EARLE

I wouldn't say a great career. (61-50) over 4 years, one trip to the regional tournament, one class a regional title, and one district title. No regional tournament wins... 2004- (12-15) lost in opening rd. of district by 10 pts. to Wolfe Co. 2005- (11-16) lost in opening rd. of district by 17 pts. to Owsley Co. (who they had lost to twice by a total of 3 pts. - and Owsley lost their head coach mid-way through the season) 2006- (24-8) won class a region by def. Jackson, Jenkins, Owsley, and Buckhorn (Owsley knocked off 23-6 JBS, and Hazard - eventual region champion was upset by Wolfe Co. by 3) or who knows??? 56th dist. champs and then got drilled by 15 points in the opening round of the region to Leslie Co. 2007- (14-11) lost to Owsley Co., who they had beaten by 23 and 39 pts.

I have to disagree. This group he has now played a full j.v. schedule and summer schedule. In fact, that younger bunch probably ended up playing more games than the varsity in '05. Coach Roof began scheduling the Lexington schools with the j.v. from the time he took over the program at MC. By the time his players are juniors and seniors playing Lafayette, Lex. Catholic, Dunbar, or any other Fayette County school it's just another game.

Losing to the team that won the state championship by one run in 10 innings is COMPETING for a state title! MC took the lead in the 10th but LCA strung together some hits with two outs to win the game, that's just baseball. It's so easy to get on here and second guess and bash a coach. Coach Roof does a great job at Madison Central, and he had his team well-prepared enough that they were one out away from winning the 11th region (arguably the best in the state) in just 2005.

What a joke!!! Coach Roof led Madison Central to the regional championship game just two years ago where they lost to LCA (eventual state champ) 5-4 in 10 innings. Last year was a re-building year. Roof is a great coach, but he is an even better person. Class act all the way around. I look for the Indians to win 18-20 games in '07, and to be competitive in one of the toughest regions in the state.

All-Time... f-Amber Spencer ('89) Union College athletic H.O.F. (1,800+ points at OCHS) *all-time leading scorer and rebounder at Union f-Susan Stepp ('88) St. Catharine J.C. / Lindsey Wilson (2,000+ points at OCHS) *888 points in 2 yrs. at Lindsey Wilson, 16.4 ppg. 4th all-time at LWC f-Austin McIntosh ('05) All-Time leading scorer (2,700 points at OCHS) 6 yr. starter c-Frances Moore ('78) Morehead State (4 yr. letterman) 1,000+ points at OCHS 2g-Vickie Marshall ('90) Led state in 3-pointers made '89-'90 (1,000+ points at OCHS) pg-Toi Bates ('87) played at Transylvania University

Meant to. Sorry about that, typed in Hyden twice. Jimmy Joe is definitely one of the top left handed pitchers in the 14th.

Don't think there will be a dominant pitcher in the region that will strike out 10or 12 against the better teams, like Q. Morgan (Leslie), Muncie (Powell), and Osborne (Lee) had the ability to do on a given day last year. Top lefties: Hyden (Buckhorn) Freeman (Estill) Hyden (Buckhorn) Collins (LCC) Sparks (Wolfe) Right: Couch (PCC) Benningfield (Powell) Sewell (Estill) Brewer (Powell) Sexton (LCC) Potter (KCC) Perkins (Lee) Roberts (Leslie) Nopolis (PCC) Bowling (PCC) Combs (Hazard) Hoskins (Hazard) Marshall (Breathitt) Dakota ? (big freshman from Breathitt) played on SMS team last year

My philosophy has always been, I'm not punishing those that don't....but I'm going to reward, those that do. I agree 100%, if a player gives up his spring break on the baseball field practicing and playing games, then he should be rewarded for it. His spot should not be given back to someone who has been on vacation during that time. However, I can see where at schools with small enrollments this could be detrimental to the baseball program.

Pitching would be the problem. Schools with larger enrollments already have an unfair advantage. I'd like to see district tournaments become double elimination with only the winner advancing to the four team region (which would also be double elimination). Rest of the format the same, best 2 of 3 in sectionals, elite 8.

If you have a good program, don't see how you could take off. Most teams play in tournaments that week. Kids have only one opportunity to play high school sports, they can go on vacation w/ family members when they are in college. Baseball gets the shaft... season begins on Feb. 15th you have distractions like the prom, CATS testing, graduation, spring football practice which all occur during the spring. Don't get me wrong, prom, graduation, and CATS testing are all very important things. But everyone knows it's tough to try to practice the day after prom or graduation because most kids were out all night. Student/Athletes should have a life, but Baseball is not treated as seriously as football or basketball. How many football coaches would allow a kid to miss summer workouts, and start the first day of school? How many basketball coaches would give a kid off the entire Christmas break? Hitting a Baseball is the toughest thing to do in sports. Taking off an entire week can't help that.

1982, 1984 MC Napier 1983, 1985, 1996 Breathitt Co. 1989 Buckhorn 1986, 1987 Hazard The old UK Cat's Pause pre-season yearbook used to list this stuff region by region on one page, teams that advanced to the state tournament. A sweet sixteen program would probably have the information too.

I wouldn't count Lee Co. out just yet, they return Stamper, Shuler, Ty Combs, Drake, and Perkins. I have heard that Brandenburg and one of the twins from the b-ball team are thinking about playing this year. They are both good, strong athletes that were exceptional in Little League. The kids they have returning are well-disciplined and know how to work (because of coach Combs).

Larry Sparks 2 district titles, All A classic state runner-up, his teams lost on last second shots in the 14th region semi's in '91 and '92. *Both Sparks ('90-'92) and Bobrowski ('93-'97) did a good job coaching baseball.

Coaches with 25+ wins per season for career: (30.5) *Rodney Martin, Lex. Cath., 305-72, 10 yrs. (29.3) *Bill Miller, PRP, 790-206, 27 yrs. (27.5) Jack Hicks, Owensboro, 606-196, 22 yrs. (27.2) *Mac Whitaker, Harrison Co., 789-232, 29 yrs. (27.2) Don Richardson, Madison Central, 952-157, 35 yrs (26.8) Clarence Thomas, Bowling Green, 429-81 (26.3) *Todd Driskell, Male, 289-89-1, 11 yrs. (26.2) Randall Sawyers, Corbin, 473-215, 18 yrs. (25.9) Bill Dixon, M.C. Napier, 596-138, 23 yrs. (25.5) *Jody Hamilton, Raceland/Boyd Co./W. Jessamine, 612-252, 24 yrs. (25.4) Bob Tripure, Henry Clay, 558-137, 22 yrs. *Active

Whitley County 2005-2006- Baseball (19-15) District Runner-up to Sect. Champ S. Laurel Boys' Basketball (6-21) lost in opening round of district Football (2-8)

Kenneth Johnson does a good job at Allen Central. Last season his team went (23-11) won the dist., defeated Belfry 8-0 in the first round of the region before losing in 10 innings in the semi-finals to eventual regional champion Sheldon Clark. During the 2005-2006 school year, the boys' basketball team was (5-22) lost in the opening round of the district, and the football team went (2-8) at Allen Central.

I would say it is about the 5th best team since 1980....maybe... 1987- district runner-up, lost to eventual champ MC Napier 9-5 in region 1988- lost to eventual region champion, Lee Co. in district 1989- district runner-up, beat Whitesburg 7-2, lost to Breathitt Co. 8-7 in the semi's 1990- (18-6) lost to Powell Co. in district 1991- district runner-up, lost to eventual champ KCC in region 1992- district runner-up, regional semi-finals, upset Breathitt Co., lost to eventual champ Buckhorn 13-9 in the semi's 1993- district runner-up, lost to Dilce Combs in region 1994- (16-7) Shane Burch, Neil Terry, district champs 1995- lost to Powell Co. eventual region runner-up in district 1996- (19-12) district champs 1997- (23-6) Brent Lynch, Stallard twins, district champs, regional semi-finals (lost to Breathitt Co. 4-3 in nine innings) 1998-2000 alot of talent - Jeremy Byrd, Adam Terry, Travis McIntosh, Steven Phillips, Jeremy Moore, Chris Hardy to name a few

Spalding University- 2002, 2003, and 2005 NAIA College World Series Participant (finished 5th at the W.S. last year) Saint Catharine College- NJCAA 2004 and 2005 NJCAA D-II Super Regional (one strike away from NJCAA World Series in '05) currently 36-12 going into the post season. There are some good college baseball programs in Ky. at all levels.

I would assume people are making predictions on what the team did last year, and based on what they have returning from that team. No offense, but Owsley hasn't made it to the regional tournament since 1997, that's eight years. With Lee Co., Estill Co., and Powell Co. - it will be an even tougher task to get out this year.

1. Leslie County 2. Paintsville 3. Lee County 4. Johnson Central 5. Middlesboro 6. Pikeville 7. Allen Central 8. Corbin 9. Perry Central 10. Bell County

2006 Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association Poll established by KHSBCA members votes Pre-Season Top 25 Poll 1. Lexington Christian 2. Pleasure Ridge Park 3. Louisville Eastern 4. Christian County 5. Owensboro Catholic 6. Lexington Catholic 7. Louisville Male 8. Louisville Trinity 9. Boyd County 10. Harrison County 11. Lexington Lafayette 12. Lexington Tates Creek 13. North Hardin 14. Louisville Ballard 15. Louisville duPont Manual 16. Louisville Butler 17. Louisville St. X 18. Calloway County 19. Lexington Dunbar 20. West Jessamine 21. Lexington Henry Clay 22. Covington Catholic 23. Heath 24. Henderson County 25. Danville

I was replying to powerhitter, on kids that threw 85+. I'm not saying they reached 85 on every fastball they threw. I believe all those young men brought it 85 from time to time. I don't think Morgan brings it 85+ from the fifth inning on, especially after his pitch count gets up.

Last 10 years in the 14th... 2006-Quentin Morgan, Leslie Co. 2004-Lamar Williams, Hazard 2003-JK Smith, Lee Co. 2002-Randy Fulton, Hazard 2002-Brandon Hammons, Lee Co. 2000-Todd Craft, KCC 1997-Roger and Rodney Little, PCC 1997-Roy Wells, PCC

80+ in the 14th... Morgan, Couch, Muncie, Thomas, and Osborne Davidson and Stamper have good live arms too, probably throw it in the mid to upper 70s (just guessing). Not seen Smith since '04, but he is a good athlete with solid mechanics. He has gotten stronger since his sophomore year, I could see how he could throw it in the low 80s every now and then. I think only Morgan could hump up and bring it 85+ in the 14th though.

i think christan co. will win 72 to 68