1. Dixie

2. Ryle

3. Boone

4. Conner

5. Cov Cath

 

Absolutely no way Beechwood is not one of the top 5. They were region champs with only 3 seniors (and 2 juniors). All those young players will be back and better.

What makes you so sure? If you were a kid who didn't get a lot of playing time or what have you, why wouldn't you look into running track and having a great shot at getting a ring? Think baseball has a shot at getting one?

 

1. This past team was dominated by seniors. There weren't many JRs playing. They now see the chance to play a lot.

 

2. Which of the returners are really fast? No one I can think of.

 

3. Track doesn't appeal to everyone even if a ring is a possibility.

1. This past team was dominated by seniors. There weren't many JRs playing. They now see the chance to play a lot.

 

2. Which of the returners are really fast? No one I can think of.

 

3. Track doesn't appeal to everyone even if a ring is a possibility.

 

Maybe you are right, maybe not. We will see. I can guarantee you this though. Peer pressure is a great force on high school kids. If the guys on the track team think there is a kid on the baseball team that could help them, they will talk to them to try and get them to come over. And remember, not all the kids in track are fast necessarily. The throwers, jumpers, vaulters, and even the distance guys are not always fast.

Holy Cross should be in the mix. With a young pitching staff anchored by seniors

Roenker and Egan, along with the JV regional runner-up players, should contend late.

How many seniors did Boone lose?

 

Boone lost 4 starters (Lokesak, Sciammanna, Carroll and Humrick). But they do return Cotton, Alford, Dunaway, and Laumann in the field. They also return 21 of their 24 wins on the mound. They only lost 1 pitcher.

Cov Cath lost a lot...who do they have coming back?

 

Logan Siemer at 2B, Neil Martin played nearly all year in the OF, Brendon Schlegbaum DH'd a lot and will play short, Matt Klein will probably play 3B. Gerwe, Warning, Klein, and Shumate will form a nice pitching staff.

 

My vote;

1) Dixie: good pitching (Stansberry & Smallwood),average hitting and D

2) Boone: good hitting (Cotton, Dunaway),OK pitching, need to improve on overall team D

3) Conner: good pitching staff but I don't think West will play baseball next year

4) Holy Cross:young but some decent players, Roenker is solid but not dominant

5) Covington Catholic: lost a lot but will reload, may start slow and probably bloom late when the pitching gains experience.Good D, will play smallball again

6) Beechwood: good returning team, young but experienced

Ryle has a very good core of players returning. Though they lose their #1 in Etschied, they will have some depth at pitching. They will most certainly be a top 5 team next season.

Ryle has a very good core of players returning. Though they lose their #1 in Etschied, they will have some depth at pitching. They will most certainly be a top 5 team next season.

 

They will be in the mix, but I'm not sure that I'd move them ahead of anyone on the 6 I have listed. They also lost a lot (Etcheid, Meier, Lonkard (?), Oliver and all). I think Hempel is a fine young player that will help carry that team.

They will be in the mix, but I'm not sure that I'd move them ahead of anyone on the 6 I have listed. They also lost a lot (Etcheid, Meier, Lonkard (?), Oliver and all). I think Hempel is a fine young player that will help carry that team.

 

Lonkard will only be a junior next year. They have numerous returning starters - Carney, Hempel, Lonkard, Donovan, Friedel, Hoskins, as well as a solid pitching staff in Donovan, Rogers, Dice-k, Hempel. I'd put them ahead of Cov Cath (don't kid yourself - they lost a ton!), Holy Cross, and Beechwood on your list, maybe Boone.

Lonkard will only be a junior next year. They have numerous returning starters - Carney, Hempel, Lonkard, Donovan, Friedel, Hoskins, as well as a solid pitching staff in Donovan, Rogers, Dice-k, Hempel. I'd put them ahead of Cov Cath (don't kid yourself - they lost a ton!), Holy Cross, and Beechwood on your list, maybe Boone.

 

Sorry, I always got the 2B and SS's names mixed up, that's why I put a (?)

What was the SS's name, O'Hara ? I realize that Lonkard played 2B and also OF. Pretty defensive for some fun discussion that doesn't mean a thing 9 months before the season starts aren't we Coop? In addition to losing one of the top 4 pitchers in the region, Ryle lost two or three of their best offensive players from a team that, in your words earlier in the year as I recall, had trouble scoring. I said CCH lost a lot, we'll use your word, "lost a ton", that's rather obvious. They also have some talent returning. There's no shame in playing behind those 7 seniors. Holy Cross has the best RH pitcher returning, and a nice supporting cast with Ritter and Egan. I said Roenker was solid but not dominant, but Isler wasn't dominant as a junior either. Roenker would be potentially the closest to dominant in the 9th. As stated earlier, Beechwood returns most of their team, and they are the reigning 9th region champ. Boone will still put up some round numbers. It's just my opinion; however, I saw all each of these teams play at least 8-10 times this year.

Sorry, I always got the 2B and SS's names mixed up, that's why I put a (?)

What was the SS's name, O'Hara ? I realize that Lonkard played 2B and also OF. Pretty defensive for some fun discussion that doesn't mean a thing 9 months before the season starts aren't we Coop? In addition to losing one of the top 4 pitchers in the region, Ryle lost two or three of their best offensive players from a team that, in your words earlier in the year as I recall, had trouble scoring. I said CCH lost a lot, we'll use your word, "lost a ton", that's rather obvious. They also have some talent returning. There's no shame in playing behind those 7 seniors. Holy Cross has the best RH pitcher returning, and a nice supporting cast with Ritter and Egan. I said Roenker was solid but not dominant, but Isler wasn't dominant as a junior either. Roenker would be potentially the closest to dominant in the 9th. As stated earlier, Beechwood returns most of their team, and they are the reigning 9th region champ. Boone will still put up some round numbers. It's just my opinion; however, I saw all each of these teams play at least 8-10 times this year.

 

Lonkard plays full-time CF and actually they return most of their top hitters from this year (Hempel, Carney, Lonkard, not sure if Takeda will be back). Not being defensive at all. Just countering your opinion with mine, neither one of which means all that much. :sssh: But I assure you that Ryle has some fairly substantial talent returning and coming up through the pipeline and will compete with anyone in the 9th next year. Next year will be much different than this or even some recent years, as there doesn't appear to be any real standout team at this point, but a bunch of fairly equal, solid teams.

Lonkard plays full-time CF and actually they return most of their top hitters from this year (Hempel, Carney, Lonkard, not sure if Takeda will be back). Not being defensive at all. Just countering your opinion with mine, neither one of which means all that much. :sssh: But I assure you that Ryle has some fairly substantial talent returning and coming up through the pipeline and will compete with anyone in the 9th next year. Next year will be much different than this or even some recent years, as there doesn't appear to be any real standout team at this point, but a bunch of fairly equal, solid teams.

 

I realize that Ryle normally started someone else at 2B, but I did see Lonkard play 2B a couple times. I believe O'Hara, Etcheid and Meier were generally 2,3, and 4 or 1,3 and 4 in their lineup, correct? With that said, I do believe Hempel was their best hitter. I realize Ryle has some young talent that hasn't played varsity yet, Holy Cross, Boone, and CovCath do also. Those were four good JV teams this year. I think that's the wildcard for everyone. All the teams mentioned in my "Top 6" have some big shoes to fill, none bigger than CovCath's.

 

One thing I think you and I can agree on; whatever the rankings are in March, may be inverted in May. I think the region is wide open.

1. Dixie

2. Ryle

3. Boone

4. Conner

5. Cov Cath

 

I like this list except I would add Holy Cross into the mix...

IMO 3 of the top five teams are in the 35th district and one wont make it to regional which is a shame.

Cov Cath next year will really play well under Krumps style. Adam Warning is a very good pitcher and should surprise people next year. I think their only weakness is going to be hitting. Logan Siemer will be solid in the leadoff spot and Matt Klein continues to get stronger should be a big bat in that lineup.

Holy Cross will have one of the best pitching staffs in NKY. Roenker will anchor the staff and they have 5 other pitchers who IMO can be good varsity pitchers.

Beechwood has a lot of young talent and got a lot of playing time this year. Bertke and Larimore will be there best hitters and pitchers. And they are the defending region champs.

Dixie should be a very solid club next year. They didnt lose many and have alot returning. The only everyday players lost were Lessley 2b and Chamberlain CF/P.