BlueTip

Surprised to hear Ryle's pitcher threw 150 pitches. Seems like a stretch especially early in the season.

I played some pickup games with very good women's college players back in the day. I never played a day of organized basketball in my life. Based on that experience I'd say size is a problem, but quickness is the real killer. The ladies, even those among the best in the WNBA aren't quick enough to stay with good boys HS players. The ladies would have a tough time getting quality shots off anywhere on the floor.

Nice job. I'm envious you got to watch the entire tournament.

My favorite life-time basketball memories are from the 80's Dust Bowl in Owensboro when Drake, Higgs, etc. turned it on full blast, no reins. SRO but really there was no SRO. There was no room to move it was so crowded with hundreds of people around one court. Drake had some vicious dunks over guys that came from all over to play in that tournament.

Go Devils!

I know both kids well and I'm a Craddock fan as you seem to be. Please outline for me the skills you see in Craddock that are better than Ross? Ross tops out 87-88 and has three explosive pitches (2 seamer, slider, splitter) that he can command. Nick has a decent 80mph fastball at this point and that's it. He's trying to learn other pitches but he doesn't have anything game-ready for a good HS lineup. I could see why you might think what you do looking at last year's numbers, but there’s more behind the numbers. When Conner started pre-season workouts last year it was clear they had two strong pitchers (Ross and Blaise), and then a lot of question marks. The biggest issue was they had no closer. It’s really rare for freshmen to get playing time at Conner but with the pitching so thin the coaches made the right decision (with no good options on JV) to build Craddock up to be the closer since he threw around 80. I like Nick a lot. He’s a good kid and loves playing baseball. But he’s got a long way to go to surpass Ross. Cameron has always been a hard worker and relentless competitor, a common trait among Conner’s senior class last year. Cam topped out last year around 87-88 with a nasty slider and splitter. Nick really hasn’t had to work at baseball up to this point. He grew early and has been so much bigger than the kids his age he’s been able to dominate with a fastball and nothing else. Last year, Ross faced nearly every tough opponent on Conner’s schedule, while Nick pitched against the weakest teams on the schedule. That was intentional and smart by the coaches. Allow Nick to build himself up to facing better competition when the district and regionals rolled around. Cameron is just super-competitive and is always working out or working on his baseball skills. Craddock has never had to work out and really has never had to work on pitch refinement, hitting spots, developing secondary pitches, conditioning, etc. Nick’s a really laid back kid compared to Cameron’s serious intensity on the mound. Sometimes ‘laid back’ can work and it might for Craddock, but will he have the heart to get serious about conditioning? Can he develop good offspeed stuff to go with the fastball? Can he learn to pitch and not just throw? It’s hard to for me to know what will happen and I’ve seen Ross and Craddock pitch more than any other person in Northern Kentucky. I say all this not to hurt Nick in any way. I love the kid and hope he’s able to reach his goal of playing college baseball. Ross will be a regular pitcher for UC this year as a freshman. If Nick is to exceed that as you’ve claimed he will, it’s gonna take a ton of heart, desire, and hard work.

New Decemberists album out today. With the help of Nick Offerman, here's the first single...

That's a pretty bold statement. What do you base your opinion on?

Conner isn't regarded as highly heading into this season because they lost the entire middle of their field...© Hart, (2B) Harshbarger, (SS) Williams, and (CF) Ross, not to mention Ross was their #1 pitcher. So some young kids from JV will have to really step up to give Conner a chance to reach the regionals. As always it will come down to that pitching matchup in the District opener and who will oppose Blaise. The loss of leadership is huge, not to mention those 4 seniors last year were the 4 best defenders on the team and 4 of the top 6 hitters. Ward and Blaise will probably hit 3-4 and will produce but they need help. Who will step up?

[video=youtube;EWpweCPUc-E]

New Decemberists album due out January 20th.

I was wondering about the rules concerning when the pitcher can change throwing arms. Can he change pitch to pitch or when a new batter comes to the plate? I don't know but it seems fair that the pitcher should have to choose first.

Those of you that know me know that my son switch hits. I got a text from him earlier today and it was pretty unique so I thought I'd share. His team is playing in a 18u tournament in Ohio. He came to bat against a lefty pitcher so he bats RH and doubles to left. Next at bat he faces the same pitcher but the kid is now throwing right handed. So my son bats LH and get another hit off him. I'm sure that's probably happened somewhere before but pretty rare. I just wish I was there to have some video. You never know what weird things you'll see at a baseball game.

Totally agree. I consider the Highlands the early favorite for next year.

You can watch the rest of the game here: 2014 Rawlings/KHSAA State Baseball Tournament-6/7/14-7 p.m.-Championship- | Kentucky High School Athletic Association

Dbird is on it. ihigh will carry the games: Tri State Internet Sports Radio | iHigh.com - The Global Youth Network khsaa.net may broadcast the games as well.

I'm thrilled for the Cougars for Conner's first regional championship since 1979. Conner gets at least one more game to enjoy. Hats off to the Birds. I have so much respect for Coach B and you guys should be so proud of your team. The starting pitcher tonight, Raisor (sp?) was just outstanding. When he left the game he got applause from me and a large part of the Conner fans. Nothing but respect for how he pitched tonight, and how your team played. Good luck Cougars as you represent the 9th next Tuesday vs. Boyd County.

I believe the obstruction language he quoted is OBR (on a side note, did anyone else notice in the 2014 changes to NFHS rules there's a 'hitter's backswing' interference now...interesting and probably needed)

There have been teams that tried to save pitching and paid the price for that decision. You gotta get there. Both teams have pitching depth and it shouldn't be an issue tonight.

Game times?

This technique isn't really special. It's taught in every umpiring school. I didn't start this thread to bash umps so I apologize if I've been too harsh. There are good ones and bad ones, just like there are good coaches and bad coaches, etc. I have a great appreciation for good umpiring. It's not easy. It requires a high amount of diligence. And that's why I always have told umps when they've done a good job. And I've only ever been thrown out of a game once. Dang you infield fly rule!

True I guess. I learned this technique many years ago and it's second nature to me. And I think the key to it is hearing two sounds and putting them in the correct order in your mind. That doesn't seem difficult to me but at the end of a long day, with perhaps a lack of focus or concentration, an umpire using a good technique could still result in an incorrect call. Most of the umps in this area doing varsity games and 18u summer games have been around for a while and after you've seen them a few times you know which ones know what they're doing. I generally give them the benefit of the doubt if they have a tough angle as long as they're hustling. But if the ump is in position at first base he's gotta get that call right.