jpa2825

In the future, I think they will incorporate "wrapping up" into the definition of targeting / personal fouls / illegal hits, etc. If you go to YouTube ( (NOTE: they've already started to address the "peel back" block on the offensive side of things you see in many of the hits) or watch some of the old NFL Films presentations on "great hits" (do they even show those any more), on 90% of the hits they show, the defender launches himself as a missile intending to strike the offensive player. If you lead with the helmet when doing so, it is spearing or targeting and is definitely not safe for either player. If you lead with your shoulder it can be legal but is very difficult to interpret. In the interest of making things clear for the spectators and fair for the players, they should simply write the rule to state that if the defensive player makes no attempt to wrap up with his arms on the ball carrier, it is a penalty. Sure, this would certainly include making some hits which are currently clean a penalty, but that would be worth it for safety AND to make it clear what is and is not a penalty. NOTE: you could still get a penalty if you are trying to wrap up, but if you don't try to wrap up, that's a penalty by itself. If you want to get coaches teaching safer tackling AND get players listen to them and practicing what they preach, you have to hit them in the competitive "pocketbook." Instead of high-fiving a fellow player because of the devastating hit they laid on the ball carrier, his teammates are going to be in his ear for "You can't do that. You just gave them a 1st down and cost us field position."

I am guessing he was #53 for Cooper? If so, he did have several key dominating blocks on big plays for Cooper. Noticed that he played a lot of snaps on DL as well, but didn't notice the same impact there. HHS blocking was pretty good on the many dive and crease plays they ran between the tackles. I was surprised they didn't run wide more often given the talent of some of the RBs, but they did fine getting to the 2nd level up the middle so why change it?

What is the rule in HS Football on substitutions? I know in the NFL if the offense subs the umpire stands over the football and allows the defense time to sub if they want to. Doesn't appear to be the case from the no-huddle / fast paced offense HHS has run for some time. Seems that once the ball has been placed ready for play and the offense is ready to go, they are free to snap the ball. It does make it very difficult on the defense if they want to substitute. It basically requires both players to know the sub is happening and for the new player & current player both to run on when the whistle for the prior play blows so they can be in place / on sidelines when the ball is placed ready for play by the white hat. Defense has to run a fairly plain vanilla scheme because there is little time for multiple changes -- or have to pull a Marv Levy and come up with phantom injuries to stop play and allow the substitution. Wouldn't be surprised if we see that down the road. NOTE: not suggesting any phantom injuries from Cooper last night.

Partially correct. My recollection was there was a conference among the officials and then the flag was dropped on the ground after the conference. It was a 3rd or 4th down play and the spot was very important which may have gotten more of the side judge's attention. Bottom line, they caucused and came up with the right call.

Drive Efficiency (always a stat that I like to focus on) HHS - 10 drives; 7 TDs; 2 punts (scored TDs on 5 straight if I remember correctly); 1 victory formation at end of game; HHS' other score was the fumble in the endzone recovered for a TD after their 2nd punt Cooper - 11 drives; 6 TDs; 3 fumbles (1 for a TD and 1 at end of game at HHS 2 yd. line); 1 missed FG; 1 turnover on downs to end 1st half

Class size is not a great correlation for 2-platoon. Tradition and # of kids in the program is much more precise. Beechwood, NCC and HHS (obviously) probably have more kids in their program than many larger schools. Once you have a certain # of kids in the program with a certain level of quality, you have to decide whether and how much 2-platoon you want to do. This is determined by the difference in quality between the player forced to play 2 ways and the replacement that would take that spot if partial / full 2-platoon was instituted. The difference is reduced by the conditioning issue and by the ability of both players to focus fully / partially on 1 position during practice throughout the year. Collins learned the lesson well in the 2013 State Championship. Blown out by a 2-platoon HHS the year before, they selectively implemented a partial 2-platoon and were able to take HHS in a barn-burner the next year.

CF - not to be hyper-technical, but you are just plain wrong. You overplayed what is a very good hand and got corrected because of it. Simply responding by saying "you know what I mean and sorry for overstating the case" would have been a better approach. 1st, had you said "beat" rather than "compete with," you'd still be wrong. "There just simply isn't a [note the singular here] scenario [note: this brings in the possible rather than just what has actually happened] where any team in Boone, Kenton or Campbell county is going to [beat] these schools, even in their best years." A - HHS is a team in Campbell County B - In 2009 and 2011, HHS beat St. X and Elder As such, not only is there "a scenario" in which a team from Campbell County could beat 1 of the 4 schools listed, it actually happened. This, of course, means a reasonable person can envision unlimited "scenarios" where a similar result could occur. 2nd, since you did say "compete with," you're even more wrong. "There just simply isn't a [note the singular here] scenario [note: this brings in the possible rather than just what has actually happened] where any team in Boone, Kenton or Campbell county is going to compete with these schools, even in their best years." A - HHS is a team in Campbell County B - In 2009 and 2011, HHS beat St. X and Elder C - In 2000, 1997, 2006 & 2013, the margin of victory / loss was a TD or less D - A reasonable person can believe that staying within 1 score of another team constitutes "compet[ing] with" another team. As such, not only is there "a scenario" in which a team from Campbell County could compete with 1 of the 4 schools listed, it actually happened 6 times. This, of course, means a reasonable person can envision unlimited "scenarios" where a similar result could occur.

Time of game is also a contributing factor. Baseball is typically 2.5 hrs per game. Softball is much less.

Funny you should ask. As it was explained to me, in the 6th with 1 out and JC runner on 1B, a ground ball was hit to 3B. 3B either fielded it even with the bag or maybe a bit in front of it as he was coming in. After fielding ball cleanly, 3B turns to throw to 2B to get the lead runner / start the double play (I don't know how hard the ball was hit or how fast the batter runner is). When he does, the 2B umpire is directly in his line to throw to 2B. He either double clutches because of this or throws wide because of this or some such. End result is that due to the error the runner on 1B scored and the batter runner ends up on 2B. Assuming the above is correct, proper umpiring position in a 4 man system would have the 2B umpire on the infield somewhere well inside of the baseline. I was taught to be on the 1B side of the mound with a RHP on the bump and 3B side of the mound with a LHP (less of a concern being in the batter's vision considering where the ball is coming from). Regardless, the umpire should not have been between a 3B fielding the ball and the 2B bag (assuming he was). That said, I wasn't there so anyone who was and can give more information, please do. Also, these guys so rarely work in a 4 man crew that it would be understandable if their mechanics in such a system were rusty. Finally, if he was in the way and the 3B couldn't get a clean throw, he has to know to go to 1B and get the out there. Tough to ask from a HS kid. Clyde -- what are the proper mechanics here? (Assuming the facts are as I described them - which I admit they may not be.)

If not obvious, this was a suicide squeeze. Failed on the 1st try (foul) but successful later in same AB.

@HHSDirtyBirds also likely to be tweeting updates

Not to rehash, but KHSAA gave us that win back. Not sure if they took Bell Co.'s win away, but HHS was 1-0 in that game as the record currently stands. 2013 Finals. Nuff said.

Team that pitched, fielded, hit and ran the bases better won the game last night. In 5 postseason games (District & Region) they gave up 1 run. In 3 Region games they gave up 5 hits. 1 error v. 3 errors (and a couple of odd plays not resulting in an error in the 7th allowing 2 insurance runs: 1 - 3B playing too deep in an obvious bunt situation allowing Bowden to reach when simply trying to get runner over [who reached via error]; 2 - P "cutting" throw to home from foul ground behind 3B on tagging runner who scored; not sure if it is an out if the C is allowed to receive the ball and tag the runner, but it certainly would have been closer and the P had no business being where he was as he should have been backing up the C for an overthrow) Walkenhorst scalded a ball in the 1st inning that turned into a DP and Birds got hits when they needed 'em to plate 4 in the 4th. The 7th was small ball and forcing BW to make a play (tagging from 3B on a foul pop the Bankemper had to field over the shoulder). The baserunning blunder to end the 4th was my play of the game. BW had finally gotten Doty a bit rattled with 2 outs and scored a run on a single with runners on 1B & 2B. With Combs on deck, runner gets thrown out by a mile trying to go from 1B to 2B when the throw goes home. Inning & rally over. Agree with most of the comments that BW seemed "flat." The exception to that was Bankemper. He was scratching and clawing every pitch of every inning. Came in and pitched shutdown baseball. The 2 outs BW got in the 7th were completely effort & talent on his part. He fielded a bunt almost even with the rubber and wheeled to get a speedy Rust for the 1st out. (If he doesn't make that play, its bases loaded and 0 out). He then makes a very nice over the shoulder catch on a popup in foul territory after he was replaced on the mound and threw home quickly to try to get the tagging runner. JB has been to 4 of the last 5 9th Region Finals and has won the last 2. (Put out by Kuebbing [D1 P for Longwood] and St. Henry in the 1st round the other year.) He has done it all without a single D1 signee by playing tough competition, getting better with each pitch, inning and game as the season progresses and peaking at the right time. He is both loved and respected by the players and parents he interacts with -- as was the case when the program was 5-24 and ousted in the 1st round of the Districts not so long ago. I've said it many times before, my kid will look back someday and recognize what a tremendous gift it was for him to have played for Dale Mueller and JB. Go Birds! Beat Eagles! Send them back to Johnsonville.

If he didn't tag him, wouldn't that just have been bang . . .?

Per Twitter. Rom goes the distance for the Birds. Doty & Raisor both available against Beechwood. Hope for a good game and a solid effort. Go Birds! Beat Tigers!

Thanks. Odd for the 2B to be in the middle of that, particularly with a LH 1B. That has to be a SS cover situation and the 1B has to come "meet" the ball to A - get it sooner and B - create a better throwing lane.

Can anyone provide some context? Runner on 1B and Runner on 3B? Pickoff to 1B and runner caught stealing? Grounder to 1B and 1B trying to get force out? Straight steal and ball is coming from C to 2B? Regardless, looks like there was some confusion as to whether 2B or SS was covering.

Twitter said Raisor had a no-no through 6 and was pulled for Doty in the 7th (presumably to keep him available for THU if they get there). I would expect to see Doty back out there tomorrow against St. Henry. Go Birds! Beat Cru!

Unless rain gets in the mix (unlikely at Freedom), very little reason to stop a kid going well at 50 pitches on DAY 1. If you get to TUE, the 50 pitch mark is important and the 75 pitch mark goes away.

Bingo. With a bunch of Ks already and needing a bunch of runs, they may have wanted to make sure of putting a ball in play and forcing HHS defense to get an out. If they bobble it, you now have a rally. If he Ks, no defense is involved.

Was that for #1 seed in the District Tourney? If yes, assume Bellevue will have to pitch Seiter against ?NCC? to provide best chance to make the 9th Region. I'm guessing HHS' #2 or #3 (Doty or Rom) would be favored over Bellevue's #2 in the Championship if they both make it.

What happens to players if they suspend / shut down the girls program? Would they be free to transfer without sitting out a year? What if the administration sits on it and doesn't decide until SEP or OCT to suspend / shut down the girls program? Seems like a tough situation for those already in the program.

Really? Yikes. Those must be nightmares.

Yikes. They must not be listening, b/c I can guarantee you JB is preaching defense and pitching. With the pitching he is certainly preaching 1st pitch strikes, 1st batter outs each inning (no crooked #s ), pitch to contact and no free passes. Becomes like a virus -- P is afraid defense won't catch the ball so he tries to be too fine and strike everyone out. This leads to BB which puts more pressure on the defense. I'm sure JB will have them going the right direction for District & Region. With good arms, you always have a chance.

Rough start to several games in 3 days for a pitching staff!