After the first few weeks of the season, I believe it has become clear that the 13th region is a 2-dog race in which both teams come from the same district. Clay County & North Laurel appear to be the top dogs in the 13th - with Clay having the edge as the better of the two. My new rankings would have to look like this:

 

1) Clay Co.

2) North Laurel

3) Harlan County (could possibly defeat any of the top two on a given night)

4) South Laurel (young team who has had spurts of playing good baseball)

5) Middlesboro/Whitley County (Whitley beat M'boro but hasn't played enough to warrant a higher ranking yet)

6) Corbin/Knox Central (2 well coached teams kind of in the same boat without key players who did not play)

7) Bell County (young team but have had spurts of playing really well)

8) Williamsburg/Barbourville

9) Harlan/Lynn Camp/Pineville

10) OBI/Red Bird

So much for these predictions. Nick Capps pitched all 7 innings for the Jackets yesterday while Boggs pitched for HC.

 

The Jackets won 6-4.

So much for these predictions. Nick Capps pitched all 7 innings for the Jackets yesterday while Boggs pitched for HC.

 

The Jackets won 6-4.

 

Predictions were just made on how teams had played until that point. Really there are 2 teams that are at the top. Then there is M'boro, Harlan Co., Whitley & South fighting for the next best. (Still not entirely sure that Whitley & South are much better than Corbin & Knox or too much better than Bell & Barbourville) Outside of Clay & North, the region is very weak this season.

Actually I think Middlesboro only lost two pitchers. These two were their best. While I agree they will be good with Billy Powell, they have much to prove in the pitching dept. first.

 

I have no clue why Harlan County is so high on your list. Harlan County returns a lot and challenged M'boro last year for district. But the pitching that beat them last year is now graduated.

 

Knox Central will be a very tough team this year. Going into the season, they have the ace of the region in King. And with a new and what I believe will be a very good coach, they could be argued for top team in the region.

 

Bell County lost a great coach in John Smith and now has some coach that has been out of a coaching gig for a few years. Plus, they don't return the core of their team at all. lol. They lost quite a few guys. I see them getting beat early and often. They only lose 2 players from last year from what I understand, and have a very talented group of young kids. But, like I said, before they can be mentioned anywhere near the top, they have much to prove. They could turn some heads, but I'll wait till I see them play first. Still skeptical at the moment.

 

these were the predictions I meant to quote and they were made before the season started.

 

And I disagree on the assumption that the 13th is weak.

The 13th is a little down this year once you get past Clay & North mainly because teams like South, M'boro, & Harlan Co. are still young. South Laurel, M'boro & Harlan Co. all can compete, but aren't as strong as usual. Really after Clay torches North tonight, they are clearly the top dog. North is still not too far behind. Knox & Corbin aren't right there yet because they had players who would have made them much better decide not to suit up this season. Still they are well coached and will compete. I think Harlan Co., M'boro, and South are about even for that 3-5 slot. Whitley, Corbin & Knox are the next three, while Bell isn't too far behind at this time. They have played some good teams well. Williamsburg is likely right there with Bell and could compete and win against many top tier teams. Barbourville is just a step behind those two, and then you have the rest of the region. That's how I see it at this point. But it isn't even quite mid-season yet. We'll see how it develops.

The 13th is a little down this year once you get past Clay & North mainly because teams like South, M'boro, & Harlan Co. are still young. South Laurel, M'boro & Harlan Co. all can compete, but aren't as strong as usual. Really after Clay torches North tonight, they are clearly the top dog. North is still not too far behind. Knox & Corbin aren't right there yet because they had players who would have made them much better decide not to suit up this season. Still they are well coached and will compete. I think Harlan Co., M'boro, and South are about even for that 3-5 slot. Whitley, Corbin & Knox are the next three, while Bell isn't too far behind at this time. They have played some good teams well. Williamsburg is likely right there with Bell and could compete and win against many top tier teams. Barbourville is just a step behind those two, and then you have the rest of the region. That's how I see it at this point. But it isn't even quite mid-season yet. We'll see how it develops.

 

I will agree that with the exception of CC, the 13th region is weak.........BUT.......CC is one of the strongest teams that's come out of the 13th region in quite sometime!!!!!! They are hitting machines, and have the best team chemistry that I've seen in a long time. Even though they have beaten the socks off the majority of the teams they have played, how could you not sit back and just enjoy watching them play??