I'm so tired of these discussions I can't believe I'm replying again, but here I go.

 

There is no consensus that any one thing or item is "the problem" with Highlands baseball. The consensus is that most of the things mentioned in this and other previous threads all add up to the current status of the program. Spring break, feeder system, talented kids not continuing to play baseball, increased talent levels in other counties, no Brett Hamblin-type kids in the program at the moment, and other factors all contribute to the disappointing finishes of the past couple years.

 

I also believe that consensus exists between those people actually involved with the program, that the program as a whole, under the current coaching staff, has made fairly significant strides forward that will bear fruit in the not so distant future.

 

A well known football coach made a statement that received quite a bit of attention during the rebuilding years of his program, "that we're a winning team waiting for it to happen." I think you could make that statement about Highlands baseball. They're doing the things that winning programs do, but it will take some time before winning with regularity becomes the norm.

 

 

Agreed. Coach Baioni and the staff are laying the foundation to become a championship baseball program. Coach Baioni is doing what is done by championship programs! Championship programs do not give their kids a week off for spring break. They play baseball during spring break. The program is a year removed from beating a more talented NCC team in the first round of the district and two years removed from playing in the regional tournament. Next year they will be a year older and a year more experienced. The kids also understand the expectations set forth by the baseball program and may be willing to sacrifice spring break in order to win a baseball championship. The cycle is now broken. When building a program, it is always going to get worse before it gets better. The Highlands baseball program has a very bright future under the direction of Coach Baioni.

I tell you what, since you "know" who I am, in two years when the birds are contenders in the 9th, you come on down to my house and I will buy a nice bottle of Dom for you.

 

Can I get in on this?

I haven't read every comment, but I have read alot of them on this thread. And I don't understand. Why will the administration not support a baseball Spring Break trip? Why does someone think it would be too much party? I've been on high school Spring break trips to Florida several times and it only helps the teams. You want to build a baseball program at Highlands? Then you build you case to the administration on going on a spring training trip. What's it do for you? I'll tell you. 1) It allows a team to bond 2) It creates a senior leadership opportunity 3) It allows for about 10-12 hours a day to be dedicated to baseball. 4) It builds arm strength during a part of the season that you're lucky to be outside at all with the weather in Kentucky. 5) A chance to play quality competition and measure your opportunity for success. 6) A chance to play 5 or 6 Varsity games and 5 or 6 JV games in less than a week.

 

I could go on and on. Sure there are a few cons to going to Florida as well, but the Pros significantly outweigh the Cons. You want to get better than somebody else in baseball? Then play and practice the game when your opponents are not. So you go to Florida (Or where ever) and play 6 games when the other teams in your district are playing the one or two games the weather allows for her in Kentucky.

 

The guys get up and eat breakfast together, they go hit BP and take groundballs, they eat lunch together, they play a game, they have dinner together and they have another quick practice or throw bullpen or spend one on one time to help individual players..... And that's everyday for a week.

 

It's unfair for the administration to not allow this for the baseball players. Give the kids an opportunity to be successful. They owe them that.

Raiderbird, I can assure you that I don't know what you are talking about. I never went for any HHS job. This is the problem with people at HHS. You can't take any criticism. I am simply saying that something at HHS is wrong. I have never once said anything negative about the coaching or administration. If you are happy with mediocrity, and what has become below medicrioty then great. Have fun being the laughing stock of the 9th region, but I am tired of my district being dragged through the mudd because we (NCC) are the only good team year in and year out.

 

Also, I think it would be best to look up rule five on your free time.

 

Get over it. I sure hope HHS will rise again and I back JB. If you need to cry injustice how come your program plays us in all sports but will not play on the grid iron. Before you answer look at all the bluebirds congrats on your recent state championship. Clearly you have an axe to grind.

Guys like Glaser and Hamblen are unique in their athletic ability---those guys come along every now and then....for any team. Guys like that can carry a team well into a regional tournament. I can't imagine that any program can expect to have that caliber of player very often, so I question if its fair to point at them to support an argument of whether or not the "talented" players choose to play or not. Even if HHS did not have to deal with the Spring Break issue, your not going to have an Eric Glaser-type player on your roster year in and year out.

 

I'm well aware of that. What I was stating is that it is the talent that is playing at Highlands more than it is Spring Break. I don't mean to sound mean, b/c any of those kids is a better baseball player than I ever was. However, there are good players who choose not to play. For better or worse, they just don't. When I was in high school, Highlands players who could develop into good baseball players played baseball.

Raiderbird, I can assure you that I don't know what you are talking about. I never went for any HHS job. This is the problem with people at HHS. You can't take any criticism. I am simply saying that something at HHS is wrong. I have never once said anything negative about the coaching or administration. If you are happy with mediocrity, and what has become below medicrioty then great. Have fun being the laughing stock of the 9th region, but I am tired of my district being dragged through the mudd because we (NCC) are the only good team year in and year out.

 

Also, I think it would be best to look up rule five on your free time.

 

Get over it. I sure hope HHS will rise again and I back JB. If you need to cry injustice how come your program plays us in all sports but will not play on the grid iron. Before you answer look at all the bluebirds congrats on your recent state championship. Clearly you have an axe to grind.

 

 

Bronx - good post. Bird - silly response to bring up football.

Agreed. Coach Baioni and the staff are laying the foundation to become a championship baseball program. Coach Baioni is doing what is done by championship programs! Championship programs do not give their kids a week off for spring break. They play baseball during spring break. The program is a year removed from beating a more talented NCC team in the first round of the district and two years removed from playing in the regional tournament. Next year they will be a year older and a year more experienced. The kids also understand the expectations set forth by the baseball program and may be willing to sacrifice spring break in order to win a baseball championship. The cycle is now broken. When building a program, it is always going to get worse before it gets better. The Highlands baseball program has a very bright future under the direction of Coach Baioni.

 

Unfortunately, it is that very foundation - one that includes a rule that every other school in NKY baseball program has (play ball on Spring Break or don't play at all) - that apparently prevents some of the top athletes at HHS from participating and taking/keeping HHS baseball to the next level. You can do all the right things and coach better than anyone in the state, but you ultimately have to have enough quality baseball players to compete at the same high level as some of the other programs in the area.

Bottom line and for whatever reason, Baioni is missing out on some fine athletes who have chosen not to play baseball in the past few years. Some choose to lift and play Spring Football and focus on that, others have chosen to party at Spring Break. It is what it is but if you really want to talk STATS. Look at the last 3 seasons and how the baseball team did and then count how many State Championships the football team has claimed. IMO the school is primarily a Football School first and everything else falls behind that. I really dont understand why because they normally get 40-50 primarily JV/Varsity football players and typically only 24-28 play conistently. You have 25-30 kids who normally stand on the sidelines waiting for the blowout and their opportunity to play a few minutes in a game. Some of these 25-30 have chosen to dedicate their year to football and opt out of baseball.

 

Even the kids that are in that 24-28 group who plays much more, they typically are only going one way and during blowout games only see 25-30 snaps a game before they relenquish their position to an underclassmen. I just dont get it. Play as many sports as you can and have fun.

 

How many former Highland football greats do you think look back and say....wow, I am no longer playing football and I wish I would have played hoops and baseball while I was in HS? I would be curious to know.

Bottom line and for whatever reason, Baioni is missing out on some fine athletes who have chosen not to play baseball in the past few years. Some choose to lift and play Spring Football and focus on that, others have chosen to party at Spring Break. It is what it is but if you really want to talk STATS. Look at the last 3 seasons and how the baseball team did and then count how many State Championships the football team has claimed. IMO the school is primarily a Football School first and everything else falls behind that. I really dont understand why because they normally get 40-50 primarily JV/Varsity football players and typically only 24-28 play conistently. You have 25-30 kids who normally stand on the sidelines waiting for the blowout and their opportunity to play a few minutes in a game. Some of these 25-30 have chosen to dedicate their year to football and opt out of baseball.

 

Even the kids that are in that 24-28 group who plays much more, they typically are only going one way and during blowout games only see 25-30 snaps a game before they relenquish their position to an underclassmen. I just dont get it. Play as many sports as you can and have fun.

 

How many former Highland football greats do you think look back and say....wow, I am no longer playing football and I wish I would have played hoops and baseball while I was in HS? I would be curious to know.

 

Interesting comment Q. As I read this I also thought about basketball. I think most Birds fans would say that basketball has underperformed over the past two seasons also. As Highlands has improved in football, they have deteriorated in other sports. In fact, basketball success at Highlands seems to be determined more than ever by whether a couple of stars are on the roster. Great success with Simpson and McGraw a couple of years ago. No top level stars the past couple of years and mediocre results. Is the new and improved two platoon Bluebirds football program taking its toll on the other two sports? Could be, Q. Could be.

IMO the school is primarily a Football School first

 

You mean there are people in Ft T who do NOT have that opinion?

As an aside I am always disappointed when a coach is taken to task because of a kid getting cut. If I had to guess........

 

Add spurned coaches to this list as well.

Unfortunately, it is that very foundation - one that includes a rule that every other school in NKY baseball program has (play ball on Spring Break or don't play at all) - that apparently prevents some of the top athletes at HHS from participating and taking/keeping HHS baseball to the next level. You can do all the right things and coach better than anyone in the state, but you ultimately have to have enough quality baseball players to compete at the same high level as some of the other programs in the area.

 

Nevermind. I've been asked me to keep my thoughts on this stuff to myself and off the board and I'll respect that request.

Bottom line and for whatever reason, Baioni is missing out on some fine athletes who have chosen not to play baseball in the past few years. Some choose to lift and play Spring Football and focus on that, others have chosen to party at Spring Break. It is what it is but if you really want to talk STATS. Look at the last 3 seasons and how the baseball team did and then count how many State Championships the football team has claimed. IMO the school is primarily a Football School first and everything else falls behind that. I really dont understand why because they normally get 40-50 primarily JV/Varsity football players and typically only 24-28 play conistently. You have 25-30 kids who normally stand on the sidelines waiting for the blowout and their opportunity to play a few minutes in a game. Some of these 25-30 have chosen to dedicate their year to football and opt out of baseball.

 

Even the kids that are in that 24-28 group who plays much more, they typically are only going one way and during blowout games only see 25-30 snaps a game before they relenquish their position to an underclassmen. I just dont get it. Play as many sports as you can and have fun.

 

How many former Highland football greats do you think look back and say....wow, I am no longer playing football and I wish I would have played hoops and baseball while I was in HS? I would be curious to know.

 

I honestly think this and VOR's responce after are the two best things that have been said on here. I am not blaming football, but you two bring up two good points.

You got a point there. Lol

 

You mean there are people in Ft T who do NOT have that opinion?

I would say injuries were the primary reason for the mediocre win/loss records in hoops the past few years However, when you have 95% of your basketball team not picking up a ball after June 26th until December 10th, well that could also be the reason. That will be the case this season.

 

 

Interesting comment Q. As I read this I also thought about basketball. I think most Birds fans would say that basketball has underperformed over the past two seasons also. As Highlands has improved in football, they have deteriorated in other sports. In fact, basketball success at Highlands seems to be determined more than ever by whether a couple of stars are on the roster. Great success with Simpson and McGraw a couple of years ago. No top level stars the past couple of years and mediocre results. Is the new and improved two platoon Bluebirds football program taking its toll on the other two sports? Could be, Q. Could be.