MountainTop5

Mboro went 0 - 4 in Florida, but led in every game. 3 of the 4 opponents were top ten in their Class.

Firebird - the nucleus from the '04 Sr League team is there. Treece and Frady are back from that team after not playing last year. Missing Russell, Womack, Gambrel, who else?

Don't count out the Boro. They always come back from Florida used to mid-80's pitching and seem to have a hard time adjusting to the much slower local arms. Happens every year. And the Coaching Staff is still searching for the best defensive lineup, with injuries playing a role. They'll be ready for the Playoffs.

Also on the plus side, this bunch seems to have more power at the plate than any Jacket team in recent memory. I've only been to two games, but there were more extra-base hits than singles in both of them. 8 different players have homered so far (13 total dingers through 11 games). I think they're going to be fine, and so is SL. Don't know much about North.

Saw on another board where the Jackets lost all 4 games in Florida, but led in every contest until the end. Against some ranked teams, too.

Don't know about this year, but Middlesboro baseball goes to Fla every year for around $400 / player. It's north Florida (Jacksonville / St. Augustine area), so the trip isn't as far as you think. They ride in a yellow school bus and don't eat at fancy restaurants, but they always got a room, 3 meals / day and a trip to Disney World at the end of the week for the $400.

They schedule 5 games against top-notch competition, all within a half-hour's drive. They have team practice every day plus the coaches get 1-on-1 coaching in, too. And the team-building experience is priceless.

NAIA Schools usually put together "packages" for players - some ball $, some academic, etc. The more sports, the more available $.

JV play counts against your eligibility just like Varsity play. That's why most programs don't even have a JV team. And also why you can't play JV during a Redshirt year.

Middlesboro's Andrew Breeding committed to Georgetown over the weekend, will sign Wednesday. Don't know if he's going to play Offense or Defense.

As far as a 6.8, 6.9, 7.12 on different surfaces, please remember that a tenth of a second is a tiny, tiny interval of time. Almost ANYthing can account for a tenth - shoes, clothing, tight underwear and, of course, the player never runs exactly the same each time.

My kid ran three electronic (both ends) 60's at a Showcase 2 years ago. He ran a 6.87, a 6.95, and a 7.13, all on the same day, on the same surface. It was artificial turf, and he ran the 7.13 with cleats. His teammate loaned him his turf shoes, which were a little too big, and he ran the better times.

All bets are off for hand-timed runs. My kid ran the 40 at a football workout where they had four experienced D1A Coaches hand-time him at once. His times ranged from 4.56 to 4.72.

Football combines often measure 10-yard dash times, and I expect that to be the most useful time for base-stealing.

For example, on Middlesbroro's team, the best base-stealer is Casey Earls, but Hoskins and Breeding were just as fast in the 40 (Earls 4.66, Breeding 4.67, Hoskins 4.69, Electronic) at last spring's football combines. Earls just has that quick jump that gets him to second (or third) before the throw.

BTW, I haven't seen a 40 time under 4.45 this year at the football combines for any player in the whole state, hand or electronic.

I really don't know why Baseball grades players on their 60 yard times. Does anyone know?

Other States have All-State Teams for each Class. Why doesn't KY?

I know all the 4A fans will start screaming about "cheapening the honor", but there are a lot of kids who would be looked at very differently if they played on a big-school team that had a good line, or a decent QB, or whatever their small school was missing.

Trevor Hoskins from Middlesboro. (6' 4", 190)

Hoskins and Keith Tandy are the only QB's from KY that I know of to commit to D1 Colleges so far, and I'm not sure WVa plans to use Tandy at QB.

Don't have his #'s, but he did very well considering the Jackets run the Veer. Finished top ten in the Atlanta Elite Eleven. His height gives him the nod over Petrino, Ammons, & Tandy as a College QB, and I think he has a far better arm then the other 3 (yes, I've seen them all).

I just don't see how you can keep Brooks off the field. Wasn't he All-District and All-Region 13 last year?

I agree about Breeding in LF, but with his speed and arm I could see him anywhere in the OF. And I see Jones at 1B for Breeding.

Of course, all our speculation is based on the past, and there could be a lot of unexpected improvement in unlikely players, or perhaps injuries to projected starters. But I think it will be interesting to see who winds up at 3rd.

And I must also say, based on past performance, of course, that I think Frady can best help this team from behind the plate.

13th A -

Been looking into Baseball a little more since my last post, and found out some things.

1) Brooks has been invited to several showcases and even played some kind of All-Star (?) event in Florida over Thanksgiving. Getting a ton of letters, initial contacts, etc., from the next level, too. I heard that Appalachian St was very interested, but that's just rumour.

2) Frady didn't play at all last year, and the kids say he's very rusty.

3) Most of the football players (Hoskins, Breeding, Earls, et al) haven't been doing baseball conditioning due to minor injuries left over from football season. Nothing serious - just doing rehab type workouts instead of baseball conditioning.

Thanks for your take, 13th A.

I for one would like to see Jones at first. His power is needed, and I saw a big drop-off in OF play last season whenever one of the starters came out to pitch. Breeding seems to me to be more of a natural outfielder, which we need this season (BTW, he parked one in dead center against Bell last season).

I think that Brooks has to be in the lineup.

I have never seen Hatmaker play OF.

Not putting Branham down, but I think Frady has to play behind the plate. The difference between Frady and Branham at Catcher is much greater than the difference between Frady and either Hatmaker or Brooks at 2nd. IMO.

I think either Pittman or Tolliver will have to sub in the OF, along with playing 3rd either behind or alongside of Brooks.

Of course, these are kids, a lot can change in a year, and new players could be coming in with a lot to contribute. We, along with the Coaches, need to remember to keep an open mind. I'm looking forward to it!

13th A -

You seem to be close to the Middlesboro program - any shake-ups, position changes, personnel changes, new faces in the works? That you can talk about?

Rumour is that Skip Frady will be back, but at Middle Infield, not behind the plate. Branham did well for a Freshman last season, but why wouldn't you want Frady at 2?

It's also rumoured that Breeding is going from 1B to the OF to make room for an underclassman. Is it Jones? I've often privately wondered why someone with Breeding's speed and arm was at 1B (OK, size & hands, I'm sure). But Jones is big, too, and has a serious stick.

My take on one possible Mboro 2007 lineup:

1B - Jones

2B - Hatmaker

SS - Earls

3B - Brooks (Pittman, Tolliver)

C - Frady (Branham)

LF - Breeding

CF - Hoskins

RF - Jake ?

Your take?

Who is the fastest person on your team? And 40 time?

Middlesboro Seniors -

Casey Earls (RB / LB, 5'10", 180) -4.66 (Electronic)

Andrew Breeding (TE / LB, 6'2", 218) - 4.60 (hand), 4.67 (Electronic)

C. G. Ford (RB / DB, 5'9", 180) - 4.62 (hand)

Trevor Hoskins (QB / DB, 6'4", 190) - 4.69 (Electronic)

Times were recorded at either NIKE Camp or Scout.com Combine in Louisville, and were all posted on BGP at the time.

According to their website, Breeding's 4.60 leads the nation for TE's at a scout.com combine.

Underclassmen Hunter Adams & Dalin Farr also run in the 4.6's.

Haven't heard the Official Stats, but I'm going to say 5 TO's each - 3 fumbles and 2 INT's for Mboro, 2 fumbles and 3 INT's for Leslie.

Most of this game was played in a downpour. Neither QB could grip the ball well, none of the backs could cut, the ball was VERY hard to hold on to, players were falling down untouched, shotgun snaps were as iffy as passes.

Mboro's depth was a major factor in their victory, IMO. Earls went out 5 min into the 1st Q, and Ford was still gimpy, but Bowling once again came through at RB (subbed for Ford against Breathitt and had 4 TD's) and also on Defense. Shawn Russell, Eddie Gilbert, and Andrew Wilson stepped up also.

From Middlesboro, QB Trevor Hoskins is getting serious looks from EKU, WKU, and Cincinnati. I've heard at least one of them has already offered.

LB / TE Andrew Breeding has been invited to walk on at Clemson, but I've heard he is in serious talks with Middle Tennessee and Western KY as well.

RB Casey Earls has also been to WKU more than once, and is visiting Illinois soon. I think RB C.G. Ford will probably end up at Union.

Mboro had two nice TD's called back at Knott last Friday - a diving catch in the back of the EZ by Breeding and a run by Earls where he hurdled a standing defender on his way to 6. Tonight the prettiest catch of the night -a juggling TD catch by Dalin Farr - was called back. All of these were "phantom" calls - no visible violations.

Earls had over 100 yards rushing and over 100 yards receiving.

Hoskins had over 300 yards passing for 4 TD's, and hit at least six different receivers.

Breeding had a diving TD reception called back, and two very nice catches in heavy traffic.

It might be early for this, but I think these 3 Mboro Seniors all deserve consideration for All-State recognition at RB, QB, and TE, respectively.

Are the following correct? My Coach always told us that:

1) A running back is outside the FBZ at the snap and can never HIT low

2) A linebacker who is outside the FBZ at the snap can never BE HIT low

3) A block in the back has to hit between the shoulder blades to be illegal

4) A back who is behind the LOS as a receiver can be hit, or even tackled, legally, even if the ball is in the air

5) TE's are almost always outside the FBZ

Middlesboro won't be "mostly gone". They'll graduate 5 two-way starters, but the cupboard won't be bare.

Enough about next year, I'm enjoying this one!

Speed won this game - Corbin had no one who could keep up with Hoskins, Earls, or Ford. Each had over 100 yards rushing.

I'm not an insider, so I'm just guessing, but it looked like Middlesboro put in a special defense for Corbin over their bye week, and didn't learn it real well. There was a lot of obvious confusion on the Jackets D, and way too many wide-open plays for the Hounds.

Hunter Adams had a really good game despite cramping up for long perioids. Brennan Bowling did a good job spelling Adams on D, and had some nice runs on Offense.

Even though the Jackets had far fewer players, and more players going both ways the whole game, they were in much better shape late in the 4th Quarter than Corbin. It made the difference in the game.

I also just about guarentee he has the strongest arm in the state.

Anyone who has seen both Cashen & Hoskins throw knows that Hoskins has a far stronger arm. Cashen does a great job of picking a defense apart on short passes, but Hoskins does just as well, and can put it 15 to 20 yards further down the field on the deep ball, without lobbing it the way Cashen doeswhen he tries to go deep.

Arm strength ain't everything, but Hoskins wins hands down in that category.

Mboro's Casey Earls led the Jackets in scoring, rushing yards, all-purpose yards, tackles, punt returns, and K/O returns last season.