cooperstown

Tough ending to season for Scott, but a nice turnaround this year for Coach Tramme and his team. Good luck going forward.

Highlands seems to have their mojo going now. Would never have thought it possible 3 weeks ago, but I'll go with HHS in a close one over Dixie to send them into the championship game. (Where they will lose to Ryle ).

I certainly don't think he'll pitch 7 innings, but I don't think it would be at all surprising - or dangerous - to see him throw 50-60 pitches. He's been monitored pretty closely this year and had always been given appropriate rest between starts, so don't think there's any arm fatigue issue here at all.

Was wondering that myself a while back because that exact scenario (with Downs) could have occurred. I went through the NFHS scorebook and didn't see anything. So barring some specific reason why they should not be allowed, I would think it should be. It's odd, no doubt, and can't be compared to MLD socring rules since it could never happen. In the above referenced game with Downs, he pitched 6 innings and left with Ryle in the lead. In the 7th, a Ryle reliever put a couple guys on base, so Coach Roesel brought Downs back in. He gave up a hit which allowed the tying run to score. So he ended up initially leaving the game after 6 innings as the potential winning pitcher and left the 7th inning as having had a blown save. Kind of odd . . .

Guess we were typing at the same time. Apparently you type faster.

I didn't realize they pulled Cain after 5 innings. That would make him available for Wednesday night's game (needs only one day rest). Less than 3 innings - no rest needed 3-5 innings - 1 day rest needed 6 innings - 2 days rest needed 7 or more innings - 3 days rest needed Maximum 9 innings in a day and 15 innings in a week. 1 pitch = 1 inning (i.e., 5 innings plus one pitch in 6th inning, regardless whether an out was made, is equal to 6 innings).

Ryle and Newport Central Catholic will meet up for the third time this season on Wednesday night at Florence Freedom in the semifinal round of the 9th Region tourney. They have met twice earlier this season and each team was on the winning end of a 5-4 score, so this will be the rubber match. Both teams used their aces in the opening round game and will be unavailable. So who ya got? I will stay with Ryle. Their #2 pitcher, Mitch Lawson, is very good as long as he stays away from walks. Ryle has been swinging the bats fairly well and has been playing very solid defense. I look for them to win this somewhere along the lines of a 7-3 score.

I honestly didn't think it felt all that bad in the stadium and didn't see any players act as though the heat was bothering them (I was sitting in second row near Ryle dugout). I'd say the push back to 6:30 start time was a good decision and very successful.

For those that weren't there in person, Downs is the real deal. I felt that Ryle was a pretty safe prediction over Holy Cross in this game simply due to him pitching. He doesn't not give up many hits and when he does, there aren't extra baserunners that come around to score because he put them on via walks. He has outstanding control for a high school pitcher, especially one the throws as hard as he does and mixes in all three pitches. I believe just tied the record for wins in a season by a Ryle pitcher with 10. BTW, HC's pitcher Fuller threw very well himself. Ryle strung together a couple hits in the 4th to plate 3 runs, but other than that, he pretty much had Ryle's number.

Dixie vs. Highlands (5:00 start, I think) on Wednesday Ryle vs. NCC (7:30 start)

Kind of tailed off a bit after that start.

Obviously your opinion. I certainly don't think CCH had the best talent out of all the teams in the 9th this year. They have about the same as Ryle, Dixie, HC. I'm sure it's an extremely disappointing day for CCH fans, but as has been pointed out already - sometimes the best team doesn't take the crown in a one-and-out format. It happens. CCH is clearly one of the top two teams in the 9th this year and a huge part of that has to do with their coaching. 31-6 is nothing to sneeze at. I'm sure loss #6 kind of stings a tad right now, but hopefully these CCH players will be able to look back and realize they put together a pretty impressive season.

Allows him to come back and pitch on Thursday should Ryle make the championship game.

Holy Cross will have trouble putting runs on the board against Downs. Ryle wins that game, the next, and then beats CCH in a very tight ballgame for the championship.

I don't know that it was so much an uninspired effort as it was an absolute bashfest by Ryle that day. Which to me proves the problem they have - the two pitchers that threw against Ryle simply aren't of the quality to beat a team like Ryle or CCH, so they might be best served to take their chances with them against HHS and save Maines for the next game - be it CCH or Dixie.

At the end of the day, I think the brackets worked out pretty even. Based on NKY rankings (I removed #7 Brossart and #9 Scott since they are in dfferent region): #1 CCH, #4 Dixie, #7 Conner, #? Highlands #2 Holy Cross, #3 Ryle, #6 NCC, #8 St. Henry Maybe not so much with some of the first round games, but such is luck of the draw. I do wish they could just seed teams 1-8 going into the tournament and bracket based upon that, but realize there would be some challenges doing so.

Hot & humind, chances of showers, 90 degrees on Monday. Gonna be 94 tomorrow (Sunday) - pushing a recond. Boys are gonna be a tad warm during the games.

Just a thought though: Conner beat CCH on May 8 this year pitching Maines. He's very good, no question. Not sure Conner has another pitcher that can keep them in game against CCH. Do they give some thought to throwing off on Monday and try to hit their way to win over Highlands? I don't see how you don't at least consider it. Conner can hit, without a doubt. I think the rest of their staff should be more than able to keep them in the game against HHS, while Maines really gives them their most (only?) legit shot to beat CCH. Again, not saying it's the way to go, but it has to cross Arlo's mind.

Probably safe bet everyone comes out with the #1 and then hopes like heck they can pull them after 5 innings so they'd be available to use on Thursday. In this heat, not sure it'd be worth leaving starter in behind 5 innings anyways, unless they had some short innings.

Guess Roman Empire willed his way to his requested Conner/Highlands matchup. Guy must have connections.

If you use end-of-year NKY rankings, you have #1 CCH vs. #4 Dixie and #2 Holy Cross vs. #3 Ryle. Interesting matchups. Dixie is one of few teams to have beaten CCH. Ryle and Holy Cross did not play one another this season.

Ryle v Holy Cross is at 6:00 on Monday. They play winner of St. Henry v NCC, who plays at 8:30. CCH v Dixie and Conner v. Highlands in other side of bracket.

Tournament based on seeding: If your team regularly finishes at the bottom of a 5-team district, you have to face the #4 seed in a play-in game just for the right to then face the #1 team in the semis. Tournament based on blind draw: Your #5 seeded team may luck out and face the #4 seed on the side of the bracket that allows the winner to automatically make the championship game (and advance into the regionals as at least a #2 seed). Clearly, if your team usually finishes at the bottom of the district standings (i.e., Newport, Dayton), it is beneficial to have a blind draw and the possibility you don't have to play one of the top seeds in a first round tournament game. For the record, I hate blind draws. And I don't think individual districts within the same region should have the opportunity to vote their preference. The region should vote as a whole and all districts within the region handled the same. But . . . . I can certainly understand why the coach of a team at the bottom of standings would vote for a blind draw if given such a choice. After all, it would be what best benefits your team.

May not have walked a lot, but at least two that he (or whoever was pitching for NCC) did walk scored (one in 4th and one in 7th). Walks kill, errors kill.

Certainly sounds like that was the case in this one. Highlands scored 5 runs in the 4th and 7th innings on TWO singles (and a bunch of errors/walks). Ultimately though, it doesn't matter how the runs scored, just that they scored.