cooperstown

Just curious on the process used to select these players. Out of the 17 schools in the 10th region, how many coaches responded to your poll? Were coaches permitted to only name one player at each position? When you say "each position" above, did they vote for 1B, 2B, SS, 3B or just name 4 "infielders"?

Watch the video again and this time watch the hitter's previous at-bat shown in the video - the one where he hits the double down the 3B line. You will not see him make the same over-exaggerated inward leg turn that he does on the pitch that he is hit. His movement on that pitch was not normal and was clearly the reason he got hit with the pitch. It certainly looks like the right call was made to me.

Gothcha. Obviously didn't read his post closely enough.

The breakdown of schools on your list would be as follows: 5 - Montgomery County (22-13 overall; 4-6 record in region) 4 - George Rogers Clark (20-14 overall; 9-2 region; 40th District champ) 3 - Harrison County (30-10 overall; 18-6 region; 38th District champs; regional runner-up) 2 - Bishop Brossart (25-12 overall; 13-3 region; 37th District champs; regional champs) 1 - Bourbon County (26-12 overall; 15-6 region; 40th District runner-up) Can't really say I know any of these players except by name, but couldn't help but find a few things curious: Doesn't five players from Montgomery County - a team that didn't make it out of their district, had a rather unimpressive 4-6 region record, and lost to GRC all 3x they played and Bourbon Cty both times they played - seem somewhat high? Especially when the team that won the entire region (Bishop Brossart) only has 2? One would get the impression that Montgomery County seriously underperformed this year. Why did you decide to go with 3 catchers, yet then only 3 OF'ers and 5 INF'ers? Seems an oddly high number of catchers. Any reason you decided not to break the INF'ers down by position? Like I said, I don't really know anything about the talent in the 10th, so not criticizing, just curious about how you arrived at some of this information.

Absolutely LOVE this idea, TOG!! Should have been done years ago. Win-win for all involved - the teams and the Freedom. I can't imagine why it hasn't already happened or at least been discussed.

Appreciate the info. You seem to have some inside info about the Freedom and the high school arrangements, so wonder if you can clarify a few other things. First off, no disagreement at all about Freedom being a great place to watch a game, better parking, better seating, better lighting, better sightlines, better concessions than any high school field around here (concessions a little pricey, but acceptable). I wasn't able to attend the championship game, so just want to clarify: You are saying that there were 2300 people in attendance for just the championship game on Thursday night? What is the total capacity of Freedom? I won't disagree with you since I wasn't there, but that number sure sounds high. Given that high attendance number, can you share the specific numbers regarding the gate proceeds, your expenses, and how much the schools netted from the gate revenue? And to whom are these proceeds paid specifically, if you know? I believe Oldguy is correct about the potential costs to schools using the field if they do not meet certain gate requirements or if they need to use lights. Has this policy changed? Do you have the breakdown of the high school teams that used the field this past regular season (including number of times each team played there)? I absolutely LOVE Oldguy's idea about Freedom hosting a high school tournament during the season that would be free for the teams given the gate proceeds the Freedom would make. Would love to hear your thoughts on this and if it has ever been discussed in past.

Yes, which is why I cleverly deleted my post so no one would realize my ignorance. Thanks for making sure I was not unfairly afforded this protection.

delete

Cain and Bartels is an impressive combination of returning starting pitching for NCC. I have no idea who else they have coming back, but don't need to to know that they will be in the hunt to repeat with that kind of pitching.

Agree. I'm not sure I've ever seen a game in which a single play decided the outcome. There are numerous plays in every game that decide who wins and loses - plays that weren't made that should have been, a great plays that saves a run from scoring, failure to get hits at key times, putting free runners on base via walks/errors, throwing an 0-2 pitch needlessly down the middle that gets crushed, and even an occasional bad umpire call. It's always a combination of things, and rarely - if ever - one call/play that determines the end result.

First off, there are no special rules for Kentucky High School baseball. Kentucky follows NFHS rules, as do the other states. Section 7.3.4 of the NFHS Rulebook states "The batter shall not permit a pitched ball to touch him." Based upon this brief wording, I think it pretty clearly implies that the batter needs to make some kind of attempt, however minimal, to avoid being hit. However . . . . The NFHS Case Book, which provides specific examples of implementing the rules, also states this in 7.3.4 Situation D: B1 is at bat with a two ball, no strike count. The batter is fooled by the pitch and did not permit the ball to hit him. The pitch hits him in the shoulder. The batter made no other movement. RULING: B1 is awarded first base. So clearly there are allowable situations in which a batter can make no movement, yet still be awarded first base. I could see this occurring in the situation of an inside breaking ball in which the batter held his position, not knowing exactly how much the pitch would break. If it didn't break quite as much as he thought and he got hit, the umpire would be justified in awarding him first base. I haven't seen the video from this game to know how it applies to this rule (don't have the right kind of Flash Player here at office), but the above are the rules that are applied to this situation.

How big of school is Mercer County, enrollment-wise? How about for Danville? (BTW, not making any point here - just curious).

If they didn't, they were foolish.

I assume there would also be financial benefits to holding games at a high school field? Again, I love Freedom's atmosphere. Great place. But they keep most (all?) of the gate money - and justifiably so IMO. But let's say games at held on a rotating basis between St. Henry, Dixie, Scott, etc... Who would get the gate money in those situations? Only the host field site? I know each year the regional tournament is officially hosted by one team in the region. (I believe this year was Cooper). Would the host team get some cut as well? If there are financial benefits for 9th region teams - and not just the few teams that host the games, as they'll make a ton on money on concessions - then that is another reason to consider moving back to high school settings. What other high school fields would be worth using, considing quality of field, seating, parking, concessions, pressbox, etc? My thoughts on Ryle, as its the field I'm quite familiar: Positives - the actual playing surface of the field is as nice as any other NKY field, the football concessions are close by and could be opened, plenty of parking. Negatives - no actual pressbox, but a temporary one can be made; biggest problem is the lack of seating. In fact, so big a problem, IMO, that I'm not sure it would be useable if a really large crowd would need to be accommodated.

Then - just like any general seating setting - if you want those seats, it might behoove you to get there earlier than the other team's fans.

First off, this is not any type of sour grapes because Ryle lost. Ryle lost because they were outplayed by NCC. I have decided I simply don't like games on all-turf fields. I love the environment of Florence Freedom - it's a great place and very enjoyable to watch a game. I just don't like the changes in the game because of the turf - the perfect infield bounces, never any bad hops, the changes in the bunting game, the effect on balls "in the dirt" at the plate, etc... A baseball field should have grass and dirt. I know the benefits of having a field that is difficult to rain out, but I just feel the disadvantages outweigh these benefits. And, yes, I also know that both teams are playing on the same surface and have to deal with the same conditions - but ultimately it's not a surface that is best conducive to a baseball game. Thoughts?

Why is behind home plate forbidden? What evil sins are they looking to eliminate there that couldn't also occur down the lines?

Which is stupid, IMHO. Let them there, let them whoop it up. You don't see enough of it at high school baseball games. If it's okay at football games, it's okay here as well. It isn't a tennis match.

You are correct - bottom of 4th inning. I was mistaken in my earlier post when I referred to the 5th inning.

Maybe so. Just seemed kind of odd, knowing that the batter was clearly standing out over the plate, even though he did make an attempt to duck down. Rule doesn't require his actions to be intentional though. Also, to be clear, this play had no impact on the outcome of the game.

Another nice relief outing by Ryle pitcher Justin Hoard, who likely looks to be the ace of their staff next season.

Pretty certain his recap of the 5th inning is not entirely correct. There were two errors in that inning. The second one allowed two runs to score, if I'm not mistaken.

I'm not too certain I'd agree with the first bolded part. I would think it would be pretty unusual for a batter to be positioned over the plate, even though ducking, and not affect the catcher's throw to some degree. The rule doesn't require contact, as you said, but goes beyond just causing a "delay" in his throw. it is sufficient if the batter's action "hinders" the catcher's throwing. So that would include causing the catcher to alter his throwing motion so as to avoid any contact, which is what I believe occurred in the above situation. I thought it was interference, as obviously did a slightly agitated Coach Roesel - haha. That being said, I am certain Ryle also got away with one a couple innings earlier when their batter (on a protection swing) was clearly in the catcher's way when he threw to second.

Sounds good. Best of luck.

I agree. Unless this lawyer is some slimeball that the school simply did not want to be associated, it's hardly an unreasonable request for someone donating a substantial sum of money to want the field/building/whatever named after themselves or someone else. In fact, it's pretty much the norm. It would be fascinating to know the reason the school board did not feel this was appropriate.