13th Analyst

I stand corrected. For some reason I neglected to include 05/06. This is how it breaks down. 2000/2001- 12/12/00 Middlesboro 61 Harlan 60 2/5/01 Harlan 83 Middlesboro 58 2001/2002- 12/11/01 Middlesboro 59 Harlan 57 2/5/02 Middlesboro 77 Harlan 54 2002/2003- 12/17/02 Middlesboro 71 Harlan 63 2003/2004- 12/16/03 Middlesboro 68 Harlan 64 12/30/03 Harlan 68 Middlesboro 66 1/29/04 Middlesboro 73 Harlan 60 2004/2005- 12/14/04 Harlan 82 Middlesboro 75 2005/2006- 12/13/05 Harlan 80 Middlesboro 68 2/10/06 Harlan 81 Middlesboro 68 2006/2007- 12/15/06 Harlan 89 Middlesboro 73 1/30/07 Harlan 71 Middlesboro 52 While both have had their streaks, I do not think it is fair to say that either team owns the other through the years. If you had said that Harlan has owned Middlesboro as of recently I wouldn't have had a problem but as these numbers show, Harlan obviously didn't own Middlesboro from 2000 to 2004.

I'm no professional but I do know a lot about the game. However, it doesn't take a professional scout to conclude that Greer can't throw 86-87. I've seen the kid throw on several occasions and I maintain my statement about him throwing 80-81 with decent off-speed. Just so you know, Smith from South Laural throws about 86-87 and he is a solid D1 pitcher. I would also argue that Nelson is the best pitcher on Bell County's squad.

At Middlesboro: Aaron Sowders- Cumberland College (I think) Bill Powell- Morehead St. (football) and then Lincoln Memorial University (baseball) David Kelley- Lincoln Memorial University Others that I know of: John Smith (Whitley County HS)- Cumberland College Bussell (Rockcastle County HS)- Eastern Kentucky University

Harlan has owned Middlesboro for several years??? How can you even say that?? Middlesboro has won 6 out of the last 10 meetings.

Not a chance. The kid is a good pitcher right now and could develop into a great pitcher, but there is no way he was clocked at 86-87. I would say he is more in the 80-81 region with decent off-speed.

Those are definitely the top hitters from Middlesboro. I would also argue that Tolliver is right there with them though. I would also throw Nelson in there for Bell County.

Yes he is an assistant coach for this team. However, Coach Sowders has the reigns now and this program is on his shoulders.

I think Middlesboro stands a great chance at winning this region this year. Coach Sowders has a couple years of head coaching under his belt and actually has some depth and leadership to work with this season. I highly doubt that one pitcher in the region will be enough to keep them from winning it.

In my experience, 60's are most time efficient and if it is a well ran showcase then they usually won't take the time it would require to time every single player from home to second. I agree that it would be useful but definitely secondary.

Let's just say that Roark has underachieved with the talent that he has been blessed with. He did win a state championship but who couldn't have with that 98' team. Unbelievable talent.

I agree that the main point of the 60 for baseball is to measure the true speed of the player but the other things you mentioned, cutting corner, rounding first, and gap speed aren't figured in at all into the 60 yard dash. It is a dead straight run, they don't measure players at combines from home plate to second base. I think the 60 simply gives a little time for a player to show off his accelaration. I think it is most applicable for outfielders.

Are you serious? Anybody that knows the Middlesboro program knows that we have had more than our share of talent recently. Specialty positions (QB, RB, TE, WR) have been very talented the last ten years. They have had the talent to win at least one more ring since 98' but Roark shoots himself in the foot by not pushing weight lifting at all. Therefore, it isn't the talent that he doesn't get, he just doesn't put any size on his players. Middlesboro is always small and quick up front but against the best teams, they get exploited. Hence the reason that they always make it deep into the playoffs but rarely all the way.

That light pole will never be moved. There is probably 2 tons of cement anchoring that thing underground. They also choked a little bit by making that brick backstop so dang close to the plate (a true sign of a team that never has fundemental catchers). Example, Cumberland always has great catchers. They have to because if they don't, a pass ball would seriously hurt. Even Middlesboro's and Corbin, both brick, are a significant distance futher from the plate than the wall at Cawood. That being said, they have been pretty competitive through the years and I would like to see that come back again. It is good for the region.

A lot of people will be surprised at how much arm strength Tolliver has picked up over the off-season. However, Middlesboro is pretty deep with pitching this year and Tolliver probably fits in to their rotation at about 4 or 5 to tell you the truth. His future is at 3B. The kid was the best true hitter on Middlesboro's team last year and has only gotten better. He has a great build for the corner and is probably one of the hardest workers on the team.

In response to a few of your statements: Technically, Middlesboro's varsity did play Pineville the past 15 years. However, while it did count on the varsity record, the top players did not participate and that I am positive of. If you did follow Middlesboro baseball you would know that Brian Powell did pitch as well. In fact, he was probably the best pitcher on the team his last two seasons. When he appeared on the mound he was dominant. What is even more impressive is that he played his entire senior season with a torn labrem and was still the strongest defensive player in the region. Justin Stewart may have only hit 2 homeruns his senior year but he did bat .463 that year. If you think Jeff Kyle is the only player in Middlesboro history to hit multiple HRs in a game then you are wrong. And I don't even know what you mean by the Brian Williams comment. Since the national guard building is a good 3-4 miles away I am assuming that you mean he hit a far HR. There is no need for you to defend Brian Williams as he was one of the players I put on my all-time team. As is Jeff Kyle. And I don't know who you are talking about but I also assure you that nobody is still talking about Craig Heath or his homerun at Palatka. I played for Middlesboro for 5 years since his time and actually never heard his name once. If you are putting Barry Burch in the linup because of his defensive abilities then you might as well throw Blake Allen in there as well. I thought we were just listing the best all around players. Just a note: 9 of the 22 players I named played prior to 98. The reason I named players mostly from that era is because they were flat out the better players. Middlesboro won regional championships in 98, 99, 02 while finishing runner-up in 00, 04, and 06. That is an extremely successful era. Let's not also forget that they reached the Final Four in both 99 and 02. That may be the reason why I listed so many in that era. You on the other hand seem a bit bitter towards players from newer Middlesboro teams, which may also be the reason you didn't put Coach Sowders on your list.