horst muhlmann

Just 3 short years ago Highlands faced a very talented 33-2 McCracken County team that was undefeated versus Kentucky competition and walked away with a hard fought 5-2 victory in the first round of the state tourney.

Although none of the players on this year's squads likely participated much less played in 2015 (save standout Rook Ellington), I'd suspect that 5-2 loss might be mentioned by the Mustangs coaches as they prepare for this Friday night's state semi-final.

Outstanding pitched game by SR Tennessee commit Hunter Dreves. 2 hit CG shutout. Other than the Moeller game he threw last season it was his best game as a Bluebird, and on the biggest stage. Kuddos to Hunter and the Birds.

In 2015, the first of 4 straight 9th Region Titles for Coach Baioni and the Birds, the pitching staff was likely deeper than any of the other 3 years. SR Mitchell Jones, pitching at D-2 KWC, SR Joseph Martin, pitching at D-1 NKU, JR Ricky Raisor, SO Ethan Doty, pitching at D-3 Otterbein, and SRs Jacob Noe, Lou Bunning and Kenny Ball.

So to say it was just Raisor or Doty in 2015 is just ill-informed. Yes, none of those pitchers got drafted like Drew Rom, but it was so much more than one pitcher in 2015.

That squad could also mash it with the best teams in the state, averaging 8.8 runs per game.

lol.... 3.67 innings? You realize that is half the game? I'm a fan of both teams. If Dreves pitches or Cramer pitches 3.67 innnings of that game then Cov Cath is in Lex. You know what Highlands has been for the last 4 years... Doty, Doty, Doty Rom.

Paris. New OC is none other than Pat Towles.

The one thing that disappointed me from last Friday's loss to Ryle was the undisciplined defense.

Not sure if that can reasonably blamed on BW but I'd certainly like a bit more class to be shown.

JB went with SR Doty and he delivered big time. So happy for Ethan and JB and the Birds.

Although many thought JB would start Michigan commit Drew Rom in the opener he went with the experienced saavy Senior. Ethan has pitched varsity for 3 years and is the consummate team player.

Good luck to the Birds vs PRP tomorrow night.

You eventually have to play the best. In 2015 McCracken was 33-2 with the only 2 losses to TN schools and lost in the tourney opener to Highlands.

The bottom half of the draw is brutal.

Sam Hennigan really has provided stability for Highlands at 3rd base. Not flashy (which is no surprise for anyone who knows his older brother Luke) but makes the plays he's supposed to make. Also is hitting .333.

HHS Drew Rom should have been considered as well.

I guess the prognosticators had this one wrong.

Good luck to Beechwood's ballyhooed senior class. Brayden Combs is such a classy kid. Don't know the others well but know Bankemper and Slusher are top notch kids too. Will enjoy watching Combs play for UK.

After getting beat up in early May by Beechwood Doty throws a gem in the Regional final.

Can a mod fix the header please.

Birds win back to back Regional Titles. JR Doty was outstanding on the bump for the win. SR Fieger with the loss for Beechwood.

Good pitching and defense always wins out over ballyhooed offense and this game was a good example of that.

Birds pitching allowed 1 run in 3 regional games and only 1 run in 5 post season games.

Congrats to JB and the Birds.

Go Ethan Doty. Great pitcher and even better young man.

Re: the play at 2nd base. From my perspective it did not seem vicious. CCH 2B Nick Stegman received the ball in the base path just as HHS LF Trey Bowden arrived. Each has a right to the base path. Stegman just happened to get the worst of it.

Pitzer threw 2 feet behind Bowden on the first pitch of his next AB. I guess that one just got away from Pitzer....

By my scoring only 1 of the first 4 runs was earned.

I was merely questioning the decision to start AJ in the first place. Great athlete but it seems like there were more experienced options on the bump.

Since righting the ship at HHS, JB has always taken the approach at Regionals to go with your best available arms. Win and advance, and worry about tomorrow later.

Can't say the same for Krumps in this game. Although AJ Maher is an outstanding athlete, starting a SO with only 5 innings on the bump in the Regional opener is an odd call for sure.

Maybe some CCH posters can give their take on this rather unusual move giving the rock to Maher.

Ricky Raisor was outstanding, pitched to contact all night. Unofficially I counted 4 or 5 1st pitch outs and probably 8 or 9 ground ball outs, 5 or 6 Ks and only 2 walks and of course no hits.

From the tone of the opening thread I take it Ziggy didn't toe the rubber for the Raiders. Who pitched for both squads?

Doty started for HHS, went 5 innings to earn the Win. Ethan is really pitching well in his recent starts. Rom pitched the 6th and Raisor closed.

Workman started for NCC, went 4 innings, followed by Yeager who pitched the final 2 innings.

Bowden's HR was on a high FB, which he didn't see another the entire game....

Don't think any NKY squad dents the plate vs Bennett. He is exceptional.

IMO SR Ricky Raisor, JR Ethan Doty, and SO Drew Rom are as good as any other rotation in the 9th region. Raisor is very seasoned having started the regional final as a sophomore and has many big games under his belt. Doty came in the state quarterfinal and struck out North Bullitt's big-time slugger looking with the game on the line. Although Rom is still unproven at the varsity level, his first 3 innings of scoreless baseball last Monday vs Boone were excellent.

I agree with jpa that unlike last year's squad which averaged more than 8 runs per game (342 runs in 42 games), this year's Birds' squad will likely have to manufacture more runs than last year. That being said, the top of the rotation is excellent which gives them a great chance to repeat.

SR Raisor with the win in the opener with 4 innings of solid pitching. Birds pushed 2 runs across in the 5th inning to take a 3-1 lead. SO Rom came in and tossed 3 shutout innings to get the save in his first varsity appearance.

Highlands moves to 1-0 and Boone drops to 1-1 on the young season.

NKU is on spring break this week

Will Jared be a kicker only in college?

Think he will transfer to Georgetown or Mount St. Joes?

I heard Simon Kenton needs a QB coach. Maybe he'll take that gig to help put SK over the top.

S

If I were a current UK commit I would seriously reconsider my options and open up my recruitment again. This is a dysfunctional coaching staff they have right now and a team that lacks discipline IMO.

Perfect example of this was Josh Forrest throwing the ball into the stands after the pick six.

Lead to a short field for UL and the first of their TDs.