Will the 13th region teams be able to compete come tournament time???

 

 

I myself will remain hopeful for my beloved JACKETS,but won't make a decision until after spring training.

The 13th plays the 14th in the sectionals....I see no problem with that as several teams can compete and beat the best the 14th has to offer.

The 13th plays the 14th in the sectionals....I see no problem with that as several teams can compete and beat the best the 14th has to offer.

Like Who?

Like Who?

 

Happens every year:

 

2005

14th Region Champs PCC vs.

Clay County 2-8 L

North Laurel 5-9 L

 

2004

14th Region Champs Hazard vs

Rockcastle 0-3 L

Cumberland 3-6 L

14th Region Runner-Up Powell County vs

Williamsburg 0-10 L

 

 

This year NL, Whitley, Corbin, Middlesboro, and maybe a few others could beat the 14th champion handily.

I just meant to ask who the teams were favored to win the 13th this year...I didn't mean that the 13th can't beat the 14th.

13th A -

 

Any thoughts on Mboro's chances this season? I really thought they'd be very good last season, but it never happened.

 

I still think that the Defense will be there, but the Offense fizzled often last year, and I know they're going to be shallow at some positions. What do you think they'll need to do in order to put it all together?

With the loss of Comperoni, Skip Freedy will have to play catcher, and although he is a good cather, he is a better pitcher. That throws everything around and they could struggle.

 

They will be middle of the pack in the 13th.

With the loss of Comperoni, Skip Freedy will have to play catcher, and although he is a good cather, he is a better pitcher. That throws everything around and they could struggle.

 

They will be middle of the pack in the 13th.

 

Comparoni was never a solid player for Middlesboro so the loss of him won't affect them too much.

 

The Jackets are very deep in the outfield with Brooks, Hoskins, and Russell from right to left. In the infield they will have a lot of experience coming back with Earls, Hatfield, Frady, Breeding. In my mind, this is a very solid infield. Probably the most solid overall since 2002. Catcher is a big question mark this year for the Jackets. Rumor has it, they will look for Adams to step up, or maybe even a move for Russell to catcher, where I believe he could excel.

 

The coaches have told me that they may have found their new ace this season with Pearman? (I think that is his name). The staff could be extremely deep and it may turn out that Frady wouldn't be any higher than the 4th best pitcher, behind Pearman, Hoskins, and Earls.

 

Middlesboro will never be middle of the pack for longer than one rebuilding year. I expected good things from them last year as well but after thinking about it, they were trying to replace a very very mature team with a very young one without missing a beat and that just isn't possible.

 

Coach Powell will also be back, as an assistant however. He will assist Sowders with the pitching and catching responsibilities.

 

I think the Jackets will return to the regional championship this year.

13th A -

 

I mostly agree with your lineup predictions. I see Breeding playing a lot of outfield - they're deep at 1B with Emert & A. J. Jones behind Breeding, and Jones has a real good stick. I see Brooks playing a lot of 3B, both situations depending on who's pitching which day and who ends up behind the plate.

 

I remember Earls playing a lot of catcher in Middle School, as well as Frady and Russell, but all three pitch. Putting Earls behind the plate takes a lot of speed away from the field, but Sowders was willing to put one of his fastest players at first last year.

 

Offense is more of a question mark for me. Earls is probably your lead-off, Russell, Jones and Breeding your power hitters, but who knows after that? About 6 kids with a ot of speed on offense - look for Adams to get a lot of Pinch Running time.

 

Junior pitching will be Hoskins, Frady, Earls & Russell - Breeding, Hatmaker or Brooks have all pitched in the past, too. Soph ChrisTolliver, Freshman Brett Pittman (new ace?) will contribute, but I don't see the Jackets having a dominant pitching staff this year without a lot of extra work and coaching.

What does everyone think about South Laurel joining the 13th? What are the chances of Corbin repeating as 13th region champs having to replace so many starters? What about Whitley Co., thay should have a great deal of talent returning?

13th A -

 

I mostly agree with your lineup predictions. I see Breeding playing a lot of outfield - they're deep at 1B with Emert & A. J. Jones behind Breeding, and Jones has a real good stick. I see Brooks playing a lot of 3B, both situations depending on who's pitching which day and who ends up behind the plate.

 

I remember Earls playing a lot of catcher in Middle School, as well as Frady and Russell, but all three pitch. Putting Earls behind the plate takes a lot of speed away from the field, but Sowders was willing to put one of his fastest players at first last year.

 

Offense is more of a question mark for me. Earls is probably your lead-off, Russell, Jones and Breeding your power hitters, but who knows after that? About 6 kids with a ot of speed on offense - look for Adams to get a lot of Pinch Running time.

 

Junior pitching will be Hoskins, Frady, Earls & Russell - Breeding, Hatmaker or Brooks have all pitched in the past, too. Soph ChrisTolliver, Freshman Brett Pittman (new ace?) will contribute, but I don't see the Jackets having a dominant pitching staff this year without a lot of extra work and coaching.

 

Brett Pittman, that is the name I was looking for. According to Powell and Sowders, this kid will be there go to guy this year, which allows for their best possible defense to be on the field.

 

As far as a batting lineup goes, I would probably guess Earls, Russell, Breeding, Jones, Hoskins, and the rest. The 3rd spot will usually go to your best all around hitter. One who can hit for power as well as run the bases.

 

I will tell you this about catching, since Powell is back on coaching staff and in charge of pitching and catching, whoever catches, will not pitch. Write it down. He has never allowed it and for good reason I'm sure. You need a guy back there that you can count on every game and it is tough for pitchers to adjust back and forth to throwing to different guys sometimes. Like I said, I really see Russell has a good candidate for the job. He has a wide frame with quick feet. If he catches, which I'm almost sure he will, look to have a tremendous staff with Pittman, Hoskins, Earls, Frady, and Hatmaker.

 

Defense is going to be the name of the game though. Remember in 2002 when the Jackets went to the Final Four they did so on defense. Their top three pitchers were Cambron, Stewart, and Gage. Powell, as the pitching coach, will get these guys to throw strikes and allow the defense to make their great plays.

 

I look for a big season with these teams.

Without Frady behind the plate i think teams will be able to run on M,boro. They have no other catchers with any exp.

What does everyone think about South Laurel joining the 13th? What are the chances of Corbin repeating as 13th region champs having to replace so many starters? What about Whitley Co., thay should have a great deal of talent returning?

 

I don't know too much about South Laurel I will be honest. However they went 5-6 last year against 13th region opponents with their wins coming from mostly the weaker ones (Lynn Camp, Jackson County). They did beat Whitley early on by 2 but Whitley came back at the end of the season and 10 runned them. I think SL will be about middle of the pack this year with Clay and Bell.

 

I think the chances of Corbin repeating is about slim to none. The lost a lot of players who had been starting for years and I think they are going to have a year like Middlesboro had last year.

 

Whitley County is a dangerous team. I don't know much about them except for that they return some experience and have a great coach. This season will be interesting.

Without Frady behind the plate i think teams will be able to run on M,boro. They have no other catchers with any exp.

 

Actually, Russell has caught some threw the years. Also, stealing bases has a lot to do with coaches as well. This year, more emphasis will be put on shortening the strides of pitchers which will cut down on great jumps by the runners. Also, it isn't like Frady brought a whole of catching experience with him. He hasn't been coming to winter workouts for the baseball team and that just isn't the kind of leader a team needs a catcher. The catcher has to be the hardest worker on the team or else the team will struggle.

Frady was probably the best catcher they had last year after Comparoni quit. I felt like they lost alot defesivly and pitching by having to leave him behind the plate.

As far as shortening strides of pitchers, you cant do that, you can lower their leg lift to help stop the running game.

 

South Laurel returns a lot of players from last year. I think they will be a contender in the 13th. As far as Whitley, i dont know much about their coach but they did make some great strides last year and turned some heads in the tournament, especially after beating Rock 1st round of the region.