13th Analyst

In this region, it is probably safe to say they are a powerhouse. I mean 4 final four trips in 22 years or so. Several regional championships. Classic underachievers is very harsh. Especially since you probably don't know a single thing about this team. They have a very tough schedule and they might lose their share, but when it comes to region play and even sectional play, there are very few that are sitting as pretty as they are. Who is your team by the way?

Go ahead bud...I'd post in it. :dancingpa :thumb:

Excuse me, I meant 2004, their freshman year. Clear something up for me, you see them continuing to slip or you saw them slip from their tradition last year?? One down year isn't much room for a slip. I mean they did still have a winning season after trying to replace 9 seniors and the top 3 pitchers on their team. If that wasn't what you meant, and you meant that you think they will keep slipping, don't you think having Coach Powell back on the staff, even if he isn't the head coach, will help that?? They had one down year. That is when you know your program is well thought of, when people starting running for cover after going 14-8 in region play. Despite what many are thinking, this team won't be slipping at all this season. I'm excited about the Jackets.

No big tournament experience?? Lets see... 2005 C.Earls- Started every game, including games against Louisville Male, Bryan Station, and Rockcastle. Also, during the season, he came in and pitched relief in a win against Rockcastle. He came in and pitched relief in the regional semi-finals and got the save. T. Hoskins- Has been playing varsity since 8th grade. Was the winning pitcher in the district championship and starting pitcher in the regional championship as a freshman. S. Frady- Has been playing varsity since he was a freshman. Started the entire second half of the season in 2005, including the regional championship. There are three players right there that have experience in a regional championship. Not many players can claim that first of all. Second of all, Middlesboro isn't that young this year. They will have about 2 freshman starting, like usual, but will return 7 starters from last years team and 3 starters in the regional runner-up team two years ago. Their coaches are about experienced as it gets, actually, probably the most experienced coaches in the 13th region. This team is far from young, from the players to the coaches. They may have had an atitude problem last year but you don't think a district runner-up and first round regional bounce is going to humble these guys? I look for Coach Sowders and Coach Powell to excel with this team this year. Middlesboro is always a contender.

Okay, I have a new projected lineup after talking with Coach Powell yesterday. He seems to be pretty confident that he can turn Hunter Adams into a solid catcher this season. He loves his athletic ability and feels he is already an average high school hitter as a freshman with potentially solid power. Also, he has tremendous hands which are important at catcher. Therefore: C- Hunter Adams 1B- Andrew Breeding 2B- Skip Frady SS- Tyler Hatmaker 3B- Casey Earls LF- Shawn Russell CF- Trevor Hoskins RF- Lance Brooks Powell said although it is very early, and this is just the projected lineup at this time, he and Coach Sowders love the idea because it puts 8 solid athletes on the field. No way in the world would Casey Earls be moved to catcher. He is too valuable in the infield. Unlike, Frady, Earls is a three year full-time starter and is the best athlete on the team. Earls is the best infielder on this team. If Frady's fielding percentage is better, it is because balls hit to second base are a heck of a lot easier to field than at the hot corner. Powell and Sowders love Earls at third. He is very much that same player over there are Derrick Wynn was several years back. This being said, Brooks is too solid of a baseball player not to have on the field and they both thought he did an adequate job in the outfield last year. Russell is a good athlete. Not only can the kid run a 4.7 forty yard dash but he can power clean 300 pounds. I somewhat agree on the throwing motion but all it takes is a little work to cut that down. About Pittman, Sowders said he isn't the "ace" yet because he hasn't pitched in a game. However, the fact that he throws around 81-82 with the best change-up Powell and Sowders have seen since Lee Hardin shows tremendous potential. They are both very high on him. Also, about Comparoni, he has quit two years in a row. I don't understand how you can say he was proven. He started what, 5 varsity games?? He was probably the least athletic kid on the team. Coach Powell's daughter once came to run sprints with the team two years ago and she beat Comparoni every time. This team is better off without him. Frady is a solid pitcher and will be valuable to this team, but both Hoskins and Earls have both proven themselves in big situations. Earls in a couple big games like Pedro Menedez and Rockcastle both in his freshman season. These Middlesboro kids are talented and no one can take that away from them. But what they need to understand is that they aren't going to be able to just show up and win. When they focus and play to their potential, they can beat anybody. This season they will have a whole new complexion. A catcher they can count on behind the plate every guy, a head coach with a brand new attitude, humbled players, and Powell back to help. And if you will remember, when Powell was head coach he went 10 years without losing to Harlan or Cawood. This season, I would almost bet on it that they won't lose to Bell, Cawood, Harlan, or Cumberland one time. We will see though.

By shortening strides, I meant time-wise. Of course you can't adjust how far each pitcher strides but you can definitely cut down their time to the plate. Sorry I didn't make that clearer. Again, we must have two different opinions on Comparoni. He has never been a proven player at all. He has far from proven that he is a great catcher. Therefore, the next best behind him, still isn't great. You say that you thought he was their next best catcher but when he was back their they took a step backwards on defense, how is that possible?? Catcher is the position where having a great defensive player matters most while second base is probably the least important defensive oriented position in the infield. Therefore, how can having the best defensive player possible playing catcher with someone filling in for him at second be worse for the team than having Frady play defense at second with a worse catcher filling in? Like I said before, having Russell behind the plate will allow for Frady to stay at second and pitch regularly. Coach Smith at Whitley County is one of the best. Played at Middlesboro, was assistant coach there for a few years andis still in the record books for many pitching categories. He knows a great deal about the game and is very driven.

Actually, Russell has caught some threw the years. Also, stealing bases has a lot to do with coaches as well. This year, more emphasis will be put on shortening the strides of pitchers which will cut down on great jumps by the runners. Also, it isn't like Frady brought a whole of catching experience with him. He hasn't been coming to winter workouts for the baseball team and that just isn't the kind of leader a team needs a catcher. The catcher has to be the hardest worker on the team or else the team will struggle.

I don't know too much about South Laurel I will be honest. However they went 5-6 last year against 13th region opponents with their wins coming from mostly the weaker ones (Lynn Camp, Jackson County). They did beat Whitley early on by 2 but Whitley came back at the end of the season and 10 runned them. I think SL will be about middle of the pack this year with Clay and Bell. I think the chances of Corbin repeating is about slim to none. The lost a lot of players who had been starting for years and I think they are going to have a year like Middlesboro had last year. Whitley County is a dangerous team. I don't know much about them except for that they return some experience and have a great coach. This season will be interesting.

Brett Pittman, that is the name I was looking for. According to Powell and Sowders, this kid will be there go to guy this year, which allows for their best possible defense to be on the field. As far as a batting lineup goes, I would probably guess Earls, Russell, Breeding, Jones, Hoskins, and the rest. The 3rd spot will usually go to your best all around hitter. One who can hit for power as well as run the bases. I will tell you this about catching, since Powell is back on coaching staff and in charge of pitching and catching, whoever catches, will not pitch. Write it down. He has never allowed it and for good reason I'm sure. You need a guy back there that you can count on every game and it is tough for pitchers to adjust back and forth to throwing to different guys sometimes. Like I said, I really see Russell has a good candidate for the job. He has a wide frame with quick feet. If he catches, which I'm almost sure he will, look to have a tremendous staff with Pittman, Hoskins, Earls, Frady, and Hatmaker. Defense is going to be the name of the game though. Remember in 2002 when the Jackets went to the Final Four they did so on defense. Their top three pitchers were Cambron, Stewart, and Gage. Powell, as the pitching coach, will get these guys to throw strikes and allow the defense to make their great plays. I look for a big season with these teams.

Comparoni was never a solid player for Middlesboro so the loss of him won't affect them too much. The Jackets are very deep in the outfield with Brooks, Hoskins, and Russell from right to left. In the infield they will have a lot of experience coming back with Earls, Hatfield, Frady, Breeding. In my mind, this is a very solid infield. Probably the most solid overall since 2002. Catcher is a big question mark this year for the Jackets. Rumor has it, they will look for Adams to step up, or maybe even a move for Russell to catcher, where I believe he could excel. The coaches have told me that they may have found their new ace this season with Pearman? (I think that is his name). The staff could be extremely deep and it may turn out that Frady wouldn't be any higher than the 4th best pitcher, behind Pearman, Hoskins, and Earls. Middlesboro will never be middle of the pack for longer than one rebuilding year. I expected good things from them last year as well but after thinking about it, they were trying to replace a very very mature team with a very young one without missing a beat and that just isn't possible. Coach Powell will also be back, as an assistant however. He will assist Sowders with the pitching and catching responsibilities. I think the Jackets will return to the regional championship this year.

Happens every year: 2005 14th Region Champs PCC vs. Clay County 2-8 L North Laurel 5-9 L 2004 14th Region Champs Hazard vs Rockcastle 0-3 L Cumberland 3-6 L 14th Region Runner-Up Powell County vs Williamsburg 0-10 L This year NL, Whitley, Corbin, Middlesboro, and maybe a few others could beat the 14th champion handily.

Artose Pinner (SEC Player of the Year) Derek Homer

My top 5 would be: Brent Coleman- Pikeville David Jones- Belfry Arliss Beach- Ashland Jon Chapman- Breathitt County Scott Russell- Evarts (Mr. Football)

I've thought about adding him several times but simply haven't had the time. What a back he was as well!!!!

What a biased opinon. You don't think Jon Chapman from Breathitt and Coleman from Pikeville are on that list?? You are crazy if you don't.

Quite frankly, because Jarrod was slow and was only successful because of the system. He was a solid high school back but to be in my top 5 would mean I would want the ball in his hands more than the hands of these other guys and that just isn't happening. He should be on my list though. I'm sorry I left him off.

Actually, White rushed for just over 1600 yards that season and he didn't start runningback until the 3rd game of the season. Just ask these Lynn Camp boys, that season he put up 290 yards and 5 TDs on just 10 carries. Quite the game. That fullback was Chris Schneider and he did run very hard. They were a very powerful backfield that year. You must be from Paintsville however. You all had a great team that year. On Durrell White, he finished 2nd in the Mr. Football his senior season.

I never said he was the entire offense, that was someone else. I simply said that he got the ball probably more than any other back in the state.

Henson carried the ball as many times as they could give it to him. He just wasn't that impressive to me at all and you could never convince me that he was legitametely looked at by those big schools. He was more like a Cumberland or Georgetown type player. Are you kidding with those stats?? 1013 yards in 96 and another back with 357 in 97?? Those are the weakest argument for balance that I have ever heard. Not too mention, I said when we played him in 1998, he was a non-factor. And that was his junior season. What does Lynn Camp being up at halftime the year before have to do with anything? If you want to be accurate, at least talk about the same year I'm talking about.

I had him in my top 5 as well!! :thumb:

That was quite a game. Kelley was unreal his whole career but that game it was Scott Powell, their other runningback that scored 5 TDs. I say that because I think you may have them confused. The thing about those two backs was that Kelley had been so successful throughout his career that his senior season, 1998, a lot of teams were keying on him and that opened the way for Scott Powell to show some of his skills. That season Powell rushed for 1480 yards and Kelley with 1460. Kelley, however, was also a dangerous reciever and kickoff returner. He was quite the competitor. I have to give props to your guys though. Coleman was nearly unstoppable. I remember when Middlesboro played Pikeville either in 97 or 96 and Coleman ran all over them.

Henson was a great runner but he was not the best by any means. His numbers look so good because he literally got the ball 40+ times a game. There were many times I saw him play when he wasn't even the best back on the field. For instance, against Middlesboro in 1998, Henson junior year, he was a non-factor. Everyone on here is forgetting what great backs that Middlesboro has had in the past 10 to 15 years. Eric Witherspoon in the early 90s was a specimen, just under used. Didn't make near the grades even though he was getting hounded by college coaches. Here are some backs that come to mind when I think of EKY football. Brent Coleman-Pikeville Doug Howard-Belfry Shawn Robbins-Bell County David Kelley-Middlesboro David Jones-Belfry Mike West-Lawerence County Arliss Beach-Ashland (possibly eastern Kentucky) Scott Powell-Middlesboro Scott Russell-Evarts Durrell White-Middlesboro Jon Chapman-Breathitt County Quinton Henson-Lynn Camp Eric Witherspoon-Middlesboro Stephen Cook-Corbin My top 5 are in bold. However, I feel very strongly that Stephen Cook and Scott Powell both would have been in the top 5 had they not had such serious injuries.

Fair enough, I will get some exact statistics for you soon. I don't have them on me right now. That backfield however was outstanding. Both had great break away speed, Kelley with more agility that year and Powell with more power. They combined for 3 TDs in the state championship against a very tough Mayfield team. Jeremy Skidmore was offered a scholarship by EKU but decided to sign for a D1 baseball scholarship instead to ETSU. Like I said, I will get back to you with some statistics. I think Belfry wins this week though, don't get me wrong.

I dont know about that. Middlesboro had a great backfield in 1998 when they won the state championship. They had David Kelley, Scott Powell, and Jeremy Skidmore at QB. Each of them, including the QB, rushed for over 1500 yards that season with about 50 rushing TDs between them.

Do you not think that Lynn Camp had players playing both ways all game?? Don't you think they have some players battling injuries from the week before since we weren't the only team in the state to play?? These are all just excuses for a very ugly start. To me, giving up includes making all those mistakes you mentioned. When your mind isn't totally focused on getting the job done, several mistakes will be made. Everyone keeps talking about youth on this team but they forget that every year Middlesboro has freshman starting at key roles. This is part of being a small school team. You know freshman have been asked to step up before this group came along. Mikey Idol started both ways as a freshman. Justin Stewart started defense as a freshman. Vince Powell started MLB as a freshman. Blake Allen started QB as a sophomore. And there are many many more. And the teams these guys played for never looked as bad or as careless as this years team does. I'm simply disappointed in the program right now. I'm tired of fans putting on the blinders and listening to this whole youth bit or playing boths ways bit. I bet when you watch the Class A and Class AA state championship this year, you will find about 5 or 6 guys playing both ways for each team. I find it hard to believe these guys will ever come together really. They have been playing with each other for quite some time now. A lot of the same skills players played baseball last year and they went an entire season without really gelling together. Maybe it is because of attitude, poor leadership, effort, whatever it may be, something (or someone) is not allowing this team to come together. Like I said, it is going to be a long season for Middlesboro unfortunately.