I noticed the season record for the Birds and cannot recall such a disastrous year at the Fort. What is up? Preseason chatter indicated high hopes and the team has not been competitive.

The preseason chatter I heard centered around building the program. I don't think many expected this varsity squad to be top ten in N Ky. The Birds have a lot of young players excited about baseball. They are still 2 years away from competing with the best teams in the area.

It's not always the record that tells if a team is successful or not. HHS has a very young team and they have progressed from the start of the season to now.

I have seen this team improve from April 13th when CovCath beat HHS by a score of 11-1 (5 innings) to the May 5th game where CovCath beat HHS by a score of 15-7 and sure both games were losses for HHS but from that first game to the last game, I saw an improvement in the understanding of the game, to the execution of the players. Great baseball teams are not built in one year, give them time and more importantly, give them your support!

It's not always the record that tells if a team is successful or not. HHS has a very young team and they have progressed from the start of the season to now.

I have seen this team improve from April 13th when CovCath beat HHS by a score of 11-1 (5 innings) to the May 5th game where CovCath beat HHS by a score of 15-7 and sure both games were losses for HHS but from that first game to the last game, I saw an improvement in the understanding of the game, to the execution of the players. Great baseball teams are not built in one year, give them time and more importantly, give them your support!

 

Very wise words. It’s common if you play sports to want to win. Sometimes a team might think or say to themselves "we’re good if we win." A coach might feel he’s a good coach if a team wins. Looking at progress may determine more about the value of the season versus wins and losses alone. Too, wins and losses may be influenced by the strength of schedule and a variety of factors outside the control of the players. How much talent the team has might also be a factor.

 

A pitching coach once recommended to my son The Mental Game of Baseball, by H. A. Dorfman. The book is ultimately about playing from within and setting realistic goals. The coach that recommended the book said that in college, the players had a sports psychologist work with them about setting goals. He asked this player what his goals for the season were. He said “to make All Conference.” The psychologist asked the player “Who determines who makes All Conference?” After some thought, the player said that the coaches vote upon it. The psychologist then asked him if he could control ultimately how the coaches voted? The player said, “No.” The psychologist then proceeded to help the player set goals that would be helpful and ones ultimately the player had more control over.

This would not be acceptable at Highlands in football. Strange difference in philosophy at same school between two major sports.

I have no idea how to change it but the only thing that matters to most the athletes at Highlands is winning a state football championship. They give up baseball, basketball and any other sport they were playing before high school. Although some go on to play college football, the majority in my opinion have sacraficed alot. I know that a football player at Highlands is in the in croud, but the other sports are cool too.

This would not be acceptable at Highlands in football. Strange difference in philosophy at same school between two major sports.

 

Apples and oranges.

 

You're either new to NKY or you're looking to make a certain point.

 

??

I noticed the season record for the Birds and cannot recall such a disastrous year at the Fort. What is up? Preseason chatter indicated high hopes and the team has not been competitive.

 

If you haven't been to Highland Park and seen this team play more than once, using the term "disastrous year" is truly the definition of IGNORANT. Ask Boone County, a Top Ten team in NKY in 2011, whether HHS "has not been competitive." The team is composed of 6 committed and hard-working Seniors, 3 or so talented Juniors and a solid crop of Sophomores. At the banquet yesterday, Varsity letters were awarded to a Frosh and an 8th grader. The team is young and talented. Jeremy is building a program. For whatever reason, you have chosen to look at "the season record" and lob a Molotov cocktail into a public forum to stir up trouble. I'm not taking the bait.

If you haven't been to Highland Park and seen this team play more than once, using the term "disastrous year" is truly the definition of IGNORANT. Ask Boone County, a Top Ten team in NKY in 2011, whether HHS "has not been competitive." The team is composed of 6 committed and hard-working Seniors, 3 or so talented Juniors and a solid crop of Sophomores. At the banquet yesterday, Varsity letters were awarded to a Frosh and an 8th grader. The team is young and talented. Jeremy is building a program. For whatever reason, you have chosen to look at "the season record" and lob a Molotov cocktail into a public forum to stir up trouble. I'm not taking the bait.

 

Was the 8th grader Luke Hennigan?

This would not be acceptable at Highlands in football. Strange difference in philosophy at same school between two major sports.

 

Part of your statement is correct. A 2-8 record from the 2011 HHS football team would not be acceptable. The 2011 football team sits on the shoulders of 4 straight championship teams and a program with a solid foundation of talent, commitment to the program and enthusiasm from the FTJFL and others.

 

If HHS baseball was starting practices in mid-March, scheduling 25 games (and playing 15 with rainouts), allowing players to go on Spring Break rather than play / practice during that critical 9 days in late March / early April, not bothering to work on the field during the rainiest April in recorded history because a rainout was acceptable, not setting up summer baseball programs to help athletes develop physically and with their commitment to the game, I agree that would not be acceptable. That is not happening.

 

I think the philosophies espoused by Dale and Jeremy are very similar.

 

If you mean the 2011 record is "not acceptable" and the HHS Coaching staff better be taking steps to make sure that is not the norm, I believe that is the case and we are in good hands.

 

If you mean the 2011 record is "not acceptable" and someone else needs to set a course for the future, I strenuously disagree.

Was the 8th grader Luke Hennigan?

 

Yes sir. Well-deserved. Good player. Good kid.

Yes sir. Well-deserved. Good player. Good kid.

 

Is this the catcher that I have heard great things about?

Is this the catcher that I have heard great things about?

 

Yes..He will be a good one..

This would not be acceptable at Highlands in football. Strange difference in philosophy at same school between two major sports.

 

I don't think Dale has trouble with his seniors wanting to take a week off during football. Kudos to Jeremy for trying to bring commitment and some excitement to Highlands Baseball.

Yes..He will be a good one..

 

I have heard his defensive skills are way above varsity average.