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Great to hear. Young and early are a combination for mistakes. They will get older and it will get later!!!

Article Highlands edges Boone County - Kentucky High School Sports Story

Summary article 3/22 BASE: Scott tops St. Henry in 9 innings - Kentucky High School Sports Story

Good to hear. Reynolds always seems to get the JV bats rolling. He is very humble about it ("I just dump the bats out of the bags and try not to get in their way,") but they really like playing for him. Should be a good group. They should all remember that Ramey spent the 1st 1/2 of the season last year with JV and ended up hitting 3rd for the Varsity in the District and Region tourney games!!!

Who were some of the pitching and hitting stars for the Birds? Nice back story here. Baby Birds were looking for a game after being "displaced" by the JV Birds at Highland Park on a makeup from WED rainout for V/JV against Boone Co. Scott originally said no to the 7:15 start at their place due to a service honoring a former student killed in an auto accident. Apparently, the family heard about the request and wanted the game to be played.

Who were some of the arms that tossed for the Birds? I think I heard SO Evan Ling started?

Really a tale of 2 games. Cooper won the 1st 4 innings 1-0. As usual, that doesn't tell the story. Cooper's 1 could have easily been 3 or 4 but ran into some outs and left a ton. Birds 0 was a solid 0 without a threat. Dunn was powerful with both velocity and location. Jones did not have his best location and couldn't find the groove on his breaking ball - bounced several of them. That said, he was a bulldog to hold Cooper to 1 run over 4 innings when he didn't have his best stuff. In the 2nd half, Birds jumped on the Cooper reliever for 4 runs in the 5th. Big hit by SR Vermeil to help his cause and a bigger hit by JR Ramey with the bases loaded -- line drive. JR Mills also did his job by putting a ball in play with 2 strikes and getting the lead run home. If this team is going to be successful, they are going to have to plate runners on 3rd with less than 2 out at a high %. Defense was strong again. Super catch by SR Hergott in RF for an out in the last inning. IF made the plays that came their way. JR Whitford played 1 inning in the field as they bring him back slowly from injury. When he is able to play and be in the batting order, that will be a welcome stick. Caution is warranted to make sure he comes back and stays back. SR Allen has done a solid job at SS in his absence and will slide back over to 2B when he returns. Lots of depth on this Birds' squad. Good to see Hellbird and Clyde at the game. Also, lots of support from the students, parents and community on a day that was less than perfect, but better than forecasted.

Nice effort overall by both teams early in the season. Purnell cruised through the batting order the 1st time. Birds scratched 1 across the second time through. Boone ran into a few outs that could have ended up in runs. Bird defense was solid. JR Bunning threw very well and will tighten up his control as the season goes along. JR Martin had solid velocity and got a tough out on Ganns in a clutch situation. SR Cochran closed out the 7th with a ton of strikes, pounding the zone and making the bottom of the Boone order put it in play. Great way to start the season.

Plan to be there. Usual spot. Home bleachers. Top row. (Near the concession stand!!!)

Both are "dual rostered" and will see time with both teams this year. Not too unusual for pitchers & catchers at this level.

Frosh: Rust Doty Finfrock - (out with injury) Gosney Greene Bowden Race Field Johnston Dee Schwalbach Smith Rom Gabbard Schoellman Adkins S Hennigan Dreves Fitters New Varsity & JV are above.

I think we agree about 90%. Now to the 10% -- your point was "I would put Highlands in the same boat as Cooper, in the respect that until you can prove it on the field, no reason to move you up in the rankings." Previously, someone else had pointed out that Cooper had never won a district game -- in the regular season or postseason. As such, you had to expect a comparison to that when YOU put them in the "same boat" in your post. It was simply pointed out than not only has HHS won district games in the regular and post season, but HHS actually won the district tourney in 2012 and 2013 and went to the Region Finals in 2012. You, of course, come back with the above post attributing all of the 2012 run to "luck." They finished the season strong, beat NCC in the District Finals, beat Conner in the opener, beat Dixie in the next game and had bases loaded in the final inning of a 3-1 game against NCC in the Finals to go to the State Tournament. Given the objective facts, in a sport where regular season W/L don't "earn" you anything, to say that that team was "not very good" is insulting, inaccurate and inane. For good measure, I will reprise my post from the Regional Finals thread. I think it holds up pretty well. "Congrats to the Breds! Good pitching, great defense and timely 2 out hitting were the keys to victory. For the Birds, WOW! Lots of blood, sweat & tears at the end of the run. It's nice to see a group of kids and coaches that work as hard as they did this season get rewarded. From the days of conditioning to tryouts to the 1st pitch at Walton Verona to Myrtle Beach and the nice run at the end of the year, it was a great ride. For the Seniors, "Thank you" and you will be missed. As I have stated before, Grant Duesing did everything he was asked to do to overcome some hurdles and EARN his spot on this team. Chris Bausch came back to HHS and wanted to be a part of this team. He played every role from bullpen catcher to relief pitcher to pinch hitter to infielder. Mitch Meyer contributed on the field mightily, but more importantly to the development of these kids as both players and young men. Hopefully this will be the season everyone points to as the one that "turned around the baseball program at HHS." Of course, if it is viewed that way it will only be because that is the easy and simple way to look at it from 30,000 feet. The reality is that the turnaround began with a focused intensity a few years ago with players and coaches willing to do the hard work to try to build something. It began with a school board and administration willing to fund and coaches willing to staff a Freshman program to build a "feeder system" to encourage, develop and cultivate players. It began with coaches, parents and city administrators (but mostly coaches) willing to bring Highland Park up to a level where a top class program could play. It began with support from Coach Mueller and the Athletic Department at HHS, regardless of some perceptions which may exist to the contrary, proclaiming to anyone that would listen that baseball and football can co-exist and prosper at HHS. It began with coaches willing to make tough decisions that were often unpopular but right for the program. It began with being willing, even when it HURTS, to "go to battle" with those committed to battling with you rather than making exceptions for those talented enough to help, but unwilling, for whatever reason, to commit. Does a single season with a great run to end up District Champs & Regional Runner Ups mean HHS has arrived? Maybe / Maybe Not. Does it guarantee they stay there? No way. Are they going in the right direction? Absolutely. Is the right person guiding the ship? Positively. I heard at the game that Dale has cancelled football practice on 2 occasions in the last 15 years -- yesterday for the Regional Championship game and on 9/11. I think we're going in the right direction."

and advanced to the Region Final in 2012, losing a close game to NCC. Do they have more to prove? Yes. Have they not proved anything on the field in the last 2 yrs? Hardly.

Vermeil was the 10th (Bunning listed 2x). They are all pitchers rather than throwers. Obviously, some are more refined than others. Only recall a couple or 3 walks over 10 innings. Most worked ahead and let the defense play behind them. JR Ramey hit a couple of screamers and had 3 2Bs. JR Mills hit a BOMB off the roof of the picnic area in LF but it was 20 or 30 feet foul. Lots of defensive switches and different positions. Pretty solid play for a scrimmage. They will get better. Allen, Whitford, Heck, Vermeil, Gesenhues played some middle IF. Ball, Cochran, Gesenhues, Mills, Vermeil, Martin & maybe Ramey played some 3B. Mills, Bunning, Martin & maybe Ramey played some 1B. Hennigan, Ramey & Ball played some C Murray, Hergott, Veneman, Noe & Watson rotated in the OF

Based on the recently announced Coaches Poll, HHS faces #2, #3, #5, #23 & #24 this season with the possibility of meeting #13 in their own tourney. Add in Cincinnati St. X, Moeller, Elder, CovCath, Trinity, Johnson Central and 3 out of state teams in Myrtle Beach and this Dirty Birds squad will be heavily tested during the regular season. Not sure the record will tell us much about their capabilities. How they compete in those games will be much more important than overall W/L. Looking forward to it.

Not sure about Frosh yet, but here are Varsity and JV rosters. As always, there will likely be movement between teams during the season due to performance, injuries, etc. Let me know if I have left anyone off. Varsity: SRs Allen Vermeil Cochran Gesenhues Hergott JRs Jones Martin Ramey Venneman Murray Heck Noe Mills Watson Ball Bunning L Hennigan Whitford JV: Ling Lindeman Casebolt Broering Cain Walkenhorst Penrod Miller-Cox Kreeger Raisor Mayhew Miller Beal Welsch Dougherty Rust Doty

TFVH - tried to send you a PM. Your Inbox is full. Until then, follow your own advice in Post #48 "grasshopper."

To be completely technical, I think they have turned "A" corner, not "THE" corner.

Suspect it will be a bit before any rosters are circulated. Basketball kids won't be able to do anything until after season is over. Lots of moving parts before the 1st scrimmages against McNick on 3.15.14. Varsity schedule is at https://highlands-baseball.com/groups/highlands-hs-2014-varsity/schedule/ JV and Frosh schedules should be up in the next week or so.

Very interested in this discussion. If preseason "chatter" is at all reliable, the regular season games involving HHS, NewCath and Bellevue will be very interesting. If you go 2-0 in that round robin, you avoid the #2 v. #3 matchup in the District Tourney and get to face the winner of the #4 v. #5 matchup to go to the District Championship & Region.

Congrats. Solid player. Great kid. Should do well at Wittenberg.

Fairly confident that HHS Senior Night (Boys & Girls) has been cancelled. Not sure about rescheduling options.

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What are the criteria? What the player accomplished in 2013? What the player accomplished in his career? What the player may be able to accomplish at the next level? Raw talent (speed, arm strength, agility, etc.)? Without knowing any of this, it is impossible to judge the choices.

SBII is right on. 2013 starters to replace include C, 3B, all 3 OF positions & 1 key relief pitcher. Other than that 1 reliever, the pitching staff returns. IMHO, 2014 looks like this: PITCHING JR Jones & SR Cochran were 1 and 1A last year and I would expect that to continue in 2014. SR Vermeil focused on baseball last summer & fall, playing with the Florence Freedom. I think he logged some solid innings for them and could get a nice upside bounce to vie for #3 starter. JR Martin pitched some very good games, including a shutout or 1 run affair in a win at Elder last year. Will vie for the #3 spot. JR Bunning and JR Ball will get the opportunity to show they can produce at the Varsity level. I think both have good upsides. JR Noe is returning from Tommy John surgery. SR Allen pitched on occasion in 2013, with some solid outings, but spent most of his innings at 2B ?SO/FR? Doty has impressed at all levels. Not sure whether he is ready / needed at the Varsity level yet. (Wow -- does it feel weird to type that sentence for this program!!!) POSITIONS JR Ramey will play every day if healthy. If he can prove satisfactory on defense (C, 1B, 3B, ?OF?), he will play. If not, would expect him to DH. JR Martin & JR Mills both have varsity experience at 1B. Not sure either have played 3B. JR Murray is the only returning player I can think of with varsity OF experience. SR Hergott missed 2013 with a knee injury, but I expect him to return and compete for an OF spot. SR Vermeil can play 2B or 3B SR Gesenhues has significant varsity experience, can play any of the IF positions and adds speed to what could be a fairly "lumbering" lineup in some combinations. JR Venneman has tons of speed and could secure the CF spot with early defensive prowess and competent production at the plate. JR Hennigan has great technique at C. I have not seen his arm strength in a year or 2. Having watched Quentin Murray play the position for 3-4 yrs. has certainly spoiled me. After a point, teams simply stopped running. JR Whitford & SR Allen have played together up the middle for 2 yrs. Would hope that consistency will help anchor a defense that searches for the right combination replacing others as the season starts. TEAM Not sure what Newport or Dayton have this year, but the team among HHS, NCC and Bellevue that does not advance to the Region will be disappointed. Seeding games will be critical as the #2 v. #3 loser will not go to Florence Freedom. Coming off back to back District Titles, HHS will expect to compete to make it 3 in a row. A rugged schedule that includes the usual NKY games along with 5 games in Myrtle Beach during Spring Break, St. X (OH) (H), Elder (H), Harrison Co. Tourney, Central Hardin (2011 State Champs, 2013 Final 4) (@ PRP), PRP (2013 State Champs) (A), Trinity (A), CovCath & Moeller (H on Derby Day) & Anderson (OH) (A) should prepare them for tournament play.