitch) programs are run and organized. Thanks for any information.

Me too. They always field a very competitive team.

Looks like it might be a secret. :sssh:

Looks like it might be a secret. :sssh:

 

Evidently must be like KFC secret recipe, thought there would be lots of comments on this topic.

Coach Whitaker!

Traveling teams have been a huge success in developing some great athletes. Mike Martin and Gary Kendall started a traveling team when their sons were 10 years old called The Kentucky Terror. Those kids today are now 8th graders. Sons of both the coaches participate on the varsity level while several others from that team participate on the JV. Rick Chasteen, Bubby Dye, and Tony Ritchie also started a traveling team when this years juniors and sophomores were 11 and 12 years old called The Kentucky Thorobreds. This team went to Cooperstown to play ball and all over Kentucky. Jared Martin, Matthew Dye, Christian Chasteen, Josh Moss, Malcolm Thomas, Drew Thompson, Shane Fowler, Eric Sanders, Logan Dailey, and Mason Fowler all participated on this team and out of the 10 listed above 7 are everyday starters and 3 are in the pitching rotation for this years Harrison County High School baseball team. This may have some influence on why Harrison County baseball is successful year in and year out. Parents and dedication have helped to continue the strong passion for baseball in Harrison County, along with one of the greatest coaches in Kentucky, Mac Whitaker.

Traveling teams have been a huge success in developing some great athletes. Mike Martin and Gary Kendall started a traveling team when their sons were 10 years old called The Kentucky Terror. Those kids today are now 8th graders. Sons of both the coaches participate on the varsity level while several others from that team participate on the JV. Rick Chasteen, Bubby Dye, and Tony Ritchie also started a traveling team when this years juniors and sophomores were 11 and 12 years old called The Kentucky Thorobreds. This team went to Cooperstown to play ball and all over Kentucky. Jared Martin, Matthew Dye, Christian Chasteen, Josh Moss, Malcolm Thomas, Drew Thompson, Shane Fowler, Eric Sanders, Logan Dailey, and Mason Fowler all participated on this team and out of the 10 listed above 7 are everyday starters and 3 are in the pitching rotation for this years Harrison County High School baseball team. This may have some influence on why Harrison County baseball is successful year in and year out. Parents and dedication have helped to continue the strong passion for baseball in Harrison County, along with one of the greatest coaches in Kentucky, Mac Whitaker.

 

How are their T-ball and Coach Pitch leagues coached and run? I was told T-ball was the big thing and was done until the kids were like 10? Most school systems just have T-ball for 4-6 years old, then Coach Pitch for 2 years, then little league. Does Harrison County play Little League or Knothole?

How are their T-ball and Coach Pitch leagues coached and run? I was told T-ball was the big thing and was done until the kids were like 10? Most school systems just have T-ball for 4-6 years old, then Coach Pitch for 2 years, then little league. Does Harrison County play Little League or Knothole?

 

They play T-ball 4-6 year olds coach pitch 7-8 year olds and just switched to little league this year from Cal Ripken.

They play T-ball 4-6 year olds coach pitch 7-8 year olds and just switched to little league this year from Cal Ripken.

 

What are the differences between Little League and Cal Ripken?

One difference is that the pitchers are now on a pitch count rather than being evaluated inning by inning. Not sure if Harrison County is doing this though...I'm sure there are other differences as well.

They are on a pitch county but I am unsure of the rules or how many pitches they are aloud to pitch.

Traveling teams have been a huge success in developing some great athletes. Mike Martin and Gary Kendall started a traveling team when their sons were 10 years old called The Kentucky Terror. Those kids today are now 8th graders. Sons of both the coaches participate on the varsity level while several others from that team participate on the JV. Rick Chasteen, Bubby Dye, and Tony Ritchie also started a traveling team when this years juniors and sophomores were 11 and 12 years old called The Kentucky Thorobreds. This team went to Cooperstown to play ball and all over Kentucky. Jared Martin, Matthew Dye, Christian Chasteen, Josh Moss, Malcolm Thomas, Drew Thompson, Shane Fowler, Eric Sanders, Logan Dailey, and Mason Fowler all participated on this team and out of the 10 listed above 7 are everyday starters and 3 are in the pitching rotation for this years Harrison County High School baseball team. This may have some influence on why Harrison County baseball is successful year in and year out. Parents and dedication have helped to continue the strong passion for baseball in Harrison County, along with one of the greatest coaches in Kentucky, Mac Whitaker.

 

The program has been strong long before the Ky Terror or the Ky Thorobreds.

The credit does need to go to the strong youth program in Harrison County. Many individuals have volunteered many hours and years in our tball and little league programs. We did just recently change our tee ball program which went previously to age 8 to coach pitch and tee ball now ends at age 6. My observation so far has been, is I am afraid defense is going to suffer. Lets not also forget those coaches at the high school level before Coach Whitaker. Don Snopek deserves a little credit as well.

The program has been strong long before the Ky Terror or the Ky Thorobreds.

The credit does need to go to the strong youth program in Harrison County. Many individuals have volunteered many hours and years in our tball and little league programs. We did just recently change our tee ball program which went previously to age 8 to coach pitch and tee ball now ends at age 6. My observation so far has been, is I am afraid defense is going to suffer. Lets not also forget those coaches at the high school level before Coach Whitaker. Don Snopek deserves a little credit as well.

 

I had always heard that T-ball was Harrison County's bread and butter and that they had T-ball traveling teams beyond the age of 8 that really did well, evidently got wrong information. Do they practice year round in gyms,etc.?

The program has been strong long before the Ky Terror or the Ky Thorobreds.

The credit does need to go to the strong youth program in Harrison County. Many individuals have volunteered many hours and years in our tball and little league programs. We did just recently change our tee ball program which went previously to age 8 to coach pitch and tee ball now ends at age 6. My observation so far has been, is I am afraid defense is going to suffer. Lets not also forget those coaches at the high school level before Coach Whitaker. Don Snopek deserves a little credit as well.

 

From my previous post above I was referring to the present.

The program has been strong long before the Ky Terror or the Ky Thorobreds.

The credit does need to go to the strong youth program in Harrison County. Many individuals have volunteered many hours and years in our tball and little league programs. We did just recently change our tee ball program which went previously to age 8 to coach pitch and tee ball now ends at age 6. My observation so far has been, is I am afraid defense is going to suffer. Lets not also forget those coaches at the high school level before Coach Whitaker. Don Snopek deserves a little credit as well.

 

Bolded statement is very true. You can go back to the mid 80's and baseball in Harrison Co. was strong. Names that come to mind include John Daniel Harrington, John Hampton, Daryl "Nookie" Baxter, Chris Snopek. The list could go on. I think Cynthiana has been lucky enough to have people at the T-ball and "little league" level that care and know a lot about baseball. Mac's older brother Jim coached a little league team for several years. I was lucky enough to get to play for him and he taught me so much about the game (and life!). Mac deserves a great deal of the credit, but he should be thankful for what happens down at River Road!