TheFauxTiger

Wow. They are really loaded in the Fort. Surely they will find another spot for him?

Clyde, who is the frosh catcher that is in the Midland program? Will he get time?

Ouch. That's too bad for those kids, but they will be fine.

Highlands is stacked top to bottom. You didn't even mention Ethan Doty, who is rated by PBR in the top 10 of the 2017 class. Jones, Martin and Raisor should be the best rotation in the area, although BW with Fieger, Combs and Stringer will be strong too, as will Conner's top 3. If BW can find someone to play SS, they could be really good. From 1-5 in their order, which you probably named in order above in the first four kids, they will be as good as anyone, although I would hit Stringer in a run producing slot rather than leadoff. Needs some work on base running, but is a devasting hitter with RISP. Slusher is a great baserunner, would lump him with the Cam Vogel's and Cam Ross' of the world, I would hit him leadoff. I would add Blake Hamilton to your list, 4 year starter who had a very nice year at the plate last year and will hit either 4 or 5. When you run out four kids at the top that are career .400+ hitters, you should score some runs. Tigers problem is they have a ton of first basemen and DH's, but are very thin on the infield. Coach Mullins gonna have to work some magic and hit a lot of ground balls in pre-season. Couple new names that will step up for them this year will be Kyle Rowe and Ryan Bankemper. Both got spot time last year, should be regulars now both at the plate and on the mound. Again though, they are both probably more 1B and DH fits.

How's the depth on that team? They have 4 kids in those you just mentioned that could play for anyone, but will numbers hinder them vs the ones we all think are going to be the best? Would love to see them have a great year, really big fan of Coach G.

Started at WR. Pretty good athlete, and long.

The McViddie at at Moe has exactly zero HS starts heading into his senior year. If ever proof was needed that HS football is becoming irrelevant in the recruiting process here it is. Camps get it done.

I am a bit skeptical, and have been, of PBR's exit velos. I was not there yesterday, but historically I have felt the #s were incorrect. I buy the pitching numbers, but the hitting ones are tough to buy

Ty Lyons is a really good player at Ludlow, surprised to not see him on your list, certainly on par with those that are. Ziggy at Ryle, Purnell and Teegarden at Boone will be three of the best around.

Feel better? Stand by my opinion, guess we all are entitled to that. I am not basing my opinion on record, I am basing it on what I saw, which was about 5 games. I also love the "throwing off" reasoning. Everyone always uses that when they lose. I am not a 9th region homer as you put it, complete neutral observer, but IMO if you put that team vs any of the top 4 or 5 from the 9th in a three game series, or ace vs ace, 9th wins. I will assure you the 9th teams also "threw off" as you put it, who doesn't in non district games? I saw posted on here what the record was for SK vs the teams from that region, don't think it was very good, and I will never buy the fact that a HS coach throws a regular season game with no care for winning. Another excuse. I was at every game in Lexington. To refute that they got anything less than a favorable side of the bracket is simply being a "homer".

No Beechwood on the schedule? That's disappointing. Not been that long since Holmes beat them, seems like a natural rivalry to me.

Will would not be described as "lanky", never has been. He and Combs at BW are kind of built similarly, Will probably even is a little thicker these days, saw Brayden the other day and surprised how thin he was, looks like he is working hard on his baseball body, which is a good thing. I think, like Clyde, Will will show show improvement on the power side. He does have a tendency to drag his hands through the zone, causing a lot of base hits in the 6 hole or bouncers up the middle. IMO that is just quality instruction, hard to imagine a kid with that size and ability not having some pop. He also runs surprisingly well, not sure he gets credit for that. I think arm strength will have to improve if he would be an OF at the next level, did have a serious arm injury a couple years back that IIRC took him off the mound. Another name to watch for is Alex Goodrich at Ryle. He has done very well at all levels, and this should be the year he gets a shot at the varsity level. Good command and has adequate velo to compete at the varsity HS level around here. Not sure what Ryle has coming back, but I would think as a junior now he will see some innings. Will also throw the Teegarden (sp) kid at Boone in there. I know he started last year, but probably was a little overmatched at points. He won't be this year. Very good glove and love his approach at the plate. He and Purnell should make a great tandem.

I have a hard time picking BW at the top, losing Suchanek and Booth is a huge loss. Jason was the undisputed leader of that team, when kids started waffling he brought them back in. Not a kid around here I would rather go into a game with than him, he was an animal. Trevor was extremely under appreciated, certainly was one of the top middle infielders defensively around here. Both kids were tough outs at the plate, and not sure there are replacements. Sure the star power is still there with Combs and Stringer, and I am sure Slusher will have another big year, but not sure they will hit well as a team and have no clue who will play the MIF positions? Word around the water cooler is they will attempt to convert one of the OFs to the SS position, not sure any of those kids have played there since they were 8 so that could be a huge issue.

Ummm.....allow me to give you a hint. I know plenty about college recruiting, specifically baseball recruiting. Not going to call you out on a forum of anonymity, but reading your posts and your evals of some of these kids I would say that's the pot calling the kettle black. Keep on living man. And my pick for a local kid to do big things is the Raisor kid at Highlands, as well as Will Heppler at CCH. Both kids tasted a little bit last year in supporting roles. Both, especially Hepp with Schreiver moving on, will be counted on this year to shine in lead roles. I think if Will would go to a premier summer team he could be a heavily recruited kid. IMO he is every bit the hitter as the BW kids, but summer is magic season. The Force is good, but they aren't KBC, or The Flames, or Midland, or The Indiana Bulls, or even the up can coming Cincy Baseball Club. Raisor still will not be the lead dog in that rotation, that belongs to Mitchell Jones, but he will be counted on big time.

As you said many of those numbers only represent basically half a season, or even less. I don't think Braden Combs got another at bat due to injury, for example. Secondly, not sure how much weight I would put on the site that's in question. I mean, the video is from a backyard. Doesn't scream credibility to me.

Beechwood has some holes to fill, but has a nice core. Return 4 year starting QB and first team all area Fieger (who IMO will be best QB in NKY) All everything LB and WR Slusher, very big linemen Combs and Overstreet on both sides of ball, 1300 yard 26 TD TB in Stringer, and Jacob Cottingham, all kids who were part of what they did. Some nice young players in Everett and Benson, and some line kids that have waited their turn in Rowe and Hermes and will get a shot their senior years who played great at the JV level this year. They have very good young players, but until you see them on Friday night you never know what you get. Not sure they will be top 5 overall in NKY, but with the absence of the dark knight from the west they have a good shot to make it to BG.

I agree Conner will be a player. Arlo is one of two best coaches in NKY (Coach B at HHS the other) and will have them ready. That said, Ross is a very big loss. You lose your ace and that moves everyone up a slot. I know Blaise has been good and will probably assume that role, but after that you don't know how kids will react when they are asked to pitch against the Ryles and Boones and Coopers as opposed to throw off games.

Kind of my point before I was slapped down by the board monitor. And Simon Kenton and Scott were mediocre teams at best that caught fire and won regions far less deep and competitive as the 9th, and SK caught a very good draw in state tourney and kept going. Highlands may be best team on paper, but if they draw the ace from Ryle, or BW, or Conner, that could be it. Silly to make broad statements in this sport

Ok. Then I agree, list is good

Good point, I guess I made a prediction to. Allow me to restate, I have no predictions.

Agree on both. Brett was best LB I saw all year. Ethan Stringer as HM RB as well. Over 1200 yds and 26 tds. Split time much of season. Also, if Drew Moore truly was left off this list, they should burn it and start over

That's hilarious. I will go out on a limb and say no way does HHS win 9th, let alone state. Way too difficult to predict baseball as many have said. A very mediocre Simon Kenton team caught fire, and parlayed a great bracket draw into a state runner up. That team would have been the 6th or 7th best team in the 9th, yet advanced. No way to predict.