Youth Coach

I think the reasons are well stated...Ripken Baseball's website indicates that only about 1/5 of Little Leaguers are still playing by high school, and of the 4/5 that drop the sport, most do so immediately after age 12. The lack of good 13-15 year old programs has to be a major factor. I agree with the specialization problem, but if there was a solid alternative, it would be less attractive to specialize. As it is, if a kid wanted to pursue a sports dream at age 13 or 14, very few would choose baseball (from their perspective) due to the absence of good teaching, competition and necessary exposure available. Ironically, the dwindling player pool at the higher levels probably makes it more likely for a kid to succeed in baseball (than the other sports) if they put the work in and had good teaching.

Both teams needing to start an upswing as the season heads toward tourney time...both would be long shots to make the 13th regional as Bell and Cumberland would be favored in the extra-large 6-team 52nd district (also holds Middlesboro and Evarts)...I think it will be close with Harlan at home but Cawood appeared too physical in the first matchup. Any thoughts...

Barbourville would have been a tough out in the state tourney.

Just wanted to let everyone know a thread is started on this same topic in the basketball forum, if you want to discuss another coaching position at the new school.

Since the similar football thread on this topic has been very popular, what has been heard as to the new basketball coach at Harlan County High (to open in 2008)? The conventional wisdom around the area has long been Mike Jones (former Cawood, Jackson Co., Harlan, Clay Co. coach) will take over. He is a current administrator at Cawood. Just curious if anyone has knowledge of the future coach or, if not, ideas on who it might or should be.

Not knowing anything about what Letcher has back, I'm guessing 5-5 with a road playoff game.

Harlan won the All "A" State title in 1995 and 1996 and went to the Sweet 16 semi-final in 1996.

Speaking of old days, would there be a chance that Tom Larkey (former Cullivan assistant) might return? I know that like Holcomb, Matney, Hilton and Roark, he is entrenched as a favorite son where he is, but with the factors mentioned above, maybe he could be lured away. I've never heard anything bad about him, and Cawood and many others used to own Rockcastle before he arrived in Mt. Vernon.

I'm not so sure that your experience doesn't qualify you for Offensive Coordinator...have you applied with Coach Perry?

Succinct and on the money as usual HDE, but I think you will see progress at Letcher under the new alignment (no Rock or Bell)...a district that Harlan Co. hopes to be in perhaps...might be a good way for Harlan County to help itself and weaken a future opponent at the same time...again, I'm not banging a drum for the guy (never met him), just tossing out an idea for discussion that doesn't include ADA contracts, alleged misuse of money, governmental red tape nor school vouchers...all of which makes great reading but doesn't get us to what we really want to know as to whom the new coach should be or is going to be. What we NEED HDE is a little, how shall we say?...investigative reporting my good fellow. Crack this story and you might win the Roy Moore Award (the Harlan County Pulitzer).

Mountain Pride - you'd be pretending to read anything, let alone the option. Seriously, if you were still playing, you could try to be the only QB to play at a consolidated school and all of the smaller schools that were joined together.

Amazing how far this discussion went from who the coach at the new school should be. In an effort to refocus, how about Hillard Howard from Letcher Central? He has state title experience (Pikeville) and experience merging smaller schools into a consolidated venture. In addition, as he is a bit long in the tooth, he may be receptive to keeping an Eric Perry as DC and Jacob Saylor as OC that are already in place, which would make for a smooth transition. Just a thought...

I think at one point the light was placed there in outrage after repeated bad calls at first base...sounded like a good idea at the time.

Announced yesterday that Eugene Farmer, former Cawood standout and player at Alice Lloyd College, will take over as Head Coach at Cawood. Good person, good baseball knowledge...hope he does well.

Maybe a special guest appearance by The Blade...or maybe he could take on the winner.

Any thoughts or predictions on this game? It is at Williamsburg. Cumberland won going away against Red Bird last night while Evarts pushed Harlan to the limit. I think a fatigued Harlan team will struggle but pull out a close win in the closing minutes 45-40.

Assistant to his brother at Garrard County in 90s...brother is now Defensive Coordinator at Danville...Eric was also assistant a couple of years at Danville (one state runner-up squad). He has been at Harlan for the past 5 years. Harlan has had top 5 Region 4 defense every year during that span and was the Region's best statistically last year (2006).

Cawood's was open for 3 days but has now been filled. Eric Perry, Defensive Coordinator at Harlan Independent, was named Cawood's new Head Coach on Thursday, 1/11/07.

I have to believe Eric Perry (new Cawood coach) is too good to be hired as a one or two year throwaway. It would make much more sense that he is intended to stay on at least as Defensive Coordinator for Harlan County or as Head Coach.

Hiring Eric Perry as the new Head Coach will be an obvious plus.

Eric Perry (former Harlan Defensive Coordinator) just named head coach at Cawood.

The common saying around the area has been that the new school's coach would not be one of the current HC's at Cawood, Cumberland or Evarts, but I don't see why it has to be that way, or why the HC's couldn't at least be assistants, if that is what the new school wants.

Good luck to Jackson.

Congratulations...well deserved.

I'm not banging a drum for the guy, just trying not to be misconstrued. This year and several years, sure...talent >.500...several years out of his tenure, though, he's had 2-8 talent and still managed to be 4-6, 5-5, 6-4, respectable and competitive. That's ALL I'm saying on this, I promise.