Baby D

Cancer does suck. Trying to coach while raising a family and handling a spouse battling cancer is so hard, so humbling and really puts life into perspective at so many levels. My thoughts and prayers go out to Dave, his entire family and the Dixie Community.

Lawnboy - it's actually: Soccer = Communism Volleyball = Socialism Softball/Baseball = American Basketball = Kentucky Or at least that's what I tell my girls!!! :sarcastic:

http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/20130909/SPT/309090094/NewCath-honors-softball-standouts Nice article in the Enquirer today about NCC Fastpitch - good think DD doesn't get her looks or athletic ability from Lawnboy.:clap:

Tuition $$$ go almost to academics and extracurriculars...Athletic fees and money raised by the boosters is nominal compared to other schools. Never heard there was a cap at 50 students per grade??

Frosh enrollment down..overall school okay. Yep, $2,500 and basketball is on the high end of the salary coaching scale since the season is longer. Nice facilities and very supportive administration. Enough talent to compete year end and year out with the right coach.

The shot Jeff Schabell (CCH) put on Kurt Barber (Paducah Tilghman) in the 1987 AAA State Championship Game was the hardest hit I ever witnessed.

Lang can shoot the ball, soft lefty touch.

What about Villa's new coach? Know anything about him?

IMO - Nobody exemplified sportsmanship and respect for the game more than the late Coach Jim Connor (New Cath and Thomas More).

Mr. Maile, as good as he is for a soph, still has a little ways to go to get the respect Curley received as a senior. A great hitter, and awesome defensive catcher, but still needs to learn a little more patience at the plate. All in do time.

I thought the turning point was when Dixie had taken a 3-2 lead in the top of the 4th, between innings Max sent a set of battery mates to the bullpen. As the Dixie starting pitching stood behind the mound after the throw to second, he watched them and followed them all the way down the 3rd base line. Right there, his entire body language took over and he looked to the dugout and hung his head. Seem to lose any confidence he had and his first pitch fastball got drilled to RC. Thought he pitched a good game, not much help defensively.

No doubt Krohman got squeezed on the corners with Bleser - two Rebels were rung up on the same pitchers in the top of the 1st. I think the turning point in the game was in Boone's first when they could not get the bunt down and then struck out looking in the 2 and 3 hole. Scoring in the first may have made some difference in confidence, etc... as the game went along. I will say that Krohman was impressive vs. a very tough lineup, but Boone undoubtedly outhit the Colonels tonight. Defense was the difference, lots of "at tem" balls for Boone tonight.

How about before the CCH/Boone game when the grounds crew chief (who by the way do a heck of a job with that field) announced to everyone before the National Anthem that HE would let the umps and teams know when they could take the field. A little overdramatic, and a lot of extra time, for a game that already started an hour late. Kudos to Clint Brown, owner of the Freedom, for personally being there, allowing the 9th region to using the field, and hanging out with the normal folks.

You have to beat the best sometime...might as well get to it. If you do get by the top seeds early, the pitching tends to get watered down a little bit, unless you are like Ryle and CCH that have a very deep pitching staff.

CCH - too deep for Boone.

Any scores from the 34th? Lloyd vs. Ludlow? Dixie vs. Villa?

Bulldog, you are correct. What happens at tournament time, whether blind draw or seeding, is that you are at the mercy of the strong pitching staffs. You have to beat the best sometime. Villa was stuck in a 5 team district for 10 years (Holy Cross, CovCath, Beechwood and Dixie), then during the last realignment was another 5 team district (Dixie, Scott, Lloyd, and Beechwood). Given the potential pitcher or two that can come from the smaller schools like Beechwood, Ludlow, Lloyd, or even Villa, the 4 team district finally allows them to miss the potential play-in game. I know Lloyd has made some runs the last couple of years, especially with Drifmeyer. Bellevue had good success with Lenny Bays and Gullett several years ago. I would take any of the Ludlow pitchers the last 5 years on my staff anytime. Beechwood speaks for itself. And honestly, going back the last several years, according to the KHSAA website, Villa won the 34th district last year, lost to Scott 2-1 in 2005, to Lloyd 9-4 in 2004, and to Scott 6-5 in 2003. You are only as good as the next pitcher you face.

Consistent - the strike zone has to be consistent for both teams throughout the game. However, for pitchers its all about location, location, location. Teaching pitchers to adjust to the umpire and his strike zone (who/which changes every game) creates bad habits. Pitchers should be taught to hit the corners and knees, pitch inside and change speeds. These fundamentals are more important than adjusting to what the umpire thinks the strike zone should be that day. Unfortunately, some umpires, specifically those who come down from doing college and travel ball where there is more talent and have higher expectations, take control of the game. If the umpire remains consistent and transparent behind the plate, they have had a good day.

CCH lost to Behrens and Ludlow in 2004 or 2005 in the first round of District.

How about the hustle and love/respect for the game?

Ouch - Ryle has played well all year.

Harrison County has played 7th and 8th graders before with great success. I have coached 8th graders that were better than most upperclassmen in our school, or some in the conference. Small schools that need to fill a void should not be a problem. If the school is relying solely on grade school players for varsity, then perhaps the coach should evaluate a JV season for a year or two. As far as NKY, I have not seen a situation where a varsity was predominantly grade school. If they are good enough, let them play.:ylsuper:

Nice. Good job Will.

Congrats to Coach Roesel and team.

Assuming the score is accurate: From the umpires standpoint, everything becomes a strike vs. Eastern. From Eastern's standpoint, there can be NO circumstances that justify this score, nonewhatsoever. Eastern's coaches and administration should be embarassed.