bulldog77

I'll tell you plain and simple. The BOC and the KHSAA are mortally fearful that if all other team sports are classified there could eventually be pressure to classify their sacred cow, basketball. They now and will in the future hide behind the notion that classification will increase travel costs when across the board that notion is patently not true. One true champion? Come on, that argument is as archaic as it is self serving for the minority of schools that currently prey upon the rest. This is a dollars and sense problem, period and that problem is based in fear. I've heard it straight from the mouths of those in power and second hand from those who heard it as well. This is no longer about the kids, it's about money and control and basketball. Not classifying these sports is wrong and detrimental to the sports and primarily to the athletes themselves and the reasoning is as wrong as the notion itself. For once I defy these people to put the athletes first, not money, not control, not caveman thinking and do the right thing and do it as quickly as possible.

With all due respect, the "one true champion" argument holds water only in the eyes of fans and people outside the game. For Dayton to have to compete with the likes of a Pleasure Ridge Park is utterly ridiculous. Anybody can claim exceptions to the rule and I commend those programs hardily, but the facts are that some 75% of schools in this sport are numerically eliminated even before the district tournaments start. I am referring of course to numbers of students. Having three classes will do wonders for the baseball programs at the vast majority of schools and for the vast majority of players. More exposure, more opportunities. And don't try the argument that "the kids want one true champion" because there is absolutely zero credible data to back that statement up. The vast majority of the coaches in the sport have spoken in a poll conducted by the coach's association and they overwhelmingly want classification to happen.

The end walls are now painted white.

No, Coach Hicks is at Conner in the NINTH Region.

This is the single most important post I've read about Holmes all year. You have hit it exactly square on the head. As an alum who has also seen all of those same teams over the years I could not agree with you more. After some of the shenanigans and problems of not too distant years past, this collection of young men make all of us proud. I have made it a point to watch these young men before during and after games and they have conducted themselves like sportsmen and gentlemen each and every time I've seen them. Tempers flare on the court sometimes, it does for all teams, but I watch them control each other and take care of each other whenever a situation like that occurs. This indeed could be something very special for us all.

Holmes looked extremely leg weary tonight and they ran into a very good team who basically outplayed them, out-hustled them and wanted it more. The Bulldogs pulled it out because of superior talent, but make no mistake, Conner took it to them and is a very good team. I suspect they would dominate in the mountains (that was just for you know who). Conner came in with a solid game plan to run their offense inside out and they knocked down the shots that were there. Holmes fell into the three-pointer trap a few times but just weren't hitting those shots with any consistency. I thought Ricardo Johnson came up big at the end and steadied them in the final 4 minutes.

Sorry but I'll have to humbly disagree here. I've seen all the mentioned OF's here at length and Barrett most definitely belongs in their company. Lokesak stands out to me as the best of the bunch and Barker is right there as is Nutini. Ronald and Thomas both need work at the plate but are both strong considerations here. Let me also throw out Kelley at NCC, Nick Hiller at Scott, Thomas Noll at Conner and James Jones at Dayton as just a few more mentionable ones. There are definitely some more but my mind doesn't work like it used to anymore.

Legislation enacted by the KHSAA usually cannot be for a current season. Almost always legislation and votes (ala the vote to seed or not to seed a district) are for the succeeding season. My guess is it is so to avoid votes that will favor a particular team or district immediately. Also, the format and scheduling of district level competition would be impossible to accomplish this late in the game. The discussion is about a 3 or 4 class system with final 4's for each class at Applebees. Very doable, just not this quickly.

Currently being discussed for the 2009-2010 season.

And aside from a clear case of bias we'd like to see your reasoning.

And the choir said . . .AMEN!

This isn't meant in any negative way, but just because people aren't posting about a kid doesn't mean he's not better than those who are getting posted about. The kids who get all the ink and all the debate, aren't always the best players, just the best known or with the most vocal "backers." Jacob Robinson, from SK last year, is a great example. Basically overlooked by many of the local posters but ended up with real DI offers. Great hitter, great fielder, great pitcher. Some things didn't work out and he's playing and doing VERY well at a JUCO, but a very good example. He'll be back at a DI in no time. AJ Smith is long, lean and a prototype DI pitcher with strong mechanics, very good velocity and better than decent "stuff." The truth is we've got more of these kinds of kids in our area than even we ourselves give credit for.

While you are most certainly entitled to your opinion as to a team's schedule, at least keep in mind that scheduling is a two-way street. Just because you might think a team is a worthy opponent, doesn't mean you call them up and schedule them. They might not want to play you, they might have a full schedule, there might be other differences that prevent the game from being played. AND, while you might think some teams are strong right now, they may not be as strong in a season or two and you have a two or three year contract with them. This is especially true among the more cyclical smaller schools. I know Coach Eckstein well and I guarantee you he has worked to put together the strongest, most competitive schedule he can given all the variables involved. It's really easy to criticize when you don't have all the facts. Congrats to the Tigers for your hard work, dedication and effort. Congrats to the Wildcats, move on and play well.

Hunter did not start at Bellevue until well into January. Obviously that would prevent him from having played.

Neither of which, I'm sure you'll agree, is enough to make any kind of real judgement on.

Chas had an absolutely outstanding summer playing for the Bluegrass Chiefs hitting .404 and playing all three outfield positions. He showed great speed and tracked the ball very well. He also showed a better arm than expected throwing out three players at the plate. All this as a junior at the 18U select level. He should have a more than solid senior season by those standards.

#25 was Brad McIntosh, senior last season and graduated. Hunninghake did not play basketball last year.

Holy Cross and Newcath in the new alignment were 2A teams from the start. There was no "option" by HC to move up, they are in their appropriate class in the current football alignment.

Good work but this by no means applies to the situation described. There is no rule preventing the coach from calling "balk" after a movement by the pitcher that he interprets as a balk. This rule applies if, in the judgement of the umpire, the coach intentionally caused the balk by making a sound or motion . The key term is "Causing." I suspect the scenario as described is different. I understand the situation to be that the coach said "balk" after the pitcher made a motion to a base. Most coaches who feel a balk was committed will usually say something at that point. Doesn't make it right, doesn't make it bush league either. Just makes them human. Had he CREATED the balk by making a motion of yelling, then by all means, take him out and have him drawn and quartered.

And just what circumstance are those?

Absolutely agree. Maybe this PARENT has a problem with the idea of coaching his own son. Maybe he sees that as a conflict of interest. And, last I heard, sports isn't the ONLY reason a parent and/or student chooses a particular school. The whole basis for this alleged "disloyalty" is a clear and absolute violation of the spirit of the rules set forth by the KHSAA that everyone wants to bash the privates about! I know several coaches whose children attend different schools and they don't seem to "not care about" the players they coach. Actually it's quite the opposite.

Coach Meyerhoff is very aware of the dead period every year. He takes great pains to make sure either there are no Beechwood players present, or he doesn't coach the Lions team during that time. I have had the priviledge to sit in for him a time or two for just such reasons. Bob plays it straight.

Your memory may be a bit fuzzy. I can assure you they never no-hit the Bluegrass 18's ever. The Lions beat them last year for the first time in about 12 years. And I'm pretty sure I can be quoted on that.

So what? PLAY THE GAME. This attitude doesn't seem to be shared during the regular season when teams like Silver Grove are competing against the Louisville Males, et al for the state title. Why should it be of concern now? Maybe because now it adversely affects those bigger schools in No. Ky. that have had the advantages all these years? Gimme a break, play the game, test ourselves.