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.

 

 

Harrison County's success started long before these traveling teams. It is yet to be determined whether these traveling teams have helped or hurt the program. Coach Jim Whitaker being a long time Little League coach and coaching many of the 11-12 year olds in Little League All-Stars was the big factor in the State Championship years. His All-Star Teams played maybe 20 games a summer and they included most of the players who won the State Championships in 1993, 1997 and 1998. Travel teams playing 100-150 games a summer has not proven anything yet. Although they have ganined some valuable experience and seen Cooperstown etc. and faced some good competition, it all comes together on the Hilltop under the direction of Coach Whitaker. The 2004 team that lost in the Semi-State to Chaz Roe and Lafeyette and the 2005 team that made it to Applebee's did not play a lot of travel ball during the summer. I think some of the younger travel teams in Harrison County now are doing more damage than good by wearing out the young arms. They play Little League during the week and then travel on weeekends. Too much throwing for the young arms in my opinion.

With the new little league rules they shouldn't be having this problem. Most of these traveling teams take place after all stars when its the only baseball they are playing.

With the new little league rules they shouldn't be having this problem. Most of these traveling teams take place after all stars when its the only baseball they are playing.

 

Even so, playing that many games at that age is too much on young arms.