EARLE

Congrats to Coach Fraley and KCC on their first trip to the Sweet 16 since 1993. They pulled out a hard fought 6 point win over Letcher Central (on LCC's home court) just to get to the region. Then they get the toughest draw possible, beating the home team Breathitt County by 3 points...survive the semi-finals by 1 point as Hazard misses a last second shot...then overcome a 10 point deficit with 2:30 remaining in the game to beat Perry Central in the championship on two free throws with 1.5 seconds. Tough 4 games just to get to Lexington. I don't understand how this can be considered underacheiving on Coach Fraley's part.

Clay County DeSales

Arguably in the hot bed of high school baseball in Ky. (Fayette County) there are two coaches that have can legally instruct baseball year 'round in Kevin Clary and Eddie Brooks. In their first years at the helm of each school, Catholic beat Station 9-8 in the regional finals, and Catholic goes on to win the state championship. Legally they can instruct an 8th grader from ANYWHERE, then under KHSAA rules that student/athlete can enroll at their school and be eligible as a freshman. I'm not saying they have done anything wrong, I'm just saying. It will be interesting to see in the coming years. It's bad enough that high school baseball players have the facilities and tools necessary to work out year 'round in Lexington, Louisville, and more affluent areas of the state...but now if the best of the best end up going to one of these two schools year in and year out it will become what girls volleyball and 6A football in Ky. have become, a two horse race.

I'm assuming your son goes to Knott Central? If so, you guys finally get a young energetic coach that works his tail off, and an asst. coach that proved he could win at June Buchanan School and you want to come on here and question him on a message board? Why not just go to Jamie or Randy and talk to them? First winning season since 2000 at KCC (which was John Meehan's team), first district championship since 2005 (when you were still in the 55th district). Maybe you should just be thankful that there is interest in baseball in the fall at your school.

All five teams in the 43rd have won at least one state championship. Lafayette (3) '88, '89, and '92 (state runner-up in '04). Tates Creek (3) '78, 80, and '86. Paul Dunbar (2) '03 and '07. Lex. Catholic (2) '99 and '06. Lex. Christian (1) 2005.

Cumberland High School did dominate the 13th region in the late '80s and early '90s (but they were loaded with fundamentally talented players), seems like they ran off like 5 straight championships from '86-'90. Freddy Maggard and David Shoop were two of many very solid baseball players to play for the Redskins. Maggard was drafted by the Pirates but chose to QB at UK and Shoop went on to play for Morehead. Coach Lewis played on some of these teams, I think?

For the decade (2000-2009) Big Al (5) 2000, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009 Hazard (4) 2001, 2006, 2008, 2009 PCC (3) 2000, 2004, 2005 JBS, Powell, Whitesburg (1) each, 2007, 2003, 2002 PCC was also regional runner-up (3) times 2003, 2008, 2009 Hazard was runner-up (1) in 2007

The difference in the ball game, Warren went to war on the offensive boards in the first quarter, I think he scored the first 6 points for Hazard, all coming off of second opportunities. Cougars were up 11-6, could have been 11-0. Hazard's full court pressure bothered LCC all night causing several turnovers.

I think LCC matches up much pretty good with Hazard. Back had an incredible first quarter in the regular season (I'm talking about several 21'-24' shots) that gave the Bulldogs a double-digit lead early on. LCC can't afford to dig a hole early. But without Campbell, Hazard has no one to slow down Banks. If they can slow down Whitaker and don't let Back kill them again, they will win. Johnson shut down Cox (KCC) in the district and regualr season when he was in the game, he could do the same to Back, if he his given the opportunity.

According to the KHSAA website, Lee and Hazard didn't play this year. Last year Hazard defeated Lee County 60-59 and 59-46. I agree with the Professor, Hazard had better come ready to play Wednesday night especially if the Bobcats can find a way to defend Back and Whitaker. Physically Lee County can match up with anyone in the 14th. I think PCC will be to physical for KCC. PCC and LCC in the finals Tuesday night, with coach Raymond Justice making his fourth trip to the Sweet Sixteen. He went three consecutive years with Hager and Hilton at Belfry.

Alot depends on the tepmerature and the individual pitcher. If it's a basketball kid that has only been throwing for a couple of weeks, I think you've got to have a pitch limitation (30 max), and a pitch type limitation (fastballs / change-ups only). Other factors to consider would be if they play a position when they aren't on the hill and when you plan to bring them back to pitch again. If the temperature is above 60, the kid has been out all fall and winter, and they won't be playing a position that requires them to make a stressful throw (bang bang play from shortstop), or they won't be pitching again for four days. I think 75-90 pitches would be o.k. even in early April. However, the next day at practice or game they should do long running (15-25 min.), cord work, or light dummbell work to help repair their arm. I think as the temperature and arm strength increases so should the number of pitches.

Hazard will only get better and better once the football kids get into basketball shape and Whitaker is 100%. Big Al will have them ready by the time the all a classic starts. KCC reminds me a lot of the JBS team a year ago, hopefully they won't peak out in January like that team did.

A class system would be hitting to close to home for the all mighty cash cow that is the "Sweet Sixteen" in basketball. If softball, baseball, and soccer went to a system with six teams playing for a state championship in their respective sports - with more kids getting exposure, and winning state championships, the KHSAA probably fears that this would cause a ripple effect that could eventually lead to classing basketball. Tradition is what is keeping classification from becoming a reality in baseball in Kentucky. 75-85%of the head coaches are in favor of classification. Eventually it will happen. Classification would only level the playing field and give more teams a realistic shot of reaching a state tournament. I personally would like to see four classes like the old football alignment.

Nice early season win for the Lady Owls and coach Green. That snapped a 4 game losing streak to Powell County, where the Lady Owls had been outscored 269-180.

H.S. Football is fan friendly because it is conveniently played one night a week Friday, at 7:30. Basketball typically plays two times a week, sometimes three - in an occasional tournament. Baseball gets an eight week window to play 36 games! Games begin the last week of March when it could be 70 degrees one day, snowing the next...so the early season scheduled varsity games usually begin at 5:00 or 5:30 so the teams don't get frosted on in the late innings. If it's above freezing then you play a j.v. game too.