article 50 Greatest Kentucky Baseball Programs

A few years back I posted a thread ranking the top fifty football programs in Kentucky. I did something similar the next year for basketball. Rankings were based on district/regional titles, playoff wins, state championships, etc.

 

While sitting with my son at the state tournament last week and discussing successful programs, it dawned on me that I could do the same thing for baseball. Baseball in Kentucky is unique in that, unlike basketball and football, it has went through several postseason formats. The methodology I composed for ranking baseball programs is somewhat complex so I'll list it before we start.

 

I. Region Championship - 1 POINT

-There have been either 8 or 16 region champions since baseball began in 1940

 

II. Section First Round Win - 1 POINT

-Sectional tournaments of four teams each took place between 1976-2002

 

III. Section Final Win - 2 POINTS

-Sectional winners advanced to a statewide final four from 1976-2002

 

IV. Semi-State Win - 1 POINT

-Best-of-three semi-state tournaments were held from 2003-2009 and began again in 2019 as one game tournaments

 

V. State Tournament First Round Win - 1 POINT

-From 2010-2018 all sixteen region winners advanced to the state tournament

 

VI. State Tournament Quarterfinal Win - 2 POINTS

-Wins awarded to "first round" winners from 1940-1975 and then regular quarterfinals from 2003-present

 

VII. State Tournament Semifinal Win - 3 POINTS

 

VIII. State Championship Win - 5 POINTS

 

Added note: Ties were broken first by number of state titles won and then by number of regional championships.

50. Johnson Central Golden Eagles (15 points)

Region Championships: 9

Round One Wins: 4

Quarterfinal Wins: 1

Semifinal Wins: 0

State Championships: 0

 

49. Rowan County Vikings (16 points)

Region Championships: 6

Round One Wins: 3

Quarterfinal Wins: 2

Semifinal Wins: 1

State Championships: 0

 

48. Pikeville Panthers (16 points)

Region Championships: 9

Round One Wins: 5

Quarterfinal Wins: 1

Semifinal Wins: 0

State Championships: 0

 

47. Owensboro Catholic Aces (16 points)

Region Championships: 4

Round One Wins: 2

Quarterfinal Wins: 1

Semifinal Wins: 1

State Championships: 1 (1985)

 

46. Campbell County Camels (17 points)

Region Championships: 7

Round One Wins: 3

Quarterfinal Wins: 2

Semifinal Wins: 1

State Championships: 0

 

45. Lawrence County Bulldogs (17 points)

Region Championships: 8

Round One Wins: 4

Quarterfinal Wins: 1

Semifinal Wins: 1

State Championships: 0

 

44. Fort Knox Eagles (17 points)

Region Championships: 8

Round One Wins: 0

Quarterfinal Wins: 3

Semifinal Wins: 1

State Championships: 0

 

43. West Jessamine Colts (17 points)

Region Championships: 4

Round One Wins: 3

Quarterfinal Wins: 1

Semifinal Wins: 1

State Championships: 1 (2015)

 

42. Henry Clay Blue Devils (17 points)

Region Championships: 6

Round One Wins: 1

Quarterfinal Wins: 1

Semifinal Wins: 1

State Championships: 1 (1973)

 

41. Ballard Bruins (18 points)

Region Championships: 6

Round One Wins: 2

Quarterfinal Wins: 2

Semifinal Wins: 2

State Championships: 0

 

40. Harlan Green Dragons (18 points)

Region Championships: 7

Round One Wins: 0

Quarterfinal Wins: 4

Semifinal Wins: 1

State Championships: 0

 

39. Madisonville-North Hopkins Maroons (18 points)

Region Championships: 8

Round One Wins: 1

Quarterfinal Wins: 3

Semifinal Wins: 1

State Championships: 0

 

38. Central Hardin Bruins (19 points)

Region Championships: 5

Round One Wins: 2

Quarterfinal Wins: 2

Semifinal Wins: 1

State Championships: 1 (2011)

 

37. Prestonsburg Blackcats (19 points)

Region Championships: 6

Round One Wins: 1

Quarterfinal Wins: 2

Semifinal Wins: 1

State Championships: 1 (1948)

 

36. McCracken County Mustangs (21 points)

Region Championships: 6

Round One Wins: 4

Quarterfinal Wins: 4

Semifinal Wins: 1

State Championships: 0

 

35. Greenup County Musketeers (22 points)

Region Championships: 9

Round One Wins: 6

Quarterfinal Wins: 2

Semifinal Wins: 1

State Championships: 0

 

34. Murray Tigers (22 points)

Region Championships: 10

Round One Wins: 2

Quarterfinal Wins: 2

Semifinal Wins: 2

State Championships: 0

 

33. Franklin-Simpson Wildcats (22 points)

Region Championships: 7

Round One Wins: 3

Quarterfinal Wins: 2

Semifinal Wins: 1

State Championships: 1 (1991)

 

32. Middlesboro Yellowjackets (24 points)

Region Championships: 11

Round One Wins: 5

Quarterfinal Wins: 4

Semifinal Wins: 0

State Championships: 0

 

31. Paul Dunbar Bulldogs (24 points)

Region Championships: 2

Round One Wins: 2

Quarterfinal Wins: 2

Semifinal Wins: 2

State Championships: 2 (2003, 2007)

 

30. Highlands Bluebirds (25 points)

Region Championships: 10

Round One Wins: 3

Quarterfinal Wins: 3

Semifinal Wins: 2

State Championships: 0

 

29. Covington Catholic Colonels (26 points)

Region Championships: 10

Round One Wins: 4

Quarterfinal Wins: 2

Semifinal Wins: 1

State Championships: 1 (2002)

 

28. Caverna Colonels (26 points)

Region Championships: 4

Round One Wins: 0

Quarterfinal Wins: 3

Semifinal Wins: 2

State Championships: 2 (1961, 1972)

 

27. Apollo Eagles (27 points)

Region Championships: 11

Round One Wins: 8

Quarterfinal Wins: 4

Semifinal Wins: 0

State Championships: 0

 

26. Bardstown St. Joseph Eagles (27 points)

Region Championships: 5

Round One Wins: 0

Quarterfinal Wins: 4

Semifinal Wins: 3

State Championships: 1 (1953)

25. Newport Wildcats (28 points)

Region Championships: 7

Round One Wins: 1

Quarterfinal Wins: 2

Semifinal Wins: 2

State Championships: 2 (1940, 1941)

 

24. Hazard Bulldogs (29 points)

Region Championships: 13

Round One Wins: 7

Quarterfinal Wins: 3

Semifinal Wins: 1

State Championships: 0

 

23. Daviess County Panthers (29 points)

Region Championships: 10

Round One Wins: 4

Quarterfinal Wins: 2

Semifinal Wins: 2

State Championships: 1 (1971)

 

22. Henderson County Colonels (35 points)

Region Championships: 11

Round One Wins: 5

Quarterfinal Wins: 4

Semifinal Wins: 2

State Championships: 1 (2000)

 

21. Male Bulldogs (37 points)

Region Championships: 10

Round One Wins: 3

Quarterfinal Wins: 5

Semifinal Wins: 3

State Championships: 1 (1944)

 

20. Somerset Briar Jumpers (37 points)

Region Championships: 14

Round One Wins: 1

Quarterfinal Wins: 4

Semifinal Wins: 3

State Championships: 1 (1974)

 

19. Madison Central Indians (38 points)

Region Championships: 12

Round One Wins: 4

Quarterfinal Wins: 7

Semifinal Wins: 1

State Championships: 1 (1982)

 

18. Trinity Shamrocks (39 points)

Region Championships: 12

Round One Wins: 7

Quarterfinal Wins: 7

Semifinal Wins: 2

State Championships: 0

 

17. Christian County Colonels (40 points)

Region Championships: 14

Round One Wins: 7

Quarterfinal Wins: 4

Semifinal Wins: 2

State Championships: 1 (2004)

 

16. Paducah Tilghman Blue Tornado (41 points)

Region Championships: 17

Round One Wins: 4

Quarterfinal Wins: 3

Semifinal Wins: 3

State Championships: 1 (1960)

15. Paintsville Tigers (47 points)

Region Championships: 18

Round One Wins: 8

Quarterfinal Wins: 5

Semifinal Wins: 2

State Championships: 1 (1990)

 

14. Boyd County Lions (51 points)

Region Championships: 16

Round One Wins: 9

Quarterfinal Wins: 6

Semifinal Wins: 3

State Championships: 1 (2001)

 

13. Lexington Catholic Knights (51 points)

Region Championships: 8

Round One Wins: 7

Quarterfinal Wins: 6

Semifinal Wins: 3

State Championships: 3 (1999, 2006, 2009)

 

12. Shelby County Rockets (52 points)

Region Championships: 17

Round One Wins: 8

Quarterfinal Wins: 5

Semifinal Wins: 4

State Championships: 1 (1979)

 

11. Bowling Green Purples (59 points)

Region Championships: 21

Round One Wins: 7

Quarterfinal Wins: 7

Semifinal Wins: 4

State Championships: 1 (1965)

 

10. Lafayette Generals (63 points)

Region Championships: 16

Round One Wins: 6

Quarterfinal Wins: 7

Semifinal Wins: 4

State Championships: 3 (1988, 1989, 1992)

 

9. Ashland Tomcats (69 points)

Region Championships: 21

Round One Wins: 4

Quarterfinal Wins: 7

Semifinal Wins: 5

State Championships: 3 (1966, 1967, 1968)

 

8. Tates Creek Commodores (69 points)

Region Championships: 10

Round One Wins: 7

Quarterfinal Wins: 7

Semifinal Wins: 6

State Championships: 4 (1978, 1980, 1986, 2019)

7. Elizabethtown Panthers (76 points)

Region Championships: 25

Round One Wins: 13

Quarterfinal Wins: 8

Semifinal Wins: 4

State Championships: 2 (1970, 1975)

 

6. Manual Crimsons (78 points)

Region Championships: 9

Round One Wins: 0

Quarterfinal Wins: 9

Semifinal Wins: 7

State Championships: 6 (1947, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1962)

 

5. Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds (87 points)

Region Championships: 20

Round One Wins: 3

Quarterfinal Wins: 13

Semifinal Wins: 6

State Championships: 4 (1946, 1950, 1954, 1956)

 

4. Harrison County Thorobreds (90 points)

Region Championships: 21

Round One Wins: 15

Quarterfinal Wins: 8

Semifinal Wins: 6

State Championships: 4 (1993, 1997, 1998, 2010)

3. Owensboro Red Devils (132 points)

Region Championships: 24

Round One Wins: 11

Quarterfinal Wins: 17

Semifinal Wins: 11

State Championships: 6 (1964, 1969, 1976, 1977, 1983, 1987)

 

2. St. Xavier Tigers (133 points)

Region Championships: 24

Round One Wins: 12

Quarterfinal Wins: 15

Semifinal Wins: 9

State Championships: 8 (1942, 1945, 1949, 1951, 1981, 2014, 2016, 2018)

 

1. Pleasure Ridge Park Panthers (134 points)

Region Championships: 24

Round One Wins: 18

Quarterfinal Wins: 16

Semifinal Wins: 10

State Championships: 6 (1994, 1995, 1996, 2008, 2013, 2017)

Great stuff, @gchs_uk9! Appreciate the time and effort you put into this.

 

Crazy how razor thin the margin is among the top three.

Very cool.

Thanks for sharing.

Great stuff, @gchs_uk9! Appreciate the time and effort you put into this.

 

Crazy how razor thin the margin is among the top three.

 

Thanks. Agreed on the margin. I'd probably call St. X the top team just based on the longevity of their program. But that's not what the numbers show!

Wow! Super info. Coincidence #1 winningest coach Bill Miller, from #1 PRP. #2 is Mac Whitaker from #4 Harrison County. Speaks to success of their programs and longevity of their tenure at these schools.

Great job @gchs_uk9! I was surprised that only two 12th region teams made the list.

Great work! I would have St.X #1 because of most Championships, especially since only 1 point difference.

Great job @gchs_uk9! I was surprised that only two 12th region teams made the list.

 

That can be attributed to two things:

 

1. The numbers of regional titles in the 12th has been spread around to many teams. Somerset has 14, Boyle 7, Pulaski 5, West Jessamine 4, Danville and Mercer 3, and Southwestern 2. (Rockcastle has four but were all in the 13th). Plus a number of the northern schools were in a region with Madison Central and the Lexington teams for much of the 1970s and 1980s, making it hard to advance.

 

2. The sectional tournament was never good to the 12th. Having to play the 9th (Northern Kentucky), 10th (Harrison) and 11th (Lexington/Richmond) made advancing to the state almost impossible. In the old sectional format, from 1975-2002, Boyle was 0-3, Danville 0-1, Pulaski 2-5, and Somerset 2-3. No 12th Region school ever won the best-of-three series in the semi-state round.

 

So bottom line, the 12th Region teams never achieved much deep postseason success because the path was always so daunting right off the bat.

6. Manual Crimsons (78 points)

Region Championships: 9

Round One Wins: 0

Quarterfinal Wins: 9

Semifinal Wins: 7

State Championships: 6 (1947, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1959, 1962)

 

This one caught my eye. Manual was a dominant baseball program in the first two decades of Kentucky high school baseball. They won nine regional titles and six state championships but haven't won either since 1962. Still, the amount of success they had all the way back then was enough to keep them ranked 6th.

Great stuff, @gchs_uk9! Appreciate the time and effort you put into this.

 

Crazy how razor thin the margin is among the top three.

 

And the gap between the top 3 to 4 is fairly substantial as well.