Bat Lag

The 13th is a little down this year once you get past Clay & North mainly because teams like South, M'boro, & Harlan Co. are still young. South Laurel, M'boro & Harlan Co. all can compete, but aren't as strong as usual. Really after Clay torches North tonight, they are clearly the top dog. North is still not too far behind. Knox & Corbin aren't right there yet because they had players who would have made them much better decide not to suit up this season. Still they are well coached and will compete. I think Harlan Co., M'boro, and South are about even for that 3-5 slot. Whitley, Corbin & Knox are the next three, while Bell isn't too far behind at this time. They have played some good teams well. Williamsburg is likely right there with Bell and could compete and win against many top tier teams. Barbourville is just a step behind those two, and then you have the rest of the region. That's how I see it at this point. But it isn't even quite mid-season yet. We'll see how it develops.

Predictions were just made on how teams had played until that point. Really there are 2 teams that are at the top. Then there is M'boro, Harlan Co., Whitley & South fighting for the next best. (Still not entirely sure that Whitley & South are much better than Corbin & Knox or too much better than Bell & Barbourville) Outside of Clay & North, the region is very weak this season.

After the first few weeks of the season, I believe it has become clear that the 13th region is a 2-dog race in which both teams come from the same district. Clay County & North Laurel appear to be the top dogs in the 13th - with Clay having the edge as the better of the two. My new rankings would have to look like this: 1) Clay Co. 2) North Laurel 3) Harlan County (could possibly defeat any of the top two on a given night) 4) South Laurel (young team who has had spurts of playing good baseball) 5) Middlesboro/Whitley County (Whitley beat M'boro but hasn't played enough to warrant a higher ranking yet) 6) Corbin/Knox Central (2 well coached teams kind of in the same boat without key players who did not play) 7) Bell County (young team but have had spurts of playing really well) 8) Williamsburg/Barbourville 9) Harlan/Lynn Camp/Pineville 10) OBI/Red Bird

Indeed they did. And let me add that while they are capable of losing to quite a few teams around the region, they are just as capable of putting a 10-run rule on anyone in the region as well if they are clicking on all cylinders. I believe Clay will win the region, but they don't have it locked. I think they could win a game or two at state if they can consistently throw the deuce for strikes, change speeds on pitching, and don't just rely on throwing the ball by teams. We all know they can flat out hit as well as any team in the region and possibly the eastern part of the state.

They are a high school team. Last year, they struggled to consistently throw a curve ball for a strike down the stretch; however, they made up for it by throwing hard. They fielded well, but made many mistakes/errors that could have been very costly had the other teams been able to take advantage. With that said, they did hit really well and are definitely the favorites in the 13th. I just think that they are not that far ahead of other well-coached teams in the 13th and could lose to any of the top 5-6 teams on a given night. Not dogging them, just stating that they have weaknesses and are very capable of losing to quite a few teams around the region.

Actually I think Middlesboro only lost two pitchers. These two were their best. While I agree they will be good with Billy Powell, they have much to prove in the pitching dept. first. I have no clue why Harlan County is so high on your list. Harlan County returns a lot and challenged M'boro last year for district. But the pitching that beat them last year is now graduated. Knox Central will be a very tough team this year. Going into the season, they have the ace of the region in King. And with a new and what I believe will be a very good coach, they could be argued for top team in the region. Bell County lost a great coach in John Smith and now has some coach that has been out of a coaching gig for a few years. Plus, they don't return the core of their team at all. lol. They lost quite a few guys. I see them getting beat early and often. They only lose 2 players from last year from what I understand, and have a very talented group of young kids. But, like I said, before they can be mentioned anywhere near the top, they have much to prove. They could turn some heads, but I'll wait till I see them play first. Still skeptical at the moment.

1. Clay County 2. Corbin 3. Harlan County 4. Knox Central 5. North Laurel 6. Middlesboro * Other than those, everyone else has something to prove to be considered. M'boro should not be in top 3-4 because they lost top pitching from a year ago. They have something to prove in that area in order to be considered at top. KC has new coach who seems to be a program builder and returns pretty well everyone from what may have been the most talented team in the region a year ago. They may be the sleeper of the region. Clay County is obvious number one with so much returning from regional champions. However, I believe they just got hot and things went their way during the region last year. They are not that far ahead of the other teams as they have obvious weaknesses. Corbin & North Laurel are well coached and could make the case for the best team. Harlan County may be the other sleeper as their young team is a year older and a little more experienced. They could make some real noise in the region. Other teams that have something to prove before being considered in top part of region are Whitley County, South Laurel, Jackson County, Barbourville, Williamsburg, & Bell County. These teams could make a name for themselves, but will have much to prove after some had dismal seasons a year ago. Jackson County could be a team that makes a little noise as they gave Clay a close call in the postseason. SL is well coached and has good middle school talent, so they may be a couple of years away. Whitley is one team that could be good. Bell County had a dismal last season but is under new coaching while returning the core of the team a year ago. Barbourville & Williamsburg are single A schools that will compete, but are not strong contenders. Other teams that are at the bottom are Lynn Camp, Pineville, Harlan, Red Bird, & Oneida Baptist. These teams likely get out of the programs what they put into it. Sometimes they have good years, but at the moment, they have a long way to go to be in top half of region.

15th Region 57th District Paintsville Johnson Central Magoffin County Lawrence County 58th District Betsy Layne Allen Central South Floyd Prestonsburg Piarist 59th District Pike Central Belfry Phelps Sheldon Clark 60th District Pikeville Shelby Valley East Ridge Jenkins

14th Region 53rd District Knott Central June Buchanan Cordia Letcher Central 54th District Buckhorn Perry Central Hazard Riverside Christian 55th District Breathitt County Jackson City Wolfe County Morgan County 56th District Estill Count Lee County Owsley County Powell County

13th Region 49th District North Laurel Clay County Leslie County OBI Red Bird 50th District Rockcastle County South Laurel Williamsburg Whitley County 51st District Knox Central Corbin Barbourville Lynn Camp 52nd District Bell County Middlesboro Pineville Harlan Harlan County