jpa2825

Disappointed the result, but loved the effort and execution. The disappointment probably stems from thinking HHS would be better than they were and thinking (hoping) T would have a farther drop in talent from last year. Neither was the case. HHS D will be fine. A healthy secondary will help and experience will also. Hope played very well as did Bardo. Some close plays on defense will improve as the season goes on (and the talent HHS is trying to tackle declines). HHS O was good, but not as consistent as we have come to expect. I think not having 7 on 7 time this summer leaves them a bit further behind on the timing / learning curve than usual. Feggins played big and made good catches. Long ball was effective on catches and penalties. 1st & goal at the 2 has to be converted, but it's early and I wonder how much they have run the "jumbo" package so far. Love the no huddle, snap as soon as the ball is whistled live. If you are going to 2-platoon, maximize the advantage of it by running as many plays as you can. Run at least some of the DBs deep on every play and then substitute with a fresh 4 WRs as the DB is hustling back to the line of scrimmage for the next snap. That will serve them better will the rest of the opponents on the schedule -- perhaps even University Christian as I seem to recall that I heard their roster was small in #s but high in quality. Looking forward to a great season. Thanks to all the folks at T for their hospitality and sportsmanship. Good luck in your season and hope to see you in BG in DEC.

At only 5 TDs + a 2 point conversion, you could see some very quick games. Some coaches may worry about game conditioning if they haven't scheduled quality opponents. Overall, probably a good move. I personally would have gone with 40 or only use it in the 2nd half, but I am OK w/ this rule.

I actually think the opposite. You will be surprised how few snaps you can get off when the clock is running. Of course, since there is less "game left," it makes coaches more likely to put subs in "earlier" from a clock standpoint (mid-3rd Qtr instead of early 4th for example).

John Hardin, Warren Central and Paducah Tilghman all on the field at 1 time? I can guess where some of the HHS coaching staff will be. Rare that you get a 3 for 1 scouting opportunity!

For the "blue-blinded" Birds fans, that may be the case. Those in the know are aware that this scrimmage has been treated in all respects like a real game by HHS for the past few years and will be treated as such again. The last couple of years, Trinity has been better than HHS and the knowledgeable fans acknowledge that. That said, they have gotten much more out of competing with Trinity in these "scrimmages" than 90% of their regular season games. If Trinity whips us again this year, I will be slightly disappointed but will remain focused on winning in Bowling Green in DEC.

From the description, lots of key players going 2 ways. That may present problems against Highlands and other teams on their schedule / playoffs.

Under the "longshot" heading, I would include HHS QB Drew Houliston. I anticipate he will put up some impressive yards and TD stats with the cast of surrounding players (OL, WRs, RBs, defense to get him the ball back, etc.). Of course, if Dale decides to run the ball, Zach Harris could probably put up some similarly impressive stats. For that reason alone, neither likely has much of a chance of wining the award. Add to it the previously mentioned reality that it is more of a "body of work" award than solely a senior campaign award and both Houliston and Harris suffer from waiting their turn at a juggernaut instead of putting up gawdy #s for 3 seasons at a less successful program. Additionally, there may be a few games this season where neither of them play a snap in the second half.

Sweep -- I would be surprised if this ends up being the location. I strongly suspect it will be where the current scoreboard is. Also, I assume you meant 4' rather than 4". If so, that is correct.

I think the East beat the West in the JR game, 5-4. Not sure that W/L matters in this game. Wasn't there, so don't know who excelled during the game.

Read the court record, the KHSAA record and the reinstated wins. Foolish comment with no legitimate purpose.

Check out "Undefeated" if you have a Netflix account or another way of getting it. Very impressive and proves out this point very well.

Highlands is sending Quentin Murray © and, I believe, Hector Molina (CF) as SRs. Joey Cochran (P) and Evan Allen (2B) will be the JRs. Good luck to all the participants.

Maybe start a new thread. I am interested as well. I think the JR game is MON the 10th at 5:00 PM at Dixie and the SR game is after that (around 7:30 PM). For Highlands, JRs are Joey Cochran (P) and Evan Allen (2B). I think the SRs are Quentin Murray © and Hector Molina (CF).

Correct.

Collinsworth DH'd for Jones. Seidl played RF. Heck was an 8th inning defensive sub in RF with a LH batter up in a potential sac fly situation due to his strong arm.

Wow! The stat that sticks out to me is 0 BB for Kuebbing over 8 IP and after a long layoff. Props to this young man.

Well played game by both teams. Hits and runs were at a premium with solid arms on display for both sides. In the end, it came down to 2 out hits. Cru got 1 in the 1st and the Birds couldn't square it up or get a bleeder on those occasions. Good luck to St. Henry against Ryle. Huge thanks to all of the SRs and particularly the 6 (Murray, Schultz, Molina, Lester, Heck & Liggett) that started when the program was rebuilding and in rough shape. They all went through times where I am sure it was tough to go to practice, play the games and listen to the Coaches. Like Mitch Meyer last year, they kept grinding and the result is a program that is in a much better place than they found it. It is up to the current JRs, SOs, FR and beyond to insure that their hard work, sweat and tears are not forgotten. #RTB #getbettertoday --------------------------- Cru scored 2 after 2 outs in T1 on a slow roller IF single, ground rule 2B (lucky for Birds as run would have scored if it didn't bounce out of play), walk and a solid opposite field single after an 0-2 count went to 2-2 and SO Jones had to come to Rose with the bases loaded. Birds failed to capitalize in an eerily similar scenario after 2 outs in B1. SO Ramey and SR Schultz singled and SR Murray was HBP to load the bases. A ground ball on a 1-1 count ended the inning. After a nice DP by the Birds to end T2, SR Lester and SR Collinsworth reached by HBP to start B2. Failure to get a bunt down (pop out) and a K were followed by another ground out to end the threat. B3 saw the Birds get on the board with a leadoff double by Ramey and an RBI single by Schultz. Kuebbing rallied to induce a DP and get a K to end the threat. Pitching and defense reigned until B6 when SR Murray led off with a 3B. JR Allen got down the squeeze bunt on a 1-0 count to tie the game. After 1 out B7, SR Molina reached on a dropped 3rd strike and SO Whitford dropped one in "no mans land" behind the 3B to put runners on 1st & 2nd w/ 1 out. Kuebbing strengthend again to get a fly ball and a K to end the inning. T8, Conradi doubled to lead off and Rogers singled him to 3B (and took 2B on the throw). After the IBB to Markgraf, SO Cochran (who entered the game T7) got LaCorte to pop out to 2B. Rose was walked on a 3-2 count to bring home the eventual winning run. Nice job by Cochran to get a pop out and a K to avoid any more damage and keep the Birds within striking distance. Birds managed a 2 out single by SR Lester but couldn't get any more and the season ended.

Anyone hear whether there are any video or radio broadcasts of the games this year? I seem to recall that there was a video feed last year.

Would expect to see SO Jones on the bump since JR Cochran pitched on THU against NewCath. Both pitched, along with SR Schultz, in last year's regional. Schultz is a wild card. Injury prevented him from doing anything other than DH for several weeks during season. He is back at 3B and arm strength is not an issue. He has pitched once since returning with good velocity but a bit rusty, understandably. He has experience and if he could provide an inning or 2 if needed, would be a huge boost. Only Ramey, Seidl and Collinsworth were not in the same position last year and figure to contribute during this run. Experience means something from the turf to the situation to the preparation that goes into it. Formula is simple for the Dirty Birds over the past 2 years - throw strikes, play good defense and produce enough runs to win in whatever way possible. If that is small ball, so be it. If it is a huge HR and some drives to the gaps, so be it. Looking forward to it.

Article. http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20130523/SPT0302/305220221/Highlands-blanks-NewCath-district-tourney-title

Solid outing by both P. Cochran was a bulldog working out of trouble and pounding the zone with strikes over 6+. Bartels breezed through the first 10 batters before Whitford's blast. 2nd run that inning was unearned on a 2 out E6. However, the E only produced a run due to steals of 2nd & 3rd b Ramey with some heads up running when they weren't paying a lot of attention. Whitford & Ramey combined again in the 6th via a double and single to plate an insurance run. The 2 collected HHS' only 4 hits on the evening. Jones came on in the 7th with 3 Ks to close things out. He threw strong and threw strikes. The formula was the same last year - throw strikes, play solid defense, put together enough offense to win. Survive and advance. NOTE: 3 SO and 1 JR mentioned above. SR leadership is huge on this team, but the future is also bright. #RTB

Correct play for the fielder (assuming there is time based on where the ball is dropped and how hard the batter runner is running) is either throw / touch 2nd and then throw on to 1st for the DP. If ball is dropped close to 1B, fielder needs to tag the runner on 1st (even if he is standing on the base) and THEN tag 1st base to get the DP. It always confuses players how they can tag a runner who is on a base and the runner still is out. (He is out because he is at risk due to being forced to go to 2B.) NOTE: an infielder may not intentionally drop a fly ball in order to jeopardize a runner. However, if an infielder does not touch the ball and allows it to drop, this rule does not apply. This usually comes up when there is only a runner on 1st (i.e., no infield fly rule) and the batter fails to run out a popup. Infielder lets the ball drop and gets the DP. I have actually always wondered why this isn't done more where there is a favorable runner exchange. For example, Drew Stubbs is on 1st, probably via a dropped 3rd strike , with nobody out and Ryan Howard / Prince Fielder / etc. pops up. Why not allow the ball to drop and throw to 2B to get Stubbs off the basepaths and substitute Fielder / Howard at 1B? Of course, you could always screw up the throw to 2B and end up with 1st & 2nd and nobody out.

I was not there, but heard the Dirty Birds came ready to play by putting 12 on the board in the 1st inning. Lots of big hits, but a HR from SO Ramey in his 2nd AB of the inning may have been the biggest. Heard it was a laser beam to dead CF. Glad they got it done quickly in 5 innings because apparently the heavy rains came shortly after the teams shook hands. Nice win for SO Martin on the bump. Go Birds! Beat NewCath!

It's been sort of a "rallying cry" since the team started getting together back in JAN. I think Coach Baioni wants them fighting from the sound of the bell. They even have an old bell from a boxing ring that they travel with and ring on occasion to "rally the troops." #RTB

Final Brackets. Congrats to Ryle! https://highlands-baseball.com/files/2013/05/2013-JV-Regional-Tournament-Bracket3.pdf