RSkinner

Folks, I share your disappointment in hwo the Enquirer covers Northern Kentucky. The timeliness of online posts is not very timely and overall there needs to be more, more, more. For the record last week we did an advance on the Showdown games, an advance on Highlands-Boyle and capsules of the top 10 games of the week, then covered three games on Friday and then this week added a Tuesday football notebook. If I had my druthers we would have a football element a day (feature story, notebook, advance or game coverage) and cover either a volleyball or soccer game a day (or have a feature story or notebook) as well, but alas the budget doesn't allow that. That being said I would hope you target any complaints you have to the following: Publisher Margaret Buchanan: [email protected] Editor Carolyn Washburn: [email protected] Sports Editor Angel Rodgriguez: [email protected] The squeaky wheel gets the oil and unless they know you care enough to complain, they unfortunately assume you aren't out there (which as Northern Kentuckian I know isn't true, but "they" don't always know that).

Collopy was a total brain fart. Was putting Highlands kids in and had Highlands on mind when I typed his name. Collopy is also a pretty good baseball player. Anyway here are the juniors: TOP SIX JUNIORS Drew Barker School: Conner Position: QB Height: 6-4 Weight: 210 Buzz: Rated as the top junior quarterback in Kentucky and one of the top junior quarterbacks in the nation. Rushed for 1,371 yards and 22 touchdowns on 212 carries and completed 93 of 181 passes for 1,009 yards and four touchdowns. Jalen Beal School: Holy Cross Position: RB/DB Height: 5-11 Weight: 175 Buzz: Versatile player on both sides of the ball. He rushed for 576 yards and 13 touchdowns on only 88 carries and caught 50 passes for 820 yards and seven more touchdowns. Also had three interceptions and three fumble recoveries and scored a touchdown on defense. Sam Burchell School: Covington Catholic Position: LB Height: 6-2 Weight: 220 Buzz: Was a standout a sophomore leading Covington Catholic in tackles with 88 and recovering two fumbles as well. Mac Franzen School: Newport Central Catholic Position: WR/LB Height: 6-2 Weight: 195 Buzz: Extremely productive on both sides of the ball as a sophomore with 39 receptions for 608 yards and five touchdowns on offense, and 65 tackles - eight for losses - two sacks and an interception on defense. Zach Harris School: Highlands Position: RB Height: 6-0 Weight: 205 Buzz: Was part of a three-back rotation on a pass-happy team, but still finished third on the team in rushing with 522 yards and eight touchdowns on only 82 carries and caught nine passes for 156 yards and five more TDs. Jonathan Scruggs School: Holmes Position: A-Back/SS Height: 5-9 Weight: 180 Buzz: Was selected Enquirer Northern Kentucky All-Star first team last season at defensive back as a sophomore and was only one of two non-seniors selected first team. On offense last season he rushed for 656 yards on only 56 carries, had 14 catches for 385 yards and two more touchdowns and added two kick returns for TDs. Recorded five interceptions on defense. 12 others to watch: Casey Boston, RB/LB (Boone County); Seth Caple, WR/LB (Dixie Heights); Mitchell Cody, QB/LB (Ludlow); Seth Hope, DL (Highlands); Justice Lewis, DL (Newport); Austin Oberhausen, S (Covington Catholic); Mitch Thomas, RB (Beechwood); Nick Thurza, LB (Scott); Nick True, TE (Highlands); Brian Warren, RB/SS (Lloyd); Ben Walling, OL (Simon Kenton); Matthew Way, S (Covington Catholic).

Here's the other part of the list that didn't make it online, including 24 others to watch (and if you can tell me a lineman that should have made the top 12 list and who you would take off the list, let me know, and two linemen did make the preseason list last year: Bradley Way and Logan Martin and Cole Mosier was close to making it this year): Blake Schutte School: Highlands Position: DB Height: 6-0 Weight: 205 Buzz: Highlands coach Dale Mueller calls him an all-state caliber player. Had four interceptions and two fumble recoveries and was a top tackler for a defense that allowed just 12.8 points per game on the way to the Bluebirds finishing undefeated and winning the Class 4A state championship. Luke Turner School: Highlands Position: WR Height: 6-1 Weight: 175 Buzz: Finished second on a well-balanced receiving corps with 31 catches for 500 yards and five touchdowns for the Class 4A state champion Bluebirds. Head coach Dale Mueller said Turner can develop into an all-state caliber player. Jeremiah Williams School: Boone County Position: CB/WR Height: 5-10 Weight: 170 Buzz: Recorded two interceptions in 2011 when he was a key part of a Boone County defense that held six of its 14 opponents under 14 points and allowed an average 11.0 points in four playoff games. According to Boone County head coach Rick Thompson he is being recruited by Cincinnati, Kentucky, Eastern Kentucky and Indiana State. 24 others to watch: Josh Cain, QB/DB (Newport Central Catholic); Jacob Elbert, RB (Bishop Brossart); A.J. Collins, RB/LB (Cooper); Pete Collopy WR/LB (Highlands); Gage Erdman, SS/RB (Beechwood); Tanner Fangman, SS/OLB (Covington Catholic); Kyle Fischer, OL/DL (Holy Cross); Logan Foley, DB (Walton-Verona); Daylin Garland, RB/DB/KR (Newport); Tyler Morris, QB/RB/DB (Cooper); Cole Mosier, OT/DT (Walton-Verona); Burt Pouncy WB/LB (Holy Cross); Ty Robinson, OL/DL (Conner); Jamon Scruggs FB/LB (Holmes); Colin Seidl, RB (Highlands); Dexter Smith, QB (Lloyd); Dillon Smith, LB/P (Lloyd); Jordan Smith DB (Scott); Jared Swanson, WR/DB (Simon Kenton); Brady Thacker OL/DL (Newport Central Catholic); D.J. Walker, QB/RB/LB (Dayton); Brad Weber, OL (Ryle); Richie Whitford, OL (Highlands); Darien Wolnitzek, OL (Conner).

Cain told me after the game he didn't realize the guy had stolen second and was focused on the batter. As for the idea of walking Cessna, I asked Schulkens and he said he and his coaches discussed it, but that Cain had gotten out of 2nd and 3rd and 0 out jam in the sixth and as jpa2825 noted it was a 1-1 count on the batter, home plate ump had been giving a few inches outside off the plate all night (a spot both pitchers hit consistently) so it was chance to nibble. Also, as Schulkens noted, you load the bases then pressure is really on for pitcher to throw strikes. Right decision to pitch to him IMO. - Richard Skinner

Keep It Real: I talked to Mike Guidugli about a month ago and he said 2013 at the earliest. - Richard Skinner

Mike has been named interim principal for the 2012-13 school year and Clay Eifert will be moving to the finance and alumni and development office. - Richard Skinner

I was there and I thought it was the right call. Guy I know shoots for WKYT. Saw replay again immediately after the game. The batter did not attempt to get out of the way (and I can't blame him). It's a very subjective call, but IMO it was the right one. Can't blame Mac for arguing either, but frankly Hill simply turned his left leg out and let the pitch hit him. Don't forget he had a chance with a 1-1 count after that and grounded to short, who threw home for the force out. It was a great game. Mac pulled every string imaginable (one pitcher getting into the game three different times, another twice), pinch-hitting for a batter with an 0-2 count, but give Brossart and the Verst cousins credit for pitching a great game. - Richard Skinner

Spartan, he threw 86 pitches (62 for strikes). Funny thing is he was warming up again when things got dicey in the 7th and Roesel said he would have faced Tiberi had Pangallo reached base. I have a question I asked a couple of people last night. I know in Major League Baseball a pitcher can't earn a win and a save in the same game, but can a high school pitcher (because of re-entry rule)?

The Conner-Highlands game has been moved to tonight at Dixie at 7 p.m. due to the heat. Tonight's two games are still scheduled to be played at Florence Freedom Stadium at their regular times: Holy Cross vs. Ryle at 6 p.m. NewCath vs. St. Henry at 8:30 p.m. Heat index on the field hit 99 at 11:45 a.m. I can't see any way the 6 p.m. game starts on time. The field supposed hit 140 degrees during the day yesterday. - Richard Skinner

The CF was shifted over into right center, but he started back on the ball, circled it, and then got his glove on it and had until he dove to the ground. It was misjudged and yes the wind had something to do with it. It is a 50-50 call. You could probably have 32 different MLB official scorers split down the middle on it. It wasn't just an error because he got his glove on it (because that doesn't always consititute an error and neither does not getting a glove on it, i.e. a ball going between someone's legs is an error even if a player didn't get a glove on it). I thought he should have caught it. Again a subjective call, just as is calling it a base hit. And C-BOY78 I'd love to meet your grandson. Sounds like he'd make a great story. - Richard Skinner

Announcement at school at 3:15 today. Keith as AD and Ed Cravens as boys' coach. - Richard Skinner

My first daily newspaper job was in Maysville in 1987 when Mike had that team (in 1987-88) that went to the Sweet 16 and I can just remember how nice (and professional) and easy to get along with he was. That was a fun season to work in Maysville thanks in large part to Mike and that team and without a doubt the man could flat-out coach. All the best. - Richard Skinner

Just for transparency sake, when I was doing the list I did the girls first and didn't think we were including Pendleton County (for the record I think we should include Pendleton, Carroll, Gallatin and Owen, but we haven't always in the past). I then asked when I was doing the boys because I have seen Mason Monroe play and knew he should be a first-team if we were and when I was told yes on Pendleton I included them for the boys, but didn't go back and add Heather to HM.... Richard Skinner

There is and LCA scored two more in the top of the fifth, then held Holy Cross scoreless in the bottom for a 16-3 final. Jeff Guidugli and Kyle Fuller were named to the All-Tournament team.

LCA scores seven times - six coming with two out - on only four hits in the top of the fourth to build the lead to 14-2. Holy Cross scores once inthe bottom of the fourth when Jeff Guidugli singled home Ricky Pangallo, who had led off with a double. Top of 5th: LCA leads 14-3.

LCA scores three more runs in the top of the third. Mossbarger singled in one run, pitcher Lincoln Henzman drove in another with a single and Taylor Blair drove in the third with a sac fly. Holy Cross did get a run back in the bottom of the third when Conner Callery led off with a bloop double, went to third on a passed ball and scored on Justin Kohake's single to left. End of three: LCA leads 7-2.

Holy Cross cuts it to 4-1 with a run in the bottom of the second. Jake Burger drew a one out walk, went to second on a passed ball and scored on Rick Pangallo's double to right center. The Indians left two on with two out in the inning.

LCA now up 4-0 middle of second. Taylor Blair doubled to left with one out, went to third on a slow ground out up the first base line and then scored on a wild pitch by Blake Tiberi.

LCA scores three runs in the top of the first, two coming on a bases-loaded single with two outs by designated hitter Clay Mossbarger on a 2-2 pitch. That single came after Dallas Murphy had struck out swinging on a curve ball in the dirt that eventually bounced into the stands allowing Murphy to reach.

Boone County vs. Dixie at 1 p.m. at Dixie CovCath vs. Holy Cross (beat Conner 10-2) at 1 p.m. at Scott Finals hoping to get started at 4 p.m.

This not to pick on any kid, but just a statistical observation: Nick Frederick, Sawyer Pauly and Nick Ruthsatz, who combined for 49 points in the win over Holy Cross, combined for just 11 points tonight, and combined to make 1 of 32 shots from the field and the one make - a three by Ruthsatz - came as his dad was frantically trying to call a timeout. Wow.

It was a great game and Kudos to both Aaron for his strategy and the Ryle players for their gritiness in making the comeback. Because the newspaper I work for has turned into a pile of garbage when it comes to covering Northern Kentucky and because I am embarrassed my byline is on a story that got chopped to next to nothing in print (due to space) and online (for reasons no one probably knows), here is the gamer I filed from last night that provides some details and quotes: 33RD DISTRICT GIRLS SEMIFINALS: RYLE RALLIES AND BOONE ROLLS FOR 02-22-12 By Richard Skinner Enquirer Contributor A fourth-quarter injury to Ryle senior guard Tyianna Douthit and some pointed words from head coach Patti Oliverio to Douthit’s teammates as she was being attended to helped snap the Lady Raiders to attention in time to save their season. Ryle trailed Conner in their 33rd District semifinal game on Tuesday at Conner, 34-28, at the time of Douthit’s injury with 6:14 left in the game, but then proceeded to go on an 11-0 run when play resumed and pulled away for a 50-41 victory. Ryle (25-5), the No. 7-rated team in the state according to the Louisville Courier-Journal’s Litkenhous Ratings, advances to play Boone County, which is rated No. 5, in Thursday’s championship game at 7 p.m. Boone County (27-2) advanced with a 77-37 win over Cooper in Tuesday’s other semifinal. Douthit, who hit her head hard during a scramble for the ball, was attended to for almost 10 minutes and as she was being helped to her feet, Oliverio walked toward a huddle of her players to say something. “T is a senior and I just basically told them they didn’t want to end their career here, it’s been too good of a career and to remember who they were playing for and to play hard and we’ll be all right,” said Oliverio. “The other thing was just to pick up the defensive intensity. “Our defense has kept us in it all year. That’s what we really focused on this year, because on those bad shooting nights when everybody’s tight the defense will keep you in it. They got energy and kind of felt like they didn’t want it to be over and played a little faster on defense and it sped (Conner) up, too.” Senior teammate Jenna Crittendon said Douthit’s injury provided plenty of insipration. “She’s a senior, there are four of us, and we’re definitely not going to (get knocked out) in districts,” said Crittendon, who finished with 15 points. “That gave us a boost of energy and when coach said, ‘Are you guys going to end your careers in districts?,’ we knew we weren’t going to let that happen.” Senior guard Ashley Cheesman, who battled back from offseason knee surgery and only returned to play on Jan. 7, gave Ryle the lead for good at 35-34 on a three-pointer with 4:25 left to play. It was Cheesman’s only field goal of the game. “She has done that in a bunch of games since she came back - hit big threes at important times,” said Oliverio. “When she hit that shot you could just feel the energy on our team pick up.” Said Cheesman: “It allowed us to finally relax and get back to playing our game and that was pressuring them.” Junior guard Dawn Johnson, who finished with a game-high 17 points, followed with a fastbreak layup and junior forward McKell Oliverio completed the 11-0 run with a short jumper from the left baseline to put Ryle on top 39-34 with 3:15 remaining. The Lady Raiders went 8 for 8 from the line in the final 1:26 to seal it. Conner coach Aaron Stamm said Douthit’s injury probably took some momentum away from his team after it had rallied from as much as 21-13 third-quarter deficit to take a 34-27 lead with 6:50 left in the game. “It probably did, because we were on a roll, but they’re a top 10 team in the state and we knew they were going to make a run and they made it and we had a hard time coming back from it,” said Stamm. Stamm used an effective matchup zone for much of the game to limit Ryle offensively and Conner did a respectable job handling Ryle’s full court pressure to not only stay in the game, but take the lead. Senior guard Chelsea Castleberry helped fuel the comeback with six of her 12 points in the third quarter, including a basket with 2:01 left in the quarter that put Conner on top, 25-24. Conner senior guard Dawn Peacock, the team’s leading scorer who was harassed all night by Johnson and Douthit, gave the Cougars their biggest lead at 34-27 with a three-pointer from the left corner. “We felt if we could make the game slow and methodical and make them at least shoot over us we’d have a chance,” said Stamm. “Our kids gave everything they have and competed like they belonged.” In Boone County’s win over Cooper, senior forward Sydney Moss led the way with 17 points, six rebounds, six assists and three steals and didn’t play at all in the fourth quarter. Moss, senior forward Zuri Hill and senior center Lydia Nash combined to score 35 points in the first half. Hill had all 15 of her points in the first half and Nash had eight of her 12 in the half. 1 2 3 4 - F Ryle 12 7 8 23 - 50 Conner 10 3 16 12 - 41 Ryle (50): Crittendon 4 5 15, Oliverio 3 0 6, Dixon 0 0 0, Douthit 1 0 3, Johnson 6 3 17, Cheesman 1 3 6, Smith 0 3 3. Totals 15 14 50. Conner (41): Peacock 4 1 10, Scott 2 1 7, Porter 4 4 12, Castleberry 5 2 12, Pluto 0 0 0. Totals 15 8 41. Three-point goals: R-Crittendon 2, Johnson 2, Douthit, Cheesman. C-Scott, Peacock. Records: Ryle 25-5, Conner 20-10. 1 2 3 4 - F Boone County 25 22 19 11 - 77 Cooper 11 5 16 5 – 37 Boone County (77): Moss 7 1 17, Hill 6 3 15, Nash 6 0 12, A. Switzer 3 3 12, Jones 0 0 0, E. Switzer 3 1 7, Murphy 2 0 5, Popp 0 2 2, Ford 1 0 2, Knotts 2 0 4, Kreimer 0 1 1. Totals 30 11 77. Cooper (37): Thompson 2 0 4, Ross 3 0 8, Arnett 2 0 5, Brinneman 1 2 4, Pittman 2 1 7, Moore 2 0 6, Smith 0 1 1, Van Dusen 1 0 2. Totals 13 4 37. Three-point goals: BC-A. Switzer 3, Moss 2, Murphy. C-Pittman 2, Ross 2, Moore 2, Arnett. Records: Boone County 27-2, Cooper 9-22.

NKYfan96 is correct I do believe. Brossart finished 7-1 in the conference (its lone loss coming against St. Henry as the NewCath game in the All 'A' doesn't count as a "conference" game) and St. Henry finished 6-2, losing to Beechwood (which is Division II this year) and Holy Cross. - Richard Skinner Your NKAC winners are: Division I: Dixie boys, Boone girls Division II: Holy Cross boys, Brossart girls Division III: Dayton or Ludlow (they play this Friday) boys, Villa Madonna girls

http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20120215/SPT0302/302150083/St-Henry-rallies-top-NewCath?odyssey=mod|newswell|text|FRONTPAGE|s Wild finish for sure.

Mexitucky. They are my picks by and large, but I do ask for coaches input (especially when it comes to offensive linemen) and use their All-Star teams as a guide. As I mentioned sometimes the coaches tend to spread the wealth. Some picks for me are easy, based on stats, seeing them play, etc., and some aren't especially when you have three or four players left for one spot. Richard Skinner