DevilMayCare

I hope this schedule holds together for them. Pikeville hasn't played ten regular season games since 2016. Dohn Community forfeited last year, so that's the one to keep an eye on. Corbin and Ironton are great additions. The Panthers aren't resting on the laurels. This is how you stay on top.

Notes • Trinity, Boyd County, and McCracken County have taken up residence in slots 1-3. They've occupied the top three in every poll this season. • The Shamrocks (☘️) have lived up to their #1 billing, running off twelve straight wins, including a shutout victory over #10 Manual today. • Boyd County (🦁) is doing its best to keep pace with T, winning 13 of its last 14. The Lions topped reigning R16 champion Raceland earlier this week in a matchup of EKY powers. • PRP (🐾) took another step forward in the rankings, climbing four more spots to #4. The Panthers have won ten straight, outscoring the opposition 113-11. They rank #2 in the state for team batting average (.378) and runs per game (10.1) • Apollo (🦅) has claimed victories over #2 McCracken County, #9 Frederick Douglass, and #18 Owensboro Catholic in the month of April. Noah Cook and Carter Kimmel have combined to allow 4 earned runs in 75 ⅔ innings of work. • Speaking of O-Cath (♠️), they make their Top 25 debut on the strength of winning the All "A" championship. The Aces live up to their nickname, with four pitchers sporting sub 2.00 ERAs with 20+ innings pitched each. • Continuing the theme of dominance from the mound, Muhlenberg County (🐎) pitchers haven't allowed an earned run in four games. The Mustangs own a staff ERA of 1.38 for the season. • The week's biggest mover is heading in the wrong direction. Saint Xavier (🐯) plummeted thirteen spots to #23 after losing four straight to, admittedly, very strong competition. • After a rugged schedule left them below .500 and unranked three weeks ago, Ryle (🏴‍☠️) has re-emerged after winning 12 of 13. AJ Curry is raking at a state leading clip of .671 for the Raiders.

That was a great class. Mayer and now Corley in the League, Reese Smith is an all-timer at Boyle County, and Walker Parks is a three year starter (probable fourth to come this year) at Clemson.

Corley is an in-state product that played his high school ball at Campbellsville before becoming a Hilltopper. I tracked his senior season in 2019 for the Mr. Football Watchlist. I had a feeling he would be a very good college player, but it's hard to project a 17 year old for the NFL. Congrats to Malachi! Go make your mark. I now have a reason to follow the Jets, who took him in the 3rd Round with the 65th overall pick.

🦁 (21-3, PBR #2) vs. 🐏 (21-4) Boyd County plates three in the B6 to break a 2-2 tie. Raceland was held to a season low in runs by a Lions staff that's allowed a paltry eight earned over the last thirteen games coming in. These two will have much to say about how the 16th Region plays out in a few weeks.

☘ (22-4, PBR #1) vs. 🐯 (12-11, PBR #10) The Shamrocks get a sac fly from Evan Boeckmann in the T7 to complete the comeback win over the archrival Tigers. X led 4-1 through three innings on a 3 RBI knock from Conner Johnson.

2024 Schedule Aug 24 at Fairdale Aug 30 vs. Meade County Sep 6 vs. Taylor County Sep 13 at Hart County Sep 20 at Bardstown Sep 28 at Shelby County Oct 4 at Central* Oct 11 - BYE Oct 18 at LaRue County* Oct 25 vs. Christian Academy of Louisville* Nov 1 at Seneca *District

OBSERVATIONS • Trinity (☘) tightened its grip on #1 with a 5-0 week that saw the Rocks bat nearly .400 and pitch three shutouts. • After I touted their mastery from the mound last week, Taylor County (🇾🇪) got roughed up for a season worst nine runs in a loss to Powell County in the 2A Championship Tournament. The Cardinals subsequently fall a couple of spots to #6. • PRP (🐾) moves from #8 to #4 after a 4-0 week that was capped off with a mercy rule beatdown of previous #4 Lexington Catholic. The Panthers held the Knights to two base hits. • West Jessamine (🐎) continues its ascent up the rankings with another leap this week after moving five spots last week. The Colts one upped themselves by sliding up six positions to #9. • Frederick Douglass (🇨🇮) got 4 RBIs from Jeremiah Lowe to run rule previously ranked Sayre. The win concluded a 3-0 week for the Broncos, who move up four places to #13. Douglass also rocked #14 Madison Central earlier in the week. • The week's biggest mover was Woodford County (🐝), who shot eight spots to #17 after a pair of high quality wins on Saturday over #10 St. Xavier and Central Hardin.

OBSERVATIONS • The Top 6 holds firm from a week ago. In fact, this has been the order at the top for three weeks running: 1. ☘️ | 2. 🦁 | 3. 🐴 | 4. 🇾🇪 | 5. 🛡 | 6. 🐻 • Taylor County (#4) is 6-0 in one run games this season. The Cardinals have balance throughout the line-up and a pitching rotation sporting a 1.35 ERA. • Perennial power PRP (🐾) sits at #8 with a line-up raking at a clip of .380 and a staff ERA of 2.11. • St. Xavier (🐯) climbs back into the Top 10 after enduring a challenging slate of games last week, including quality wins over #12 Eastern, DeSales, and St. Ignatius (OH), plus a pair of losses to top ranked Trinity and St. Edward's (OH). • Bowling Green (🟪🟨) is off to its best start since the 2012 team ran off 18 straight wins to open their season. Drew Isenberg's 0.49 ERA leads a deep rotation of arms for the Purples. • West Jessamine (🐎) is up five spots to #15 after outscoring its last five opponents 51-6, including wins over #16 Corbin and #21 Sayre.

Kristy Orem is stepping down from her positions as girl's basketball coach and director of athletics at Pikeville Independent Schools. Under her guidance, the Lady Panthers won five of the last six 15th Region championships.

Football obviously takes a back seat in the Ashland community right now, but this is also a blow to the Tomcats on the field. Thomas wasn't just a name on the roster, he's a player of great consequence for them. He's fast, a beast in the weight room, and a productive two-way starter. An integral part of what I anticipate will be a strong Ashland team this year. This is tragic on so many fronts, football is just part of it. From what I've read, he's displaying a great attitude and outlook about his situation and recovery. He sounds like a remarkable young man.

With history like this, it's easy to fall in love with the rearview mirror, but this year's Rebels shouldn't have trouble keeping their fans focused, instead, on the horizon. Theres too much to look forward to.

One of the state's truly elite all-around football players is closing in on a college destination.

"Spur" is working on an all-time career in a Lions uniform. With two seasons still to go, he's poised to rewrite the Boyd County and 16th Region record books and potentially put some numbers out of reach.

Observations • The Top 8 remains completely intact from last week: 1. ☘️ | 2. 🦁 | 3. 🐴 | 4. 🇾🇪 | 5. 🛡 | 6. 🐻 | 7. 🦅 | 8. ♈️ • Corbin (C) jumps six spots from #15 to #9. The Hounds are in the midst of an eleven game win streak. Frederick Douglass (🇮🇪) swaps places with Corbin, falling from 9 to 15. • The X-Men's absence from the polls was short lived. The Tigers of St. Xavier (🐯) leap back in at #16 with seven wins in their last eight games. • An 11-0 start to the season propels Covington Catholic (CC) into the Top 25 at #23. They suffered their first setback of the season in a one run loss to Conner last Saturday. The Blue Colonels have been stellar from the mound, allowing 41 hits in 81 innings pitched and sporting a team ERA of 1.03. • Two weeks after reaching #5, Ryle (🏴‍☠️) spirals out of the Top 25 completely. The Raiders are 4-6 over their last ten, including a loss to aforementioned CovCath last Friday.

Already looking forward to that October 18th date. 🏴‍☠️

16th Region Off-Season Discusion Hub With the 2023-2024 season behind us, attention naturally shifts to what comes next. Questions swirl in anticipation of what lies ahead. • What's it going to take to pry Ashland's (🇱🇻) claws from the regional championship? • Can Boyd County (🦁) upend their rival when the stakes are highest? • Can any of last year's additional contenders - Fleming (🐾), Rowan (🇳🇬), Morgan (🇺🇦) - keep pace with the Tomcats and Lions again? • Are Russell's (🔱) young Devils ready to raise some hell? • Is West (☄️) primed to take back control from East (🇫🇷) in the Carter County ’Civil War’ ? • Will any players or coaches change allegiances before next season? From Ashland, to Vanceburg, to West Liberty, this is the place to ask questions and provide answers for any and all topics pertaining to the 16th Region. Notable Comings and Goings 🎓 Adam Hargett (Fleming County/Region POY) | Gatlin Griffith, Cameron Adams (Morgan County) | Jason Ellis (Boyd County) | Colby Wilburn, Brayden Mirus, Deshawn Watson (Rowan County) | Asher Adkins, Nate Frieze (Ashland) | Evan Goodman, Blake Hall (East Carter) | Eli Adkins (Greenup County) | Christian Large, Conner Sutton (Raceland) | Xavier Prater (Lewis County) | Steven Day, Tamel Smith (Fairview) | Taylan Sorrell (Bath County) 🔙 Zander Carter, Braxton Jennings, Tyson Lalonde (Ashland) | Jacob Spurlock, Cole Hicks, Rhett Holbrook (Boyd County) | Seth Hickerson, Lucas Jolly (Fleming County) | Caleb Rimmer, Elijah Neel (Russell) | Preston Hoskins (Morgan County) | Bryson Chandley, Kasey Gammon (Greenup County) | Drew Noble, Julian Puente (Lewis County) | Connor Thacker (Raceland) | Nathan Webb (West Carter) | Brevon Ricker (Menifee County) | Montana Brashear (Bath County) | Lake Adkins (Elliott County) At this time, there are no imminent coaching changes that I'm aware of.

Obcervations • Trinity (☘) rebounded from a run rule loss to Frederick Douglass by beating the #8 Broncos the following day and running off three straight mercy rule wins in the last four days. • Ballard (🐻) continues its rapid ascent up the rankings. The Bruins debuted at #19 last week, and climb eight spots in the latest poll. • Taylor County continues to quietly go about its business, silencing opposing bats with a 0.37 ERA through six games. The Cardinals sit at #4 this week. • Ryle (🏴‍☠️) cracks the top five, despite a one run setback to Great Crossing in their most recent game. The Raiders visit Ohio's reigning D1 champs and current top ranked team, Moeller, later this evening. • South Warren (⚔️) makes its rankings premiere by leaping all the way to #12 on the heels of victories over state ranked Somerset and Corbin. The Jumpers plummet eight spots, while the Hounds are only penalized three positions. • Joining the Spartans in making their 2024 PBR debut, are Great Crossing (#17), Rowan County (#19), Muhlenberg County (#21), PRP (#22), Scott County (#24), and Collins (#25).

The 16th Region's all-time wins leader is calling it a career. Pete Fraley won six regional championships in a near three decade long career leading the Lady Lions. He leaves behind very large shoes to fill in Cannonsburg.

It's been a minute since I last checked in on Javeon's recruitment. Needless to say, things are going well. Georgia, LSU, Auburn, Florida, Miami (FL), and Virginia Tech have thrown their names in the hat over the last month.

Unless something has changed recently, he's on Chris Wolfe's staff at Male.

✔️ State's all-time scoring king ✔️ UK commit ✔️ Mr. Basketball ✔️ State Champion Has there ever been a more complete career by a Kentucky high school basketball player than that of Travis Perry? At the risk of being a prisoner of the moment, I'm going to say no.

Been waiting for Perry to go off at Rupp. He's been relatively subdued through the first three games. The feeling is in the air.