horst muhlmann

Ethan Doty - Highlands.

I was speaking to him the state baseball tourney and we were discussing the same thing. He said he was a decent pitcher but never threw as hard as you might expect given his football skills chucking the pigskin.

As baseball purists say... good pitching always beats good hitting and I think that old adage rings true tonight. The Birds have gotten stellar pitching all year and I expect that to continue tonight. As for West, have no idea what they have left on the bump. The 5 inning run rule game last night really doesn't matter much as whoever would have thrown the final 2 innings would have been eligible tonight. West's bats have been solid in the tourney for sure so something's gotta give right? Although the Birds have only scored 13 runs in the tourney they more than capable of breaking out the sticks at any time. I'm expecting that to happen tonight.

Greenup is a scrappy group of all underclassman, having no seniors on their roster. They are aggressive on the base paths and have no problems hitting the ball to the opposite field. Greenup had 5 shutouts in a row (like HHS did) earlier this season so their pitching is obviously very strong. West Jessamine looks the part of a state finalist after their dismantling of E-town last night. They hit with power and to all fields. Not sure about their pitching though. HHS played Scott earlier in the season (winning 10-8 while leading 10-2 entering the 7th inning) and they seem to be playing much better ball now. Scott's pitchers (Trame and Ohmer) have each thrown CGs. Expecting Mann to pitch for them.

Not a chance. The boys are locked and loaded. 50 years between state semi final appearances and someone really thinks the Birds are overlooking Greenup County. A team that sweeps 3 high quality opponents in the LIT and shuts out 5 opponents in a row is not to be overlooked. Coach B will have them ready for sure.

Who toes the rubber tomorrow in the semifinals for the Musketeers?

D If that was the case then that is disappointing for Ballard. Go with your best and hopefully advance to play another game. If he was eligible to go I would have expected Ballard to throw their #1 in game 1. Good luck to West vs E-town.

I heard the same thing. Their pitching staff is very talented as well.

Looking forward to a great game on Monday night.

One the Trinity coaches told me last night that McCracken County beat them 3-0 and MC played very sound, fundamental baseball.

The bolded part sounds like Highlands' line up. One of the #1 pitchers on a local N.Ky team commented earlier in the season that there are no breathers in Highlands' lineup. Sounds like the same can be said for McCracken. A quick glance at the KHSAA website reveals the Highlands is averaging 8.6 runs per game while allowing 3.2 runs per game, a difference of 5.4 runs per game. McCracken scores on average 7.2 runs per game while yielding 1.7 runs per game, the latter # likely the lowest in the state, a difference of 5.5 runs. These numbers point out the obvious. The winner of the nightcap on Monday at Whitake Bank Ballpark will have a great chance to make a deep run in the state tourney.

Highlands has averaged 8.6 runs per game and gives up 3.3 runs per game, a difference of 5+ runs per game. But those numbers are somewhat inflated by 2 games where they lost 17-16 in a crazy game in Myrtle and the 15-5 loss to CCH. Take away those 2 games and the margin widens to 6+ runs per game. Ryle averages 6.4 runs per game and gives up 5.2 runs per game, a difference of slightly more than 1 run per game. Stats aren't of course the predictor of tonight's final but they do tell the picture of two squads. Thinking Ryle will need to score 7 or 8 runs to pull the upset. Not likely with the quality arms the Birds have. My prediction is the Birds winning 7-2 and bringing home the 9th Region trophy for the first time since JB was the SS.

Similarly, Ryle didn't seem too comfortable with NCC's off speed pitches. Both Workman and Bartels had some success with their curve balls. Highlands' pitching depth will be the difference in this one as tdyballgame noted. Everyone except Twitterless Joe Martin is available to pitch and Coach Baioni has the luxury of going to individual matchups for a couple of hitters if he wants to. Of course if the starter is in cruise control he won't have to. Sure is nice to have so many quality arms on deck if needed though. Expecting SR Lonneman to throw for Ryle as he hasn't pitched in the tourney. The previous meeting in March was > 2 months ago (a 7-0 HHS win where Jones and Doty combined on the shutout) and shouldn't be used as a gauge of this game as Ryle is playing much better now than they were earlier in the season.

Ryle wins 8-2.

In response to Q's request for a box score. HHS 4 10 1 Boone 2 5 1 WP - Jones LP - Elmore Martin goes 5 innings allowing 2 runs on 4 hits. Very impressive outing given the time between starts for Joseph. Getting Purnell to strike out on a 3-2 count in the 5th was huge as it allowed Coach Baioni to not use Jones until the 6th inning. That allows Jones to be available for the final tonight. Jones also did an outstanding job allowing a lead off double in the 6th inning and a balk moved him to 3rd with none out. Jones got 2 ground balls with the infield in and then induced a pop up to the end the Boone scoring threat. A bit surprised there was no squeeze attempt by Boone at that point in the game. Big hits by Kenny Ball and DJ Mills plated the go ahead runs in the 6th. Birds have SRs Jones, Bunning and Noe, JR Raisor and SO Doty all available for tomorrow's final vs Ryle.

Moeves with the 1 hitter, threw a great game. With the 5 inning run rule game he would be eligible to go in the final if NCC beats Ryle in the semifinal. Big deal for NCC as they don't have much quality depth on the bump. NCC hit the ball all over the yard and it didn't matter if it was Conradi (the starter), Breeden or Smallwood.

Hitting leaders were Ramey who was 3-3 with 3 RBI, Whitford was 3-4 with 2 triples and a double and 3 RBI, and Hennigan was 2-3 with a triple and an RBI. Raisor started and went 5 innings earning his 8 win in 9 decisions, striking out 6 and walking 2, giving up 3 hits and 1 earned run. Bunning went the final 2 innings striking out 3 and walking none giving up 1 hit.

Luke is the most consistent player game in game out and week in and week out. He is outstanding blocking pitches in the dirt and is a great team leader. In answering Q's question he picked off a runner in the semifinal at 2nd who had strayed too far off the bag to start a 2-6-5 out. He also had several key hits in the tourney. There may be other Birds who are getting more accolades (Ramey, Whitford, Jones, Martin) but for my money Luke is the team MVP. He's the glue that keeps everything running smoothly.

Highlands gets their 5th consecutive shutout with the 8-0 win and ups their season record to 29-6. Mitch Jones goes 4 and gets the win for the Birds. Big moment in the game was the 4th inning with the Birds leading 2-0, the Breds loaded the bases with 1 out. Jones gets a K and a ground out to end the threat. SO Ethan Doty pitched the 5 & 6th innings striking out 6 Breds. Jake Noe preserved the shutout for the Birds with a 1-2-3 7th inning. Workman took the loss for the Breds and was relieved by Clint Bartels. S/O to HHS Luke Hennigan for being named tourney MVP.

Was advised by one of the coaches that the game is Thursday June 11th.

Not much chatter on this game. Only meeting was close with Highlands winning 3-2 at Highland Park. Pitching matchup that day was Moeves for NCC and Martin for Highlands. Raisor/Bunning pitched yesterday for Highlands in the district semifinal where they combined to no hit Dayton 10-0. Moeves pitched a 7 inning CG in NCC's 10-4 win over Bellevue in the other semifinal. Highlands has their choice of starters for this game including Jones, Martin or Doty, with Noe, Ball and Bunning available to relieve. Not sure who NCC will go with, perhaps Workman. Both teams will advance to next week's 9th Region Tourney and join Ryle (1) and Boone (2) from the 33rd district, Dixie (1) and St. Henry (2) from the 34th district, and Beechwood and CovCath from the 35th district.

I would expect NCC to throw Workman vs HHS tomorrow.

Heard the game is now at 5:00 pm at Bellevue.

Highlands has 5 players participating. LB Rocco Pangallo, DL Daniel Kremer, LB Brady Murray, DL DJ Mills, and OL Lou Bunning.

Highlands' next game will be this Wednesday (5/20) at 5 pm at Bellevue.