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Royals beat a very good DC Queens team from Dallas yesterday to advance to the Elite Eight. In a quick look through AAU Division 1 records since 1990, I couldn't find very many Kentucky teams that had advanced very far in the national tournament. What is the best finish by a Kentucky AAU team that anyone can remember?

Looks like a third of this team is from Cincy.

Coaches can only vote for coaches and players within their own region. If Coach Flyball is the only coach from the 9th region who votes and he votes for himself and one of his players for coach and player of the year guess who wins. At the selection meeting for the east-west all stars coaches from other regions can sing praises for another player outside of their region but only if that player has been nominated and her name is on the list. So don't complain if that coach wins because you are TOO CHEAP to join the Kentucky Softball Coaches Association and support your own players and other players and coaches in your region that are most deserving.:taz:

Don't preach! You're missing the point. It is what it is. They showed up and they voted. I'm saying the person they voted for is not even the best player on their own team!!!! Maybe not the second best!

I am sorry but I would be embarrassed to vote for my player or child if they clearly weren't the best in the Region. That would reflect poorly on me, IMHO. I think my daughter would be embarrassed as well.

IMO, not even the best on the Ryle team, forget the region! Take Crupper off that team and they are avg. Take anyone else off the team and they are still pretty good...as long as Crupper is on the mound. You tell me who the MVP of that team is.

I would agree with you, however, I do give the coach props for promoting her team by being a member and making the trip to the coaches meeting.

Team??? Was that player the best player on the team. wouldn't have been my pick!

Basketball this year 1-3 Baseball 1-0 Softball 2-0 Girls Tennis regional champs...should I keep going....Lol. NCC great programs for sure but you are way off base brother.

Plus Girls bball won the district with a win over NCC. This guy needs to get out more! With what the football game would have looked like, I'd say HHS is doing just fine against them.

I must have missed some posts because I don't recall anyone saying this years success lies solely with Spencer.

Not just in this forum, but several others as well. I just happen to vent in this one. Sorry.

There are some good points made. But I think if you're going to break down one team, your team of researchers should look at all the other squads as well. St Henry's program lost 5 seniors last season. This season only 7 of the 14 girls were returning from the year before; 2 seniors, 2 sophomores and 3 freshman. This group of 7 facing the darkest days of their high school program received hope and a clear future. 6 of the new 7 girls have not played anything above rec ball. So like HHS, they had to work their butts off, compete for gym time during a very wet pre-season, and play through injuries. With so few, a threat of one or two injuries would have sidelined the team

Coach Fogt learned quickly that like HHS Football, St Henry has Cross Country, Track, Volleyball, and let's not forget Boys Baseball that will get more attention in the daily school announcements than the Softball Program. By the end of this season, I think Coach Freedom has definitely done a lot more for the program.

The Lady Cru did have some not so good losses against some good opponents. But with young players, there are going to be days when they forget their roles

Not taking anything away from Andy or Rob, Coach Freedom remains a strong front runner for Coach of the Year.

Let's see how this season influences new girls to join the program only to make it stronger

My break down has nothing to do with coach of the year or where HHS should be ranked. I can't say it any plainer than this...HHS' swing upward has more to do with the hard work of all the girls on the team, rather than a transfer of a pitcher. Period! Just tired of hearing that the only reason they have had the uptick in success is because of a transfer. Simply false! If you believe that, then you are discrediting the hard work my daughter and all the other girls put in during the offseason.

I'm not saying others didn't put in a lot of work or overcome obstacles along the way. But your team's success is not being attributed to one factor. Many could say that if SH didn't have Butts (a top pitcher in the region), they wouldn't have had close to the season they had. If you're not Butt's family, than it's probably hard to hear that the only reason they win at all is because of Butt's. Take her out of the lineup and where would they be? What's the difference if Butt's transfered in or not? If they only reason they win is because of her, then what's that say about the rest of the program! Just used that as an example. I don't believe that at all, but that's exactly what others are saying about HHS. "They would be the same ol Highlands without the transfer of Spencer!" C'mon, really???

Don't need my researchers to do any work. Just got tired of hearing all the crap about a transfer and used this forum to speak my mind about all the other posts crediting all of HHS' success to a transfer.

You bring up some very good points but after reading your post it still doesn't change my views at all. I do not remember anyone saying that the transfer was the SOLE reason HHS is improved. I know I said it had as much to do with them improving as anything.

 

As far as hating on Highlands you guys have not earned that yet so you can throw that out the window. HHS is improved in part bc a lot of things just bc someone says it has something to do with the pitching isn't taking away from their other kids, that's just dumb.

 

HHS is an above avg middle of the pack team, yes you only lost to 3 NKY teams but most those were really bad losses and you won a lot of close games against similar teams. At the end of the day you are what you are. And to since this is a thread is about coaching I think Highlands coach is doing a great job, with or with out your "above avg pitcher"

My post was not to say how good HHS is. I know where they stand and until the get their "over the hump" win, i'm perfectly satisfied where most people think they fall. Honestly don't really care about a poll, other than it's fun to see what others think. If you would have told me last year that people would even be talking about HHS softball, i would have laughed at you! My post was just to try and educate everyone that thinks the recent improvement (no matter where they fall) is not only because of a transfer. And I'm not just talking to you. It's in several comments from multiple people on this board. It's almost become a given on the board that their success is mostly because of the tranferring pitcher. It definitely is part of it, but not as much as most people preceive on this board. I hate to see the rest of the team's hard work get overshadowed by the perception that it's turned around because of one player coming in!

Here's what I say?...

Andy- best year in the best district.

Joe - Yes they got Smith, but were already going in the right direction.

Rob - completely turned the mentality of a "rec" program into a darkhorse for the region in one year. Forget about the transfer. more on that at the bottom.

Freedom - did a lot coming in late. A couple good wins and a couple not so good losses. She did have to get things together in a tight turn, but having one of the best pitchers in the region can get you a few nice wins and mask some weak points.

As for HHS and separate from this subject. What is starting to be perceived is that the transfer of spencer has led to their success.

Let's take in some facts (had to ask a few questions to get some of the info, but pretty sure about it):

Already been agreed that HHS has basically the personnel as last year with the exception of Spencer. Graybill, Quillen, Coffey, Leighty, Turner, Grosser have all been there at least 2 years prior to this season.

According to KHSAA...Birds are scoring 2 runs per game more this year than last and giving up 2 less runs...against a much better schedule. Our pitcher has nothing to do with the runs we scored.

Just by watching, I can tell you they are committing way less errors than last year. they make plays i didn't think i'd see out of them. yes, they still have their moments of errors, but overall, they are much improved. Spencer doesnt strike everyone out! She's not Smith, Butts, Biz, Crupper or Knotts!! people like to make her out to be when it's convenient to blame HHS's success on Spencer.

HHS already had a pitcher on their roster that pitches on the same travel team as Spencer. They didn't have terrible pitching to start with! do I think Spencer is better, yes, but they weren't starting with a beginner without spencer. Also had another pitcher with varsity experience that decided to take a year off after tryouts.

The girls busted their tails in the offseason. Skills and physical training were 3 days a week from October on. Many advances were made in the offseason.

They only have 9 varsity players. 4 freshman, 2 soph, and 3 jrs. I know people say everyone is young, but their next 5 off the bench are 7th graders with VERY little competitive softball experience. That means HHS has been sucking up injuries and illness the entire season and still have only lost to 3 NKY teams. The trip to Lexington was a disaster with illness and inuries and couldn't have been scheduled at a worst time.

HHS was 10-19 last year against a softer schedule. This year have only lost to 3 9th region teams. Please don't tell me that's because of a transfer of a decent pitcher.

My point with all of this...it's crazy to think a transfer of an above average pitcher (that most have said is not that big of a difference maker in the region) is the sole reason for their turnaround this year. Its the work all the girls have put in the off season and the belief they can compete with the teams in the 9th region. That was not there in the past! HHS would have been good with or without Spencer. Are we grateful to have a nice freshman pitcher with a lot of upside, absolutey! Very excited about the future. But it was only part of their success this year. Give the other girls credit. They are good and deserve it. I know a lot of people don't like HHS and hate the football success. They like to see the other sports do bad so when the football followers gloat, they can say "what about the rest of the sports". Well remember that these are just young ladies, just like your daughters and your players. They have nothing to do with HHS football. Heck, I couldn't name one football players in the last 5 years! The girls work their tails off now and deserve more recognition than just attributing it to a transfer.

Not sure what records from year to year has to do with things when they are two different teams.

 

Don't know all details about St Henry, but coach Fogt got the job at the end of Jan, so she was way behind the from the start. I would say it would be an understatement that people were not happy with the coaching staff in the past and that St Henry had as much talent as the top teams in the area but never lived up to that. They lost one of the better players and pitchers in the area with Salzer moving on along with some other very nice players.

 

Key wins off the top of my head would be Boone and Gallatin County and Bracken County which beat NDA twice. If GC was in the 9th they would for sure be in the top 4 talk. They finished 4th in the All A state tourney also. Not sure they have any real bad losses unless you count the 2-1 loss to Cooper bad.

 

I can't really speak about the Development of personel. What they have done from the outside looking in is change the culture there.

 

As far as other coaches you have to have NDA's coach and Highlands coach up there along with Coach P at Boone. NDA and Highlands were benefited greatly by having pitchers transfer into their schools but have still done a great job.

Ms. Fogt has done an outstanding job and is definitely worth the nomination! Especially after taking the reigns late!

If they graduated half their team, then records from year to year don't mean much. I have no idea what they had last year vs. this year.

But my point for using the previous year's record is...it can be a measurement. I will use my daughter's team (HHS) as an example. They were 10-19 a year ago and only graduated one senior. Yes a nice pitcher transferred in, but they still had Leighty that i think pitches for the same travel team as Spencer. So, yes, they got a pitcher (who several on here have said doesn't make them a regional contender), but they basically flipped flopped their wins and losses from a year ago with basically the same team. Lost one (a senior leader) and gained one. That's where a look at last year's record vs this year's record may apply. but you're right, it may not apply to all teams.

I know ND got Smith and that was dropped in their lap, but let's not take away the fact they are still very good. HHS actually hit Smith in their matchups and the ND defense made plays to keep them off the bases. Nice plays! They also hit. So Smith may have jolted them to the top of the region, but I think there is some great coaching going on with the rest of their team also. And from watching them against HHS the other night, I think HHS only recognized 2 seniors. So they got it going on at ND as well. I just hate to see a great coaching job overshadowed because of a great transfer. It definitely helped, but the foundation was already there.

What about Dixie? I know they have been quiet this year, but if i'm not mistaken, they have had a pretty good year after what they've gone through. From talking with one of their parents, I think they had 3 girls transfer out and a couple decide not to play. To hold that together and have a competitive season deserves some recognition as well.

I also agree with the job done at Boone this year! Great year for the rebels!

Let's talk about Coach of the Year for Freedom Fogt. Who's involved in the voting process and how can we lobby for this? She has definitely been a positive influence on a program that was almost declared dead at the beginning of the year. I'll definitely be buying votes to guarantee this nomination

Well make a case for her.

What was their record this year vs last year?

Whats their strength of schedule look like?

Key wins and bad losses?

Is St Henry usually a contender or is this a turn around of a program?

Development of key personel or did they that in place already? Pitcher, catcher, etc?

What other coaches would be in the running against her?

I think if there is a legit case for her, lets get it out.

Perfect most AD's love hiring coaches that are not qualified.

Lee Meeks...coach of the year in the 9th??? Took a team from 7-23 last year to 13-11this year (so far) and a regional contender!

Where the heck is Notre Dame??? Clearly the best team in the 9th and definitely able to compete with several of the teams on this list. Same thing happened in basketball this year and we know what they did in basketball!!

I agree, you put a different pitcher on the mound for HHS, they are a totally different team, which alot of teams would be. Congrats to HHS on their improvement this year:thumb:

Thanks! And she's only a freshman! And so is their shortstop (coffey), their best player (graybill) and their 3rd leading hitter (Dutcher)!

That getting over the hump can be hard, what makes it even harder for HHS is that the teams they need to beat the next 2 years all have their pitchers returning for the most part so they are going to be right there year in and year out. HHS has to figure it out or they will be stuck in the same place for several years.

 

Good luck to your daughter with her slump hopefully one big hit changes everything. I have one piece of advice for all hitters in NKY, and that's do not let the umps get you in a slump by making you swing at bad pitches, I tell my daughter I would rather you walk back to the dug out with the bat in your hand than swing at bad pitches. I am not saying close pitches that miss by a couple of inches I am talking about balls that are clearly out of the stike zone. I think we all see those, its hard enough in this game to hit good pitches sometimes much less bad pitches, so just tell the ump he sucks and go take a seat!!

It really hasn't been pitching for the other team that does the birds in. it's usually defense. I wasn't there last night and obviously Crupper pitched well and the birds didn't hit. That will happen against good pitchers from time to time. But in other games against good pitching, they have hit well enough to win. It's all the minor mistakes they make on defense that differentiates them from the others IMO. So as we discuss the future, remember there are no seniors on the team and they start 4 freshman and 2 sophomores. This is the coaches first year cleaning things up and they will continue to get better. I'm sure they will continue to polish the defense. It's repetitions, instruction and discipline they need. That doesn't happen overnight on in one year even! As far as other teams pitchers, IMO, I don't think they worry too much about that. They are good and hard to beat, but even in some of the losses the birds have had this year against those pitchers, it wasn't the other team's pitcher that did them in. Defense was the culprit!

scoring

8 against Butts and St Henry

5 against Crupper and Ryle in the first game.

Two good games against Conner (I know you say Conner doesn't score runs, but that would be the same for everyone they play). We acutally lost on a walk off 2 run blooper with two outs in the last inning in the first game.

Smith appears to have our number, but we have actully hit the ball decent with not much to show for it. In fact, in one of our losses to them, I believe we out hit them! (according to the paper).

The birds will all get stronger as they get older. They all play competitive summer ball and they all have the desire to win. They also have a strong middle school group coming up that will supply depth and create competition for spots. Something they have never had. I truly believe it's just a matter of time. maybe i'm wrong!

Never play Ryle a day after they lost. Good job Ryle.

Couldn't make the game but heard it was ugly for the birds.

I think they will be too, but I would add this caution. They have to get to the region first. Also they had better win the 36th, because the other 3 district winners are all gonna be tough, and if they are the runner-up in the 36th, then I think it will be tough for them to win 1 game in the region. (same would hold true for Newport or NCC)

wow again! the only NKY teams HHS has lost to are ND, Ryle, Conner and were losing to Boone. One of them won't be in the region. HHS already beat SH, Dixie (twice), NCC twice. may not have beat a big boy yet, but it's coming!

The reason HHS people were talking about the errors early on was because is was keeping them from beating the good teams and blowing everyone else out. It was frustrating early. feels like some feel they can't hang with SH. the last time the birds played them, it was on the verge of a run rule until the cru made a late run sparked by a ton of errors early in the season for the birds. those errors seem to have been cleared up with getting the right players in the right positions and finally executing. Time will tell.

I'm not saying Cooper is a good team, I'm just saying they haven't been getting killed. Your pitch and catch are good, but just don't see a whole lot of defense after that JMO:idunno:

wow, when quillen plays 2nd, they arguably have one of the best middle infield combos in NKY that i've seen this year with Coffey and Quillen! and grosser in center gets it done! i agree the rest can be up and down at times, but they still compare to most of the other teams in NKY. crazy how everyone thinks HHS D is not good, but up until this weekend tournament, they were 13-5 against NKY competition playing a pretty good schedule. this past weekend was another story with illness and injuries.

Cooper has been playing decent lately, congrats to Holy Cross. Also, I think it may be an early out for the Blue Birds if they draw Holy Cross:isurrender:

you do need to get out more...Cooper playing decent lately??? because they pulled one upset over st henry?? have you seen the other scores??? i need your definition of "playing decent" and "lately".

I think their pitching is about equal and I think Holy Cross has more talent on the field which leads me to believe, Early out for the Blue Birds. JMO

you should get out more. birds just beat HC last week 4-1 without Graybill in the lineup! (who is arguably one of the best hitters in the state). pitching the same??? C'mon! what I saw, HC has two players. ss and catch! their shortstop made two or three plays that kept it from being a blowout.

Nice post but why not just do runs scored for and against the 9 teams that will have a chance to be in the region tourney. ..Newport has a very small chance to make the region.

didn't newport only lose to NCC 2-1? Isn't that who they will play in districts?

all numbers can be misleading. HHS has beaten Dixie and NCC twice and beat st henry in their only matchup.

Have no idea....it's fun to play the devil's advocate when you want to be on the other side of the argument....fact is we were beating St. Xavier at the time, who I believe was bigger, maybe another. I am not a direct advocate of saying that enrollment is #1 to winning. I would rather like to see a stat with the % of boys that play. That's an argument that I would be willing to garner.

 

For example at Trinity if we have 1,440 boys and 175 in the progam, that's 12.2% of the population.....if HHS has 423 and just 12.2% played that would be 52 kids in the program...I bet they have more than that.

Now tell us within those 175, how many live, lets say, within 10 miles of campus.

No but you are not happy about my unofficial poll and comments about your defense and pitching. There has been many posts by HHS people stating there defense has let them down in games. You fail to mention the Boone game also that was 7-0that got suspended in like the 4th inning.

 

And yes your schedule isn't great, its the same as most teams in the 9th region out side of maybe Ryle, Conner and Boone who travel around to play better competetion. No one is saying your schedule is bad its just like most so yes IMO it's not great.

 

And yes Caketown is going in the right direction, their time may or may not come but my comments or thoughts will have nothing to do with it either way. I think anyone could win the region this year, but still would say HHS is a year or two away. Yes your roster is fairly young but remember so is the vast majority of teams. Smith and Sims are both still only Soph's so HHS needs to find a way to beat them if they ever want a chance at the region.

they will have to beat those two at some point. however, those pitchers may not move on, but some of their defense will over the years. the birds haven't had many issues putting the ball in play against either one of them. simms had maybe 1 strikeout last night. she pitched good! birds just put the bat on the ball. just couldn't get a big hit. plenty of opportunities.

the schedule is not different in that the birds do play a lot of the same teams that other 9th regions teams play. however, most 9th region teams don't play the top 5-6 twice! that's the difference! Ryle, Boone, Conner, ND, NCC, Dixie all twice.

Boone hit the crap out of the ball the day HHS started that game with them. believe two girls hit their first HR's that day! it's in the top of the 4th. the birds have 4 swings at that, so I don't count that one out yet.

I knew I should have just put HHS at number one bc if not they would come on here and complain.

 

HHS is giving up over 5 runs a game and your schedule isn't great. You lost big to NDA and Ryle and played close games against Conner, I would say Conner struggles to score. Could you have an arguement over being ahead of NCC and St Henry yes, but I didn't look at every teams stats before I posted it. You have two close wins against those teams so I would say it could go either way.

 

If you would like do your own poll and you can have HHS ranked 1-10 for all I care. And if you think your pitching is going to win you the region good luck, she may be doing ok but if HHS is going to beat one of the top teams and win the region they are going to have to try and out score them.

really? did anyone say anything about number 1? and did anyone say they were winning the region??? settle down!

NOW our schedule isn't "that great". The only teams they've played that aren't in your top 10 are Bellevue (district game), Nicholas Co (region 10 defending champs), Brossart and Cooper. Brossart and Cooper don't seem to be their normal selfs, but they are typically pretty good.

7 of their 12 games have been against teams that you have ranked higher than them and 8 against your top 10. add Nich Co to that and up to 9 of their 12 games have been against quality opponents. pretty solid schedule. The other 3 are Bellevue, Brossart and Cooper.

Ryle did get the birds and you're right, it was the defense that let them down in that game. 9errors the day HHS let out for spring break. Ryle should have scored 2 runs. ND does have their number right now and Conner is very solid. but the birds have played and beaten everyone else. maybe not number 1.

they have made defensive changes and the errors are going down everytime they play. remember, they start 4 freshman, 2 sophs, 3 JRs and no SRs! they are 7-5 after playing a tough part of their schedule. things are looking good in caketown. (just admit it!) :up:

i'd say HHS has played enough defense to already have beaten St Henry and NCC. only losses for HHS are ND (twice), Conner (twice, 3-2 and 4-2) and Ryle.

And not sure where improved pitching comes into play. their pitchers have done well.