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The Bulldogs of Lawrence Co have had one heck of a 1/2 decade on the diamond. This game was a barnburner! Chandler Shepard has been almost untouchable as has the kid starting for Pikeville. Neither pitcher has lost a game this year. Both have an ERA under 1. LC was up 1-0 after 3. I think Pikeville scored in the 4th/5th to go up 6-1 in what looked like an all but done game. LC stuck together and hung 8 runs in the 5th to go up 9-6. Shepard got in a zone after that and was lights out to close it out. Couple of errors both sides probably which happens in big games. Both programs have put together an awesome run the last few years. I said preseaon in the prediction thread I expected 1 of these teams to be playing in Lexington at the end of the year. Congrats Lawrence Co and Congrats to Chandler Shepard on getting the MVP of the Region again!

http://www.ihigh.com/news/article_65616.html More accolades for Shep. He also threw a complete game 1 hitter with 15 strikeouts Sat on Senior Day.

He pitched in the Regional Championship as an 8th grader+Frosh+Soph I think. 2 State Championships. Didn't get to pitch last year because of Tommy John. Started throwing left handed for the heck of it and was throwing in the 70's (that was in case he played the field). Instead they just used him as DH. He hit over 500 and broke Lawrence Co's single season HR record (there's been A LOT of good baseball players come through here). He hit another dinger tonight. Could have been a nice basketball player. Would have been one of the better football players in the state this year. His Frosh year he almost beat Belfry by himself. He averaged about 14 yds a carry against them. Going in for the go ahead score he hit on uneaven spot on the field and was hurt with the ball inside the 20 w about 3 minutes left in the game. Freak of a football player too. Never played anything but baseball after his Frosh year because everybody knew baseball was his ticket. He's been a joy to watch.

http://www.kentucky.com/2011/04/15/1708466/mike-fields-lawrence-county-ace.html Nice article out of Lexington on Shep. I think he's around 39 strikeouts with 3 walks, 2 hits and no runs this season. 4-0 thus far. He also pitched in the Regional Championship his 8th grade year. State Championship his Fresh year. Broke the state's all time consecutive shutout innings streak his Frosh-Soph year and even after setting out a season is in the top 10 all time in strikouts and wins statewide. Quite the resume for a kid that has battled a lot!

Shep threw another no hitter last night with 14 strikeouts. Pretty solid foundatioin to make a run at Mr. Baseball!

I've coched defense against him the last 2 years and we were big rivals. He seems to be everything you could want in a QB. Leader, smart, football IQ, throw, run, size and great teammate. Lawrence Co has Phil Ratcliff+Gerad Parker coaching at Marshall. Tyler Combs from LC has also commited to Marshall on the Oline. It will be a nice support system there for him as all those guys are outstanding guys off the field. Excited for Adam and his family not only on his decison but a chance to play close enough to home that they will be able to watch him. Congrats to Coach Brown too. He's done a great job there!

1st game of the season Shep gave up no hits through 5 innings w 12 strikeouts. Tonight he no hits Paintsville with 11 more strikeouts. He's now thrown 11 innings of no hit baseball with 23 strikeouts. Not a bad way to climb back on the mound. Proud of him because he has worked his tail off and endured a lot for a teen.

Chan hit his first dinger the other day. Lawrence Co is 4-0 now I think.

Thought it would be fun to track some of the favorites for Mr. Baseball throughout the year. I'll start with Chandler Shepherd of Lawrence Co. Chan has signed with UK and is a TPX preseason All American. 1st game on the mound 5 innings 12 strikeouts of no hit baseball.

Lawrence Co and Pikeville will both be really good. LC probalby has the best pitcher in the state in Chandler Shepherd. They might have had the best 1,2,3 punch but their 2 moved to Pikeville who was at Applebees last year. They will both be in the hunt this year.

I don't have a dog in the fight I'm not from either place. Shouldn't take away from either team. They both hit clutch shot after clutch shot! It was a treat for fans across the Bluegrass. Both teams have a lot to be proud of.

They announcers even said it was for sure.

Got to be one of the best finals ever! Hate the officials blew the call that cost Rowan a championship. Both teams played amazing! Great drive, dish and shot at the end. Rowan has been very athletic for 2 years now on the gridiron too. Glad KY got to see Cross and Wing. Wing is an even better football player. I think he had 31pts 11 boards and didn't come out of the game! Congrats to Christian Co!

Best: The journey, brotherhood bond, life lessons, Fri nights, the way winning changed our small town. Worst: Hanging it up, my body often aches from football and pitching baseball.

How big is Vinny Miller now?

I coached Jerry in Middle School. He played QB/DB there. He is a nice athlete and a good kid. Really excited for him!

Chandler Shepherd of Lawrence County. He's signed with UK and is a TPX All American.

I coached defense against him at Lawrence Co the last couple of years. We've had a pretty nice rivalry going. I can tell you he is a pain in the rear and I say that as a credit to him. Rowan has had some nice skill kids the last couple of years and he has done a nice job leading. He's got nice size maybe 6'4 give or take an inch or so. Spreads the ball around well. Has run some option. We lost our safety in the game this year which hurt but it didn't matter. He killed us. I think he had 4-5 TD's including several nice runs. He will be a nice prospect this year. I'm about 99% sure Marshall offered him the day after we played him this past year. I haven't seen him play basketball but my dad did and he said he was a really nice player so good all around athlete. I wish him nothing but the best. It's been fun competing against him. I know he played safety some too this year. I remember plain as day one play I was watching and listening to him on defense. Right before the snap he called the play out to his corner, baited the QB then picked the ball. Intelligent too!

I almost coached at Bryan Station one time but ended up coaching somewhere else instead. The key there is getting kids out of the hallways, creating enthusiasm and structure. Yeast played on the best offense in UK history + was a big part of it. He's coached at the high school level. I don't know him personally but I wish him the best of luck and I hope he converts what could be one of the top programs in KY. For the people killing his experience....Coach Slammons at Lawrence Co was voted Coach of the Year 2 years ago. His prior head coaching experience...Middle School! I wouldn't be to quick to judge Yeast.

Great honor for 2 of KY's best ever. Congrats to both and the Boyle family!

I actually coached in that game. Gerad was my WR. 3 of those guys are some of my best friends and the other dated my older sister. Pretty awesome article and there's an even bigger network when you start looking at high school coaches from there too. I can honestly say those guys mentioned are some of the best guys I've known in my lifetime! Jasons story is unreal if I had time to share the whole story. Couldn't help but tear up reading about Dontae. Such a great guy!

Glad to see JR Tyler Combs make it. I think he's the 1st from Lawrence Co to ever manke it. He had some great college camps last summer and has received an offer from Marshall so far. As for the jab at JJ Jude he's legit. Teams like Highlands, Cov Cath, Knox and Bell aren't push overs. Vinny Miller from Henry Clay is a kid to look out for next year that didn't make the list along with Adam Wing from Rowan Co. A couple of kids that I got to see this year that were as good as anybody I'd seen were Turner O'Brian safety Lawrence Co and the ILB from Perry Central. That kid didn't get much pub but he was flat out sideline to sideline. Best H.S. backer I'd seen in person since I watched Roller from Highlands.

You've gotten bad information that all the assistants are going too. Bruce lives there. I could see possibly 1-2 more but doubt it. Crucial hire for LC probably the biggest in history w school failing, basketball letting best coach ever go now ground zero and baseball a year away from losing great pitching. This hire could make or break what's been built for a long time. I hope they take their time and get it right for the kids.

That's a very blanket statement about somebody you don't know. I've coached 12 years and he is one of the best guys I've ever been around. He cares for his kids away from football better than anybody I've ever been around. The year LC had the turnaround they had been beaten into the ground for almost 4 years. 1 win in 2 years. It was a thin line of getting swagger back and out of control. 2 Sr's were ejected in the Reigional finals. The first on a bogus call and the 2nd when emotions ran high. Both with home lifes as tough as it gets. They acted out in the lockeroom when he wasn't around and embarresed the program. They know that and regret it 100%. The following off season he knew it wasn't the reputation he wanted around the LC program so he cleaned house of anything he thought was close to over the line including coaches. This past year there was never one single problem or one single mistake repeated. I can assure you looking back everybody around LC was embarrassed of that incident and the one with Knox when the PA turned music on before Knox left the field. That doesn't define him though. He was embarrased and made sure nothing like that was an issue again by making tough decisions and letting friends go. He would be a knockout hire if they get him. He was coach of the year in all classes for goodness sakes lol. He also started Oline at Marshall when Leftwhich was there. He's had good offers every year so I don't know what he's going to do but I can tell you he's one of the best guys I've been around and will get the kids out of the hallways if he's there!

There's not a perfect system. IMO BGP is the best then the CJ then the AP. None of them are perfect though. When a kid makes first team in 1...has a D1 offer as a JR and doesn't make honorable mention it's flawed IMO but it is what it is. Speaking of when is the BGP coming out? I thought it would be out between Christmas + Jan1? Did I miss it?