13th Analyst

Yeah. Plus, being a Middlesboro fan, losing when the team played absolutely horrible just hurts. But, they couldn't have played any worse and they stayed in the game so that gives me a little confidence I suppose.

They tried to play this one. Middlesboro has a great tarp and it came on and off 3 or 4 times in this game but they couldn't make it past the 4th. NL threw their 2nd best pitcher (don't know his name) and Middlesboro threw there 4th in Casey Earls. The score was something like 2-4 NL when they called it. Middlesboro was playing aweful and I heard Coach Powell lit into them after the game. This game will not be continued and doesn't count towards either teams' records.:thumb:

You're right, that isn't even what I meant to say. I meant to say that NL held them to fewer runs than SL. People are blind if they think SL is the clear cut favorite to win this region.

Whitley may have thrown their #5 at Southwestern. Either way, even if their ace pitched, they held Southwestern to fewer runs then NL and SL.

Mud?? Where is this game being played?? If it is a Whitley, I wouldn't worry it being too sloppy. I think they are making a strong push for best field in the region right with Corbin. If it is at SL, then you may be right because I have never seen their field.

I wasn't trying to start anything. I agree that Leslie is the best team in the mountains right now. The SL and NL bit is yet to be proven.:thumb:

I guess we will have to agree to disagree on several of your arguments. I don't think SL is the best team in their district, much less the region. My whole point was that if you expect to get respect as being a good team, you can't blame every loss on the pitcher you face. Good teams find ways to win no matter what pitcher they are facing. Like I said, how can North Laurel beat the same pitcher that you title "better than any pitcher in the 13th hands down" and not be the best in the region?

I expect them to split. Two good teams though. However, pitching could play a role. I know SL threw a good pitcher last night and Whitley has had 3 games in the past 3 days, two of which were against Lafayette and Madison Central so we will see who they have left to go.

Did you think it was between Cumberland and Leslie?? I agree that this win is impressive but I was just wondering why it was this game that did it for you?

Good teams should expect to see the ace of other teams; espcially when it comes playoff time. So all of this talk about "they threw their ace" isn't going to cut it if you truly believe SL to be an elite team. Welcome to what Corbin and Middlesboro have been going through for 15-20 years. Suck it up. And congrats Whitley, you all held Southwestern to fewer runs than SL. That has nothing to do with who Southwestern threw. And you got the W.

The rough just keeps getting rougher for Clay County. This one really hurts. Can anyone shed some light on this game?

If Pittman is good to go for Middlesboro tonight, with NL having their best pitcher, that game should be a dandy!!

An average knuckleball will get rocked by a good hitter. Also, hardball, Whitley beat them as well. Any excuses for why that happened??

What was the story in this game?? Interesting matchup really; Southwestern had already been beaten this season by North Laurel and Whitley County. Anyone have any details?

Different game, same story for these two schools. This was a close game though. Middlesboro scored one in the top of the 7th to take the lead. Bell County was able to put baserunners on first and second with no outs in the bottom of the 7th but Middlesboro was able to shut them down to end the game. Pittman had a minor injury in batting practice yesterday. While shagging a ball, he got hit in the wrong spot. Therefore, Hoskins went today for the Jackets and pitched through 5 with Hatmaker pitching the final 2 innings to combine for the Middlesboro win. Bell County pitched "Buckeye"?? For some reason I can't quite remember his real name but he pitched a great game. Middlesboro coaches said he did a good job of changing speeds all game with great movement and really limited the Jackets offense most of the game. Great win Jackets!! 1-0 in district play!!!:ylsuper:

Wow!! I highly doubt it. Like I said, I don't think they will make it out of region.:thumb:

They have also lost 7 out of their last 11 games with those wins against the lowly Jackson County (3-6), Lynn Camp (5-7), Harlan (5-8), and OBI (3-7). Sounds to me like they are barely getting by at this point in time. They haven't beaten a team with a winning record since May 30. That's almost an entire month ago, 12 games ago to be precise. I'm not saying you aren't entitled to your own opinion but I'm sure you could find someone to rank ahead of them. Since Clay County has beaten a team with a winning record: Corbin has beaten 5 Whitley has beaten 6 Middlesboro has beaten 5 (including Clay themselves) Cumberland has beaten 6 Barbourville has beaten 1 Bell County has beaten 1 Cawood has beaten 1 Williamsburg has beaten 1 (including Clay) Just something to think about.

Megan Mars from Middlesboro is the top girls player in the region hands down. Ealier this season she beat Melanie Smith of Clay County 8-0. Not too mention, the Middlesboro girls are 13-0 with wins over several regional opponents. I would say the only other individual that has a chance to play Mars close is Baker from Knox Central. Mars has already signed with Georgetown College.

Clay County is getting ranked pretty high considering they have regional losses to Williamsburg (9-6), Middlesboro (8-6), North Laurel (9-5), and South Laurel (11-7).

I'm not sure. I don't know much about their pitching staff.

I know it is early but I just realized how tight this district has the ability to be. Although I don't consider Williamsburg to be as strong, anyone of Whitley, Corbin, or SL could be spoilers if they aren't awarded #1 seeds. Therefore I pose the question, which teams do you think will make it? Personally, I think Corbin and Whitley make it. I think SL will be a #1 seed but I think they would get upset for some reason. As I stated before, it is early but what do you think?

I'm not sure but I think that it is seeded. Can anyone else shed some light??

Anyone have any thoughts on this big district and regional game?? Middlesboro is 7-6-1 losing 3 of them to stiff Florida competition. They have had about 6 days off and have every pitcher rested up coming into the game. My source tells me that they will throw their go-to-guy Brett Pittman in this game which will be played at Bell County. Bell County comes into the game at 7-2 playing a very modest schedule. Both teams are very young and this could be huge in determining seeding for the district tournament. Both teams have lost 2 games to regional foes; Middlesboro to Whitley and Cumberland, Bell County to Cumberland and Corbin. I'm picking Middlesboro 9-6 in a tight game to the end. Jake Partin comes through in the clutch once again.

Both of these teams do have a good chance of advancing deep into the region as do Whitley, Corbin, Middlesboro, Cumberland, and Bell in my opinion. However, one team out of Whitley, Corbin, and South Laurel won't even make it to region. That will be a heck of a district tournament to watch. The same thing goes for Middlesboro, Bell, and Cumberland.

Not a chance he threw mid 90s. I faced the kid several times and I would say he probably tops out at about 90 maybe 91 on a great day. His game speed is probably 87-88, which is very good for high school. I think in high school, the success of the fastball is directly correlated with the speed of the off-speed pitches. If someone throws 86-87 with not much of an off-speed pitch, batters can sit dead-red on the heater and will eventually put the ball in play.