cards1b21

Just to initiate a little offseason chatter in the 13th region, I thought we could discuss the top players in the 13th since 2000. A short list I would make of obvious players would be: Trey Smith- 2007 South Laurel- Great pitcher (signed DI) B.J. Foley- 2002 Corbin- Unbelievable hitter and solid defender (Signed DII I think) Brian Powell- 2002 Middlesboro- Best defensive player in a long time (Signed DI and heard he transferred to Georgetown to finish) Aaron Anderkin- 2003 Rockcastle- Great pitcher, battled injuries near the end (Signed DI) Matt Clark- 2004 Cumberland- Very good pitcher on very average team (signed DI) Vince Powell- 2004 Middlesboro- Great hitter and above average defensive catcher (Signed DI) Colby Brown- 2005 Rockcastle- Hardest thrower to come from our region in a long time (signed DI) I think this is probably the cream of the crop. What do you all think?

I would say that SL has to again be the favorite after winning the regional title. Past that, you always have to include Corbin and Middlesboro because of tradition and coaching. Ledington takes over a ton of talent and Powell is going on his second year out of retirement with the program picking back up a little speed. I would say that outside of those 3, only a couple even have a shot. Clay County maybe and Harlan County should have some good players coming back. NL will be decent.

Surely they wouldn't hire a softball coach. A couple of these candidates look really weak. In my opinion, the best decision for the program would be to hire someone from within the system with the understanding that they will have to re-apply for the position next year and that way, next year, they can get the best possible candidate to run their program and one that will hopefully stick for a while.

Are there any young coaches that are assistants in our region that would be considered for either the Corbin or WC jobs? I know that Clay has that Griffin kid but I doubt he would leave Clay County. Barbourville had an assistant coach that played at Union College not long ago but I'm not sure he is an actual teacher so that could be troublesome. Middlesboro has the Powell boy that would probably be good but he seems to have pretty strong ties there are MHS with his pops coaching and all. I wonder if any of these guys might jump at short notice in order to take one of these jobs?

13th was not strong? Well there wasn't a clear cut favorite to win the regional tournament and the team that did win, went on to win their sectional series in two games. That's fairly strong. Who was the most talented player in the region in your opinion?

There aren't any divisions in KY H.S. baseball. There aren't even any classes.

Well then that is the district's fault for handcuffing their champion. If their top two couldn't pitch then they are at a severe disadvantage. I'm assuming that Estill threw their ace for the district championship so he isn't ready for the next game. That's unfortunate for them. Not so much for SL.

I wonder why anyone would start with their #3 in a best of 3 series?

I stand corrected. Anyway, the point is moot I suppose since he didn't even mean to say Clay Co. Nonetheless, they are more of a basketball powerhouse, and not so much in baseball.

I'm almost positive Clay has never won. I know Middlesboro won in 1998 and 1999. Rockcastle Co. won in 2000.

I was basing my argument on this statement that was made by Log Mountain Boy. Arugment has been over for a few days on. Move on. "I was thinking Bell had 1 of the best baseball teams in the mountains" Clay's a powerhouse? In my opinion, only a less than intelligent person would say this. haha. Clay hasn't won a regional title in as long as I can even remember. Have they ever? Really.

Well we will just agree to disagree. Thank you for your support of the Cardinals however. Also, I will miss the baseball debate this offseason.

I've never mentioned a single kid in negative fashion. In fact, the only kid I've mentioned by name is Greer and I said he has had a great career. Make no mistake about it, these KIDS represent a PROGRAM AS A WHOLE. I will not deny criticing the history of a program. It's not like I have tracked any individual's career. I have provided TEAM records and successes and don't know anything about many of the kids, nor do I care. That is why I never made it personal. You continue to take offense to WC comments and that is because very early in the season, I said they weren't as good as everyone thought they were and as it turned out, they weren't were they? They didn't have a great record and they didn't make it out of district. Their coach was thrown out of a game and suspended and yet everyone praised him despite everything. I stand by all of those statements because I was 100% accurate in the things I said concerning WC. The only team I was probably wrong about was HC. Their coach got them ready for the post season and they made a good run. They should be very proud.

Your statement is laughable. On several occasions I praised these kids: "...Bell County had a great group." " I hope Bell County will remain at their current level." "They were definitely in the top 10 and quite possibly in the top 5." "That senior class had a good run." "Greer didn't look too good at all. Unfortunate end to an otherwise good career." "I know everyone has a tendency to think that they are the team of the future but I do know that SL, Corbin, KC, and Clay County all have pretty young teams that have great potential." I have not been sold on Bell County or Whitley County all year. I have made several compliments of other regional teams: Corbin, Middlesboro, Clay, NL, and even KC. I'm sorry I didn't care for your team. If you are offended by the FACTS that I provided in my last post, I'm sorry. Sometimes, it takes the facts being right in front of you to keep bias from getting in the way.

Not to rain on anyone's parade but baseball wise, the group was above average but not record setting. What set them off is their football success this year. Speaking in baseball terms only: (Before 2005, BC had not won a district or regional title since at least 96 which means no senior class at Bell had ever won a baseball championship since the class of 1999 2006- 18-7-bounced in district by Middlesboro 2007- 13-14- bounced in district by Harlan 2008- 26-15- District and Region Champs 2009- 20-8- District Champs, bounced in region by SL So they won 2 district titles and one regional title. Granted, that is ground-breaking at Bell County High School. But to be perfectly honestly, its pretty regular at the other premeire baseball teams in the region. For example: For South Laurel: 2006- 27-11- District Champs, Region Champs, Section Champs, Elite 8 Participant 2007- 22-13- District Champs, bounced in region by Middlesboro 2008- 22-14- District Champs, bounced in region by Clay County 2009- 23-4- District Champs, Region Champs, STILL PLAYING That means that EVERY senior class from 06-12 will have experienced a district and regional title. It is also important to note that they play a much tougher district than Bell. For Middlesboro: 1998- District Champs, Region Champs, bounced in Sectional by Boyd County 1999- District Champs, Region Champs, Section Champs, bounced in Final Four by Lexington Catholic 2000- District Champs, bounced in region by Rockcastle Co. 2001- District Champs, bounced in region by Corbin 2002- District Champs, Region Champs, Section Champs, bounced in Final Four by Trinity 2003- District Champs, bounced in region by Clay Co. 2004- District Champs, bounced in region by Rockcastle Co. 2005- distict runner-up, bounced in region by Cumberland Therefore, for AT LEAST 12 straight years, Middlesboro's senior classes have won mulitple districts championships and at least 1 regional championship. Furthermore, they also won a football title in 98 I think. Now....I say all of this to show that while Bell County had a great group--to be considered a good program, you have to stay at that level or at the very least, return to it after 1 or 2 years off. SL and Middlesboro have had baseball classes like BC's for years and years and years. I hope that Bell County will remain at their current level and strengthen mountain baseball.

They were definitely in the top 10 and quite possibly in the top 5. However, like I mentioned prior to this game, they might fall off the map next year. That senior class had a good run though.

Honestly, the coaches poll is skewed. They can only vote for the top 10 and they cannot vote for themselves. Obviously, everyone is going to put nearly the same teams in the top 10 with the exception of 1 or 2 and those teams trickly down to fill in the rest of the spots. You also have to keep in mind that there are no classes in baseball so while one team may be the best 2A size school in the state, they still may not be in the top 25 overall. Bell County was very streaky. It's not like when they got beat by Anderson that they played to the best of their abilities. They played very poorly. I actually heard that couldn't catch, throw, or hit. Hard to peg someone as the best team in the mountains when they do that. Also, they did lose 7 games. They weren't an outstanding team. Solid, but not very great.

Greer didn't look too good at all. Unfortunate end to an otherwise good career.

No surprise whatsoever. Way to take care of business SL.

I guess I did mean near future if that means 10+ years. Before this season, they hadn't had a middle school team in 3 years. That means, their JV players have only been playing a year or two since little league. Both, their middle school and jv were two of the worst teams I have ever seen, relative to their competition levels. I like John Smith a lot and I hope he wins a million games in his career. But...I'm guessing he jumps ship to his alma mater Middlesboro as soon as possible.

I predict that SL gets to Greer early, by both hitting and making him throw a lot of pitches. Although this is probably the best team Bell will ever have, I don't think they are a good enough defensive team to pull a tight game out of this magnitude.

With the looks of their JV and Middle School teams, it will be their last chance for a very long time.

Heard they pitched Pratt and Cox in relief. They made 3 errors in the 1st and gave up 5 runs to start the game and couldn't ever get the momentum back. I also heard that Pittman's leg wasn't 100% and that's why they couldn't throw him. Tough one to swallow for Powell and gang I'm sure.

I bet SL could throw their 3 or 4 and win easily. However, I bet they throw their 3 to get him some work and then that leaves their 1 and 2 to work in the championship.

In case everyone has forgotten, Ledington/Whitley has lost 4 of their last 6 and Corbin has lost 6 of their last 7. Neither team is great and I think it is safe to say that whoever wins this game, will be the runner-up to SL.