hja1224

Clyde, it's getting close to the time of year where there will be several kids throwing 90 at several different schools. We hear it every year. Dunn should be one of the top throwers velocity wise in NKY. I'm just not sure what the actual speed will be though.

Without making it out to see the Jag's yet, I'm surprised Hathorn hasn't been doing much on the offensive side so far this year. I haven't seen a box score yet where he had a lot of points. I thought he would be a beast this year even if his points were just putbacks off rebounds. He's a good kid and I'm sure the team will gell before the season is over. A lot of talent in a lot of sports graduated last year so it just takes time to come together.

Congrats to Collins. The boys will have a memory for a lifetime they will never forget. Congrats to HHS on an incredible run, and they will be back. I thought, as a whole, that NKY football was very down as compared to most years. When HHS was giving up huge points and yards in some games this year, then I thought this might be the year they lose. But, I honestly figured they would still win by 7-10 points even if they were weaker than normal. It's just hard to beat them. I know it's always a debate that HHS fans say is a strength of theirs, but, with HHS defense being weaker than usual, do you think they had players on offense that could of played defense as well to help them improve their defense? I don't know their players that well but I would think 3-4 stud offensive players would be better than the 3-4 bottom defenders. Just a down year for NKY football!!

Congrats to the Cooper boys who finished third and they have, I believe, their top seven returning. Congrats to the other NKY schools as well.

I guess that is something to be proud of, especially anytime you win. But Boone has their worst team of my lifetime, Ryle looked very bad and I honestly thought before the season that Conner would have a running clock on Cooper this year. I don't see any of the Boone County teams making any serious noise in the playoff's. Conner has the best chance to win a couple games if their pass defense stops looking like swiss cheese.

Barker made some nice throws and has the size but I still think Pat Towles was better in high school and he can't even stay on the UK roster so I'm not sure how Barker will do there. I hope he does great and is the savior everyone is expecting of him but if Towles is #3 on depth chart and the top two look as bad as they do then I'm not sure what to think. The only hope is maybe Barker reads defenses, etc. better than the ones currently at UK. I wish him the best.

I will be pulling for the Jag's and I don't know much about their overall team this year but it didn't sound very good from the Dixie scrimmage. I don't think some people realize what talent they lost from last year. I hope I'm wrong but I have a feeling it may be a long season if the Dixie scrimmage is any indication. The most important part of a team is line play and the QB and the Jag's will have a huge difficulty replacing last years players at those positions. I hope to make it out tonight to cheer them on and hope they prove me wrong.

Cooper lost more than anybody as most starters went both ways. I know they have some skill guys coming back but that D-Line was nasty and they have no one close to Tyler Morris at QB from what I have heard. I would like to see this game being close and exciting though.

Congrats to Tanner and family. I can still remember when he joined our team at nine years old and watched his left handed swing in the cage. The ball just jumped off his bat even then. He has always treated me well and was a great catcher. Good luck to you kid!!

OK, who is he and is this considered a good hire? I'm sure there had to be a lot of interest.

Congrats to Cooper's Tyler Morris. I didn't make it out to watch but it sounds like he had a great game, which doesn't surprise me. I've said it before, but if Tyler had the gift of being over six feet tall he would of had plenty of higher college offers. I look for him to do well at Thomas More as he is just a winner!!

I heard that Cooper is sending Nick Carr and Jared Blank (SR's) and Hunter Dunn and Jake Lawhorn (JR's).

I haven't followed them a whole lot but I was in school there in the 80's and I think you have to have Melvin Miles on the list as he had over 2000 yards and won their only State Title. Of course, that Senior class was loaded and he had a lot of help. There were some serious athletes in that class (they also won State in wrestling with that class). While I thought Stellman was every bit the QB Barker is "on the field", I think you have to have Barker as one of the three as he has accomplished so much "off" the actual playing field and has probably garnered as much attention as any NKY QB Nationally. There are so many others that could have an argument for the third spot and I have not seen most.

I remember singing the praises of the Cooper boys as Frosh a few years ago and as Senior's they made the State Finals so sometimes it works out, but as a whole, I agree with you.

Probably the same umpire working the Cooper/ Ryle game. :clap:

Looks like we have an umpire join the board.

^Lawhorn couldn't relieve the first time against Ryle because they had the Boone seed game the next day, which was not a good make-up date in my opinion.

^His last outing was a complete game versus St Henry and other times could have gone longer if needed. Lawhorn has done very well this year and will be ready to relieve. The run differential shows, imo, the quality depth of Ryle. When other teams get to pitchers 3-7, they struggle where Ryle is still strong.

^ Cooper has been playing better down the stretch. Other than the last game Saturday where they played all reserves other than two starters for two innings, they have went 7-3 with all three loses being by one run each.

NCC would be my pick. Ryle would be my number two choice if they make it to the region as they are very solid and deep but you can only put nine on the field at once. I look for Cooper, now that all players are back, to give Ryle a very good test tonight. Should be a very fun two weeks of baseball.

^My guess is he announced to kids as he didn't want them hearing it from someone else which I think is correct thing to do. I hope the kids reward his hard work over the years by playing good ball Saturday and again on Monday in the district game versus Ryle. When Cooper puts their "A" team on the field they have been very competitive. IMO, it may be best for coach Beiger and the school to get a fresh start. My son's high school career is over after this season so it doesn't affect me one way or the other though.

Coach Beiger informed the team he will no longer be the coach after this season. I may not always agree with his line-ups, etc.. but he has given a ton of time and work to build Cooper baseball from day one and I for one appreciate it. My son has played varsity for him all five years and I want to thank him for his efforts to help further teach my son the game. I do think the program is headed in the right direction and should garner a ton of interest.

I would start Dunn as well. Ryle was waayyyy late on Dunn's fastball and they had only mustered two unearned runs through five and Ryle is solid hitting throughout their lineup. Lawhorn has been very good as well but in the Ryle game he pitched they hit the ball harder off of him which helped in the errors. Dunn has thrown well against Ryle over the years if my memory serves me right but Cooper just hasn't hit enough. My feeling is the balls Ryle puts in play will be hit less harder against Dunn than Lawhorn. As mentioned, Lawhorn is quicker to get ready to relieve as well if needed. My only issue is what you do at third. I would probably go with McMahon and leave Schumacher at 2nd and have Dunn cover any bunts on third base side as he is athletic enough.

Off the top of my head Lawhorn has faced Conner, Boone County, Beechwood, Cov Cath and Ryle (not district game). I can't think of the others right now but I know he hasn't gotten any run support or a whole lot of defensive support. Not any softies in that group though.

It's unfortuante that Maines has never been able to get "right" with his on field attitude. The basketball coach cut him so he didn't have to put up with it and I applaud him for that tough decision as Maines could have helped them. Arlo may have to make the tough decision as well. I'm sure he wants to help the kid anyway he can but at some point the kid has to help himself. It's been posted 2-3 times this year where he was pulled from a game for his behavior. It's not fair to the other players to have to put up with it and wonder if in a big game if you can count on him to be there or not. I feel for Arlo as he is a good guy.