VMABaseball06

Sanders really hit the nail on the head with this one. Villa is definitely a young team who lost a good amount last year and the year before. However it is very good to see interest in the program from some of the schools younger kids. It had at one point been a bit of a problem in the past. Villa will take their licks this year from the sound of it but thats part of a young team. The coaching at Villa seems to be doing avery good job. I personally hope to get out and catch a few Villa games this year. Bets of luck to Villa this year.

As a former player from one of these "small market (?)" schools I think this would give the players a unique opportunity. Take Villa for example. School of at most 190 students. 90 or so of them are guys. You field a team of 20 kids. Thats over 20% of the male athletes at that school on the team. Now take a school with 1500 students, Take the top 20%... thats 300 people thats more then the number kids that you have trying out for the baseball team in general. You getting what is likely the best of the best. Just from sheer odds alone quantity drives quality. If this idea of "one state champion" really appeals so much to everyone why not have a run off tournament at the season after the division championships are figured out. I don't think it would lead to their being a major rift in the length of the season because all the classes could play at the same time. For instance, the A championship could maybe be held at the Florence Freedom, the AA at another prime facility (UK maybe (?)) and the AAA at applebees park.

In my opinion it doesn't really matter where you go. If you have 1st round talent, your going to get your looks. In terms of competition I have always thought of JUCO as being for student who may not make the grades of D-I, D-II, D-III schools, or NAIA schools. If your talking about players overall I'd say your top 25 D-III schools are just as good as say the bottom 1-15% of D-I schools. The top 25 of D-II school as good as the top 50% of D-I schools. Schools at all levels have a lot of talent. if your going to college route rather then the Profiessional route out of High School, then in my opinion go where ever you see yourself fitting in academically an socially. You never know when an arm issue, hamstring injury, etc. my ruin a career. It's something nobody wants to happen but its reality. Go to college where you will see yourself benefiting as a whole. Not necessarily where you athletics will be given 100% priority. -- I've seen many people go this route and end up quitting baseball their freshmen and sophomore years because they weren't comfortable at their respected institutions.

I agree, however I will say that over time it' got that kind of possibility. We are seeing many programs in that state making noise at a national level.

Not so much I think on the D1 level for a majority of school only because there you deal with Presitge coaches etc. etc. However just from a numbers standpoint, an average High School Varsity Roster is what, 16-20 kids? Thats not even a full offense and defense at a good football school.

I honestly think it comes down to the schematics of the two sports. In baseball you can field a team of 12-13 good players to be competitive. In football however your need 30-40 good players to remain competitive. The smaller rosters, and nature of baseball makes it easier for smaller schools to be competitive in baseball. You have the same team playing offense as defense. You don't rely on 11 different players playing both sides of the ball, special teams, and your backups in football, where you just have a few starting pitchers, position players and your backups for baseball.

A good coaching staff, no matter what the sport should have the ability to conduct a well structured, and organized practice in 2 hours. There is only so much you can have high school kids do. With a new program it's about drawing kids to the field and having some fun. 2 hours is plenty of time to get a LOT of work done on an athletic field.

I would say so, it's a rather selfish move in my opinion and almost says "I'm only here to coach my kid to heck with the rest of the program."

OK in this flurry of rules I have potentially revised my statement. It is true, after reading the rule and thinking the situation through this is not a balk. The pitcher (using the definition of pitcher and not fielder), is throwing to third to make a play on a runner attempting to occupy the bag. After taking out a rule book the reasoning for the similar situation and the pitcher throwing to first must be different because, the pitcher, in this situation is not throwing to first to make a play at FIRST BASE. However, in a runner on first runner goes before pitcher commits to home situation, could the pitcher lift his leg and throw to second using the same rule assuming he does not commit a balk with his body or commitment to a previously asserted bag?

One other thing to also remember. If a pitcher steps off the back of the rubber, he is no longer by definition a "pitcher" he becomes a fielder. In this case many rules change. A pitcher may not throw to an unoccupied base, a fielder however can.

If this is not a balk then how does this situation differ from the situation of a runner attempting a walk-off play from first to second and the pitcher not stepping of the rubber with his right foot to make a play? The same reasoning for ruling this play a balk in nearly all levels of baseball should also apply here should it not?

Wrong the ball is not dead on a balk call. In a game at Transy this year we had a play where a balk was called and the batter was awarded first base. The ball is NOT dead on a balk call. I balked pitch is a legal pitch and the batter may make contact at it. In theory if a balk is called swing for the fences. You cannot make an out on a balk call HOWEVER if you were to hit a homerun on a balked pitch it would count. A strike can also not be called on a balk. A balk may only benefit the offensive team. In theory I believe if the ball were thrown away from the 3rd basemen, the runner could even in fact score.

This is in fact a balk. A pitcher must disengage the rubber (IE: Step off with the back right foot) in this situation. The second that the runner breaks for third 2nd and 3rd are both unoccupied until he reaches the base safely. This is the same type of situation as a runner of first second unoccupied. The runner on first looks to steal before the pitcher motions toward home. If the pitcher jump turns to 1st base it is in fact a balk. You may not make a pick off move to a base that is unoccupied. The correct move for the pitcher to do is step off the rubber and then throw the ball to 3rd.

My real question is why is this continuously a major surprise. The sports program at Villa is doing some pretty impressive things considering the school's size. Look at the Baseball team in 06', the solidity in track and field, basketball last year. The typical success in golf and tennis.

I have heard several things surrounding coach Meier. One thing is for certain, if a school manages to land him it will be a tremendous boost to the program. He took that Villa program to respectable things in his years there. It would be interesting to see what he is capable of at a school with a tad bit larger talent pool. Nothing smashing Villa's talent at all but the fact that they tend to compete relative to the rest of the small schools given there incredibly small size ( A High School if about 180 boys AND Girls. ) Coaches there definitely need to be commended for a job well done.

In another possibility... although slightly far fetched (maybe) Is it possible that the pitcher and catcher had a mix up... perhaps the pitch was supposed to be a cutter or something of that nature in the dirt, and the catcher prematurely went to the dirt to block it. It did look somewhat reminiscent of a catcher going to the dirt to block a ball.

I personally think it definitely looks funny. However, hat batter gets crazed, hit, w/e in the helmet and doesn't know it. He holds his hand up telling the kid at running second to third to stay. You don't get hit in the helmet, no matter how easy, and not know it.

What position does Zach play? Transy needs a good shortstop and graduated 2 outfielders. He can play if he has a good bat which sounds like he does.

After getting to open up the college season this year at Trinity I will agree that it's really nice, It can take a ton of water and is a real pleasure to play in. i think it is the nicest turf facility in the state, looks to me like Pulaski and saint Henry may have the 2 nicest true grass facilities.

Congratulations to Villa Madonna on a hire. Was very curious to see what the situation was on the former home front and this is definitely yet another stride toward the right direction. Best of luck to them in the upcoming season, as well to Coach Welte in law school.

Congrats to a good player and nice guy. As someone playing with him I offer him the best of luck, and as an opponent in Mount's conference I look forward to seeing him on the field next year.

it seems as if some teams havent posted all of their scored to KHSAA website. Going to be hard to scores for games that go back 7 years. Plus records hardly mean anything. You could put up a 70-30 record over 4 years but its all about the teams your playing against. Is a UK team that goes 20-11 really worse then a little sisters of the poor team who goes 25-6?

There is your answer to what St. henry and Scott have done since 2000. Granted Scott was 8th region for the last two years but still have competed heavily in 9th region action. In no specific order my top 8 remains CCH Beechwood Highlands Holy Cross Boone Scott St. Henry Dixie Heights

You trying to plead your case for ludlow is just the same as me pleading my case for villa as a top team in the region since 2001. Its just not going to happen. Whether you like it or not the bigger schools in the 9th are going to take those slots even with equivalent records and post seasons. Thats just the way the cookie crumbles.

Dont mean to play the devil's advocate here but Ludlow didnt even make into the region last year. My top teams would have to be CCH Beechwood Boone County Holy Cross Scott Dixie St. Henry Ryle