I'm not up on what everyone has this season so I can only speak from past experiences, but Corbin and Middlesboro usually are so fundamentally sound that a dip in talent does not affect them as other teams. South, although usually blessed with good players, has never really impressed me that much. Good, but not great. I think their merging with the 13th region will be a much different experience in baseball as opposed to basketball.

Could it be that Middlesboro dominates this thread, because the football and basketball program are down.

Corbin will be pretty good by tournament time, whether they can win the region again will depend upon how far their solid piitching staff will take them plus how much their younger players improve. I believe that the regions best teams will look something like this:

1. South Laurel

2. Middlesboro

3. Corbin

4. North Laurel

5. Bell Co.

6. Whitley Co.

7. Clay Co.

8. Cumberland

9. Barbourville

10.Harlan

If Clay can finish the season 7th in the region they will be thrilled. From what I hear they have 7 players out right now. Could be a tough year for Burchell and the Tigers.

If Clay can finish the season 7th in the region they will be thrilled. From what I hear they have 7 players out right now. Could be a tough year for Burchell and the Tigers.

 

Why so few? I would guess that Corbin has about 27 out now with about 7-8 more joining after basketball season.

1. Corbin

2. North

3. South

4. Bell co.

5. Whitley co.

 

You can take it to the bank, that 1,3,or 5 will not even make it to the region in "06" because they are in the same district.

 

 

Wow, I'm speechless really. But then again, this top 5 makes since coming from a Bell County fan. They don't know too much about baseball up that way.

 

First of all, Corbin lost too much for you to preseason rank them #1 in the region. Not only did they lose quite a few starters, but they were players that had started since their freshman seasons and therefore, the players coming in have no significant experience at the varsity leel at that position. I do feel they be playing in the regional championship, but it will take some time to get them developed into that team so I think they start off the season at around 4.

 

Second of all, Bell County #4??? They played probably the weakest schedule in the region last year, managed to go 22-9 winning 19 of those games against teams with losing records and losing almost every game against a team that posed a decent challenge, including Corbin twice, Rockcastle, Leslie twice, Cawood, and blanked by Middlesboro once.

 

While they did pull off a huge upset (7-4) against a very disfunctional Middlesboro team, in no way shape or form do they deserve to be preseason ranked ahead them. Bell County always makes sure they play the weakest teams in the region and district as many times as possible. For example, they played Pineville who was 0-12 last year, twice when once is enough for district seeding (Middlesboro played them once), they played Red Bird twice who was 2-6 last year, when again, they only had to play them once (Middlesboro played them once only in the district tourney), they played Evarts once who was 1-11 last season, while not having to playing them at all (Middlesboro didn't play them), and they played Lynn Camp twice who was 3-18 last season, while they didn't have to play them (Middlesboro didn't play them). Therefore, they were boosted by going 7-0 against the absolute worst teams in the region. I mean played 2 games against Red Bird who only played 8 games all season??? Playing two against Pineville and Lynn Camp, who only played 12 games and the other who went an awful 3-18.

 

Like I said, Bell County's record looked bright and dandy but they played a ridiculous schedule. We wouldn't even be talking aobut this team if they hadn't pulled off a huge upset against Middlesboro in district play. They were beat soundly by every other regional contender last year, including Middlesboro the only other time they played them during th regular season.

 

Last Season

Against Opponents With Winning Records

Bell County 3-8

Middlesboro 6-7, including losses to Pikeville (33-8), Lafeyette (23-7)

 

2004 Season

Against Opponents With Winning Records

Bell County 0-10

Middlesboro 9-5, including loses to ranked opponents Lawerence County, Louisville Male, and Rockcastle

 

I could go for years on top of years to prove that last season's upset was nothing but a fluke.

 

Before Bell County beat Middlesboro 7-4 in the district tournament last year, Middlesboro had won at least their last 19 meetings by an average score of 12-2. That means they have average a 10 run rule decision the past 19 times they've played, despite the most recent 7-4 loss.

 

So tell me again, how does Bell deserved to be ranked ahead of Middlesboro????

 

 

My Predictions:

1.Middlesboro

2.Whitley County

3.Corbin

4.South Laurel

5.North Laurel

I'm not up on what everyone has this season so I can only speak from past experiences, but Corbin and Middlesboro usually are so fundamentally sound that a dip in talent does not affect them as other teams. South, although usually blessed with good players, has never really impressed me that much. Good, but not great. I think their merging with the 13th region will be a much different experience in baseball as opposed to basketball.

I feel that way about Middlesboro. Always have some good players, but not great. A team that is usually ranked as high as them, and talked about as much as them, would be better. IMO, as many as 5 teams could win region. They always lose games to inferior opponents. Hard team to figure out. :confused:

If Clay can finish the season 7th in the region they will be thrilled. From what I hear they have 7 players out right now. Could be a tough year for Burchell and the Tigers.

How many players are playing basketball? No more than 3 I'm guessing. Could be a long season. :cry:

13th A -

 

OK, I'm still on Mboro baseball, shoot me.

 

I've heard from more than one player that Holbrook will play this season, he's just missed winter conditioning because of an academic conflict. What do you think? - Holbrook and Hatmaker in the middle, Earls at 3rd, Breeding at 1st, Hoskins, Russell & Brooks in the OF & Frady behind the plate? Or will Sowders start Adams at catcher and put Frady at 2nd? Adams would have to catch when Frady pitches anyway, right?

 

I think Breeding goes to the OF when Hoskins or Russell pitches, and Jones plays 1st. When Earls pitches, do you bring Brooks in to 3rd and move Breeding to the OF or do you bring in Tolliver to play 3rd? Can Adams play OF? That would give them even more options!

 

My point is that Mboro will have a lot of versatility this season, and the coaches will have so many options to evaluate that we all might get confused as they search for the best lineup.

How many players are playing basketball? No more than 3 I'm guessing. Could be a long season. :cry:

Talked to one of the players Sunday and he said they had 7 out, and he didn't know if any basketball players were gonna play or not. They need to try to get some of those Sophmores out. That group was too good not to have any of those players playing high school baseball.

Talked to one of the players Sunday and he said they had 7 out, and he didn't know if any basketball players were gonna play or not. They need to try to get some of those Sophmores out. That group was too good not to have any of those players playing high school baseball.

 

OK 51513 and SFL, what's the reason Clay can't get players out?? :confused:

OK 51513 and SFL, what's the reason Clay can't get players out?? :confused:

I really don't know what the reason is. I would be suprised if anybody really knew what the reason was.

disfunctional is the football and basketball programs at middlesboro, not the baseball team. BEll baseball team is an off season program for the football team to keep them in shape and to get ready for the fall.

13th A -

 

OK, I'm still on Mboro baseball, shoot me.

 

I've heard from more than one player that Holbrook will play this season, he's just missed winter conditioning because of an academic conflict. What do you think? - Holbrook and Hatmaker in the middle, Earls at 3rd, Breeding at 1st, Hoskins, Russell & Brooks in the OF & Frady behind the plate? Or will Sowders start Adams at catcher and put Frady at 2nd? Adams would have to catch when Frady pitches anyway, right?

 

I think Breeding goes to the OF when Hoskins or Russell pitches, and Jones plays 1st. When Earls pitches, do you bring Brooks in to 3rd and move Breeding to the OF or do you bring in Tolliver to play 3rd? Can Adams play OF? That would give them even more options!

 

My point is that Mboro will have a lot of versatility this season, and the coaches will have so many options to evaluate that we all might get confused as they search for the best lineup.

 

 

Holbrook probably will come out, but legitimate excuse or not, his competition is making great impressions on the coaches.

 

In my opinion, I think they will just start Adams at catcher right off the bat. He is very athletic and in my opinion, brings more to the table than a player like Holbrook does.

 

When Frady pitches- Holbrook to 2nd

When Hoskins pitches-Breeding to center, Emert to 1st

When Earls pitches- don't know who plays 3rd but they won't move Brooks out of his everyday position to fill in. I think they will find a young player to step up or possibly put Jones over there for that case.

Holbrook probably will come out, but legitimate excuse or not, his competition is making great impressions on the coaches.

 

In my opinion, I think they will just start Adams at catcher right off the bat. He is very athletic and in my opinion, brings more to the table than a player like Holbrook does.

 

When Frady pitches- Holbrook to 2nd

When Hoskins pitches-Breeding to center, Emert to 1st

When Earls pitches- don't know who plays 3rd but they won't move Brooks out of his everyday position to fill in. I think they will find a young player to step up or possibly put Jones over there for that case.

Holbrook probably will come out, but legitimate excuse or not, his competition is making great impressions on the coaches.

 

In my opinion, I think they will just start Adams at catcher right off the bat. He is very athletic and in my opinion, brings more to the table than a player like Holbrook does.

 

When Frady pitches- Holbrook to 2nd

When Hoskins pitches-Breeding to center, Emert to 1st

When Earls pitches- don't know who plays 3rd but they won't move Brooks out of his everyday position to fill in. I think they will find a young player to step up or possibly put Jones over there for that case.

 

 

 

13th A-- I still don't get why you or the coaching staff have Brooks in the outfield to my knowledge he's played very little if any outfield. Breeding on the other hand has played both,and with his speed,and strong throwing arm would be a much better candidate for outfield as well as would Brooks be for 1B. Holbrook is a true 2nd baseman,and an excellent contact hitter,and probably was in the top 3 or 4 in batting average last year. And with him being a senior this year and having done all he has for his team and coach Powell,and coach Sowders it would be a dirty shame to sit a player like him on the bench for a freshman or sophomore who has not proven themselves

offensively or defensively yet at the high school level.

 

I to would like for someone to answer the question about Clay Co not having enough players. It seems like a few years ago they had a group together that would be sophomores,juniors,and seniors now that were very good players.