Kentucky Baseball Source

I'm told that Combs will be Teaching at Wolfe County. I look for his youngest son to be a Wolfe County Wolfe after this season.

I don't care what anyone say's about Chase Mullins but he was the most dominate pitcher to ever play in the 10th Region. I feel for the kid who did everthing in his power to try and get his coach a Regional Title before he retired. Mullins threw a 139 pitches or more in several ballgames The coach should have never had a child throw that many pitches. The end result is Mullins just had Tommy John surgery and will be redshirting his freshman year. I wish Mullins all the luck in the world. Good thing happen to good kids and his payday is only a few years down the road.

It's true. Combs didn't have any pitching which is why MC won't go anywhere next year. They have some very talented players but without pitching you won't go very far. You can't coach when you have you're assistant Coaches are complaining as much as disgruntled parents who's kids weren't playing. I wouldn't want my worse enemy to coach at Montgomery County. I have always said that Athletics in Montgomery County was Average. I think deep down Combs was glad to get away from the mess at MC and put it all behind him. I think he will do well at Wolfe County and the administration will back him and that's very important to a coach.

A lot of High School Coaches in the State of KY thinks Montgomery County is the grave yard for a good High School Coach. One Coach in the 10th Region said that MC was lucky to get Combs and when they got rid of him another in state coach would not take that job. The coaching search happened just like he said when he said they would have to go out of State and get a coach who wasn't very experienced. I'm wondering how the new coach is doing and how the players feel about him. If you can let us know I would be very appreciative.

I think it's fair to say that the 14th Region is not close to being as good as the 10th Region. If I'm not mistaken Montgomery County beat Wolf County last year in 5 innings. Last Season Bishop Brossart went to the State Tournament from the 10th Region while Powell County went from the 14th Region. The KHSAA web site shows that Montgomery County beat Powell County 3 times. MC finished the years with 22 wins in a fairly strong Region. I've always felt Powell County should get out of the 14th Region and go to the 10th Region. Powell County came on at the end of the year and came very close to beating State Champ Woodford County. I look for Powell to repeat in the 14th Region next year. Wolfe went to the Region because their District consist of Breathitt, Jackson City, Wolfe and I think Red Bird. Who wouldn't go to the Region playing teams like this. I look for Combs to guide the Wolfs to the Region every year.

Congrats

Gene Combs has officially been named the new baseball coach at Wolfe County High School. I think this is a great hire and Props to the administration at Wolfe County High School for setting their aim high and shooting for a big name coach. I still believe Coach Combs was treated unfairly by the so called administrators at Montgomery County High School. I look for Combs to turn this program around and get the support from School Officials and Parents which is something he didn't get at Montgomery County High School. Good Luck Coach Combs. You will do great things at Wolfe County before you are finished.

I was told that East Jessamine Coach Kevin Clary is being investigated by the KHSAA over one of his top pitchers from his Summer team transferring from Tates Creek to East Jessamine. I think Clary is a very good coach. Clary built a power house at Lexington Cathlic because of players transferring to Catholic who Played Summer Ball for him a few years ago. Lexington Catholic won the State Tournament while Clary was let go soon after winning it. If anyone can let us know what is going on there it would be much appreciated.

I hear Montgomery County has two transfers and one foreign eachange student. The point point guard they brought in is from Las Vegas and he gave Shabazz Muhammed all he wanted this past summer in AAU. I look for MC to bring in one more solid player and they we likely run away with the Regional Title. No one can say anything about the kids transferring because Clark,Mason,Scott,Catholic and Trinity has done this for years. Clark won't be like the Clark we have seen in the past and will be down this year. Mason is young and may make a run but when it's all said and done Montgomery County will run away with he 10th Region.

Until the past couple of years Montgomery County has not had a lot of talent that went through their system other than Drew Lee and a couple of others. Harrison County has had most of the talent in the 10th Region. I am not real thrilled about MC new Coach but I think he deserves a chance to see what he can do with this talented team.

The kid has a bright future and is a heck of a baseball player. I have always enjoyed watching him play. I say he was invited for a reason, so Coach Smith can get the upperhand on him to become a Hoosier.

Big Kat I agree with what you say. If the parents treat Hackett like they did Combs he won't stay very long. I have been told that Rison was taking over for the past 3 months and he hasn't been removed yet. Phil Rison would have got a coach with experience who would have loved to coach this team with the talent they have. You have a coach that played at Auburn which is impressive but his coaching experience is a 12 yr old all star team. You get rid of a coach with over 400 wins because parents wrote multiple letters because their child wasn't playing. Combs had Asst Coaches that stuck a knive in his back so many times it isn't funny. You better get rid of all the asst coaches who had kids on the team. One was a waste of space and I'm told by one parent that the other was a good baseball coach but he did have issues with Combs in the past. A coach from another County told me it would take an idiot to wan't to coach at MC because of the Administration. Let's hope Lee and Newkirk can lead this team back and they find a flame thrower for a pitcher. Good Luck to Coach Tackett. I wish you well.

I agree give the Coach a chance. Playing at Auburn is very impressive. I would get my own assistants and start over. I do think Montgomery County has just as much talent as any other Schools. The probem was Combs couldn't coach the way he wanted because the AD wanted his head from the very beginning when he wanted a schedule in the fall and it hadn't been completed. I have called MCHS three times and he would not talk to me. Combs was told who to play several times. If Hackett has a back bone he will tell the AD what he can do if the AD tells him who to play and gets treated like Combs got treated. I get the feeling he will be a yes man. I wish the Indians all the sucess in the world because when I watched them on thefield,including JV they were all class. Combs will be fine because a year out of the game will relieve him of stress of the AD trying to tell him who to play and how to coach, but most of all the parents that complained all the time because their son wasn't playing. This had nothing to do about losses and wins. MC won 22 or 23 games this season. This is about an AD who knows nothing about athletics, but wanted to flex his muscles and show the coaches who is boss. He won't be at MC long because he is as classless as any human being I have ever met.

Montgomery will be preseason number 1 in the Region. I think Mason County will give them a run or their money since the Region is at Mason County. Don't ever count out GRC who will be young but if they play like a team like they did last season then anything could happen. I heard Happy has already got a guard from Shelby County. I look for a few other players to be added before the season starts.

He had an outstanding career at a Paintsville High School. I could see this happening because Keith is well thought of in Paintsville.

Hackett was a graduate assistant but the last few years has been in the marketing business. He has no head head coaching experience what so ever. He is the only man who would take the job under Heffington. Good Luck MC Indians, you deserve better because you are a good bunch of kids

Montgomery County did exactly what I said they would do. They could not get a coach in state and they went and got a young coach who is out to make a name for himself and has no head coaching experience who has no idea what he is getting into . I wonder if he know's what he is getting into with this Administration that is currently at Montgomery County High School? I see this as another employee who is using MC as a stepping stone to get experience and move on. He may have a great team coming back next year if all the players come back and play. One player has already moved to Georgia and the other to Clark County. I did find out that their are a couple of players on the bench last year that are good ball players so MC could be a contender next year.

I'm told from an inside source that Heffington is still AD. My source as always been very accurate so I don't know what to believe. The best thing for me is to leave it alone and let them go ahead and destroy the Athletic Department at MC. If the people of MC don't care then I don't care either. Subject closed!

This just in, All Coaches that has been contacted about the Montgomery County Baseball Coaching job has turned the job down. Only a few coaches has been interviewed and three from Kentucky was called about their interest in the job and they all supported coach Combs and had no interest. The administration then started to reach out to candidates from other states who applied for the job. The Coaches left town in a hurry after the interview and turned the coaching job down. They did have one coach from Georgia say, I will get back to you but later called and turned down the job. Their is not a coach in the state of Kentucky who has any experience wants that screwed up job. MC officials cut your losses and hire Combs back but bring in a new Staff and save your face. Don't you wonder why Combs is getting calls every day from other schools? Maybe he can coach just a little and had the program going in the right direction. You have already got a bad reputation so do the right thing and quit letting the Parents ruin your program.

Mess is not the word for it! Gene Combs was forced out because of disgruntled parents as well as Tony Wise. I'm wondering when Happy is going yo start bringing his players in and Montgomery County kids are left out in the cold. I'm told that the KHSAA is watching him closely. I know for certain he has lost one player and gained a kid from Shelby County who is a player. I'm afraid a mess will be created thay even.Phil Rison won't be able to get them out of. It's not my baby so who cares!

I was informed Montgomery County High School Athletic Director Gene Heffington has been reasigned and is now Dean of Students and will no longer have any say so decisions related to sports. This move was made because their isn't a coach in the state who would work for him. Heffington works for his friend Josh Powell {who is going to get kicked out of Montgomery County the next few months} needs one more year to retire so he can pad his retirement of $85,0000 a year of tax payers money for one more year if Powell Can last that long. "I'm glad I don't live in Montgomery County and know my tax paying money goes to pad a man's retirement who has helped bring down a program who people worked hard on to get it where it could have been very respected". I look for Phil Rison to be named Athletic Director until another position comes open after November's election. Phil is very respected with the KHSAA and will do a very good job. The baseball coaching Job has been offered to a man out of state, and the Administration is waiting for an answer from him if he will take the job or decline it. I'm told some parents have contacted him and told him not to take the job because of how Gene Combs was treated when he was forced out. I have the name but I'm waiting to see if he takes the job before I put it on here. I'm told former Coach Combs has been interviewed by several schools and he should be hired by a School by the end of next week.

Sorry i don't know who his parents are other than the father who I spoke to during the Regional at Montgomery County. I don't know where his dad works at.

Big Kat, GRC brings back their intire infield back and their first baseman will be Matt Williams who has a good bat and a pretty good fielder. you have an infield of Thomas,Stoneking,Sherock and you have a solid infield. GRC lost Harris,Hunter Osborne and their starting Catcher who If I was Coach Ginter I would stick Steven Davis behind the plate. Montgomery County with Sam Lee, Blake Thomas and Chas Newkirk have three of the best players in the Region. Their is not another 2nd baseman on the Insdians Roster or in the 10th Region that has the glove ,skills and Knowledge of the game that Thomas has. I have been around the game of baseball for over 45 yrs as a player,coach and college scout and he has hands that you don't see players his age have. Sam Lee is going to a Division 1 school and will be a very good college player, Lee was KBS best Center Fielder this past season. Chas Newkirk is a good hitter and his glove is average but is playing out of Position because Thomas should have been the SS and Newkirk should of been at 2nd. Jordan Nester played a solid 3rd base this past season but I have heard several coaches say he would be an excellent 1st baseman. If Thomas goes back to his home town In Winchester like I'm hearing the Cards will have the best middle infield by far with Stoneking and Thomas. Luke Sherock will be the best 3rd baseman in the 40th district. Clark County will have something that Montgomery don't have and that is pitching. Nester was most consestent pitcher the Indians had along with Spencer Tabor. Hobie Hall was injured the biggest part of the year and could be a big help if he could stay healthy. Ben Gulley is on again off again and is very inconsistant at times.,other times he looks like a pitcher who is un hittable. Clark loses Harris speed but as far as a lead off hitter Thomas would take his spot.. Thomas has no where near the speed that Harris has but his on base perscentage was a lot higher but the threat of stealing bases would still be there. Bottom line is Thomas would do well at GRC who has a Coach who does not back down from any team in the state like he did this past season when they started out the season going 0-7. I agree that a change may be best for all parties involved because Thomas would be better off at a 6A school who plays the top teams in the state, MC can let some of the other players play who's parents ran Coach Gene Combs of because they weren't playing. Don't say that another player who sat on the bench this past season will come in and produce like Lee,Thomas and Newkirk because it won't happen. These kids will be in the 10th Region hall of fame some day especially Lee and Thomas and you don't replace that with someone who has sat on the bench with no varsity experience.

They go south every other year and the coach chose to put the money into the drainage system at the baseball field. The plans are to go south in 2014. GRC will easily win the 40th DIstrict if this young man does indeed transfer. I found out earlier today that he is from Clark County and they own property there. There won't be no appealing this one because MC don't have a leg to stand on if this family moves back to their home town. I hear several more will follow in his foot steps and move to other counties.

Big Kat with the Problems I'm hearing with administration and the firing of all the teachers and Principals, If I had a child that had talent GRC is where I would want him to go. They play the top teams in the state and they get the backing every year from the Administration and get to go down South every year to play ball. I talked to a very good source who has told me that his parents has withdrawn him from MCHS and they are planning on transfering him and their other kids to Clark County Schools. I called last week and asked if he had been withdrawn and they said they could not comment on any matters concerning children. I called GRC and they said they was not allowed to give out that infomation, but I did talk to a coach who said they would take him in a minute if he wanted to transfer. The Bottom line is I like watching this kid play and anyone who say's he won't play College Baseball either don't know baseball or just don't like the kid. Oh by the way I heard the Father of the child we are talking about went off on the AD after the AD threatened his wife in a very vilolent manner. If this is true they need to run the AD and Josh Powell out of town for bringing him in. That's just hearsay so who knows. I believe you will see this kid at GRC next regardless if he want's to go or not.