cooperstown

In all honesty, though, what would be gained from a game such as this? CCH would maul Villa using their second string. CCH certainly gains nothing from such a matchup and not sure how Villa would either. Sometimes you can "over-schedule", if you know what I mean.

What will keep these kids from seeking greener pastures and perpetuate the problem that you mentioned has been an issue over the past few years?

First round score in District 33 Tournament. Game was played in 90 minutes. An absolutely fascinating pitcher's duel between Downs from Ryle and Collins for Cooper. Both pitchers were outstanding. In the end, however, Downs was simply off the charts, striking out either 17 or 18 (not sure) Cooper hitters, including the side in the 7th. Ryle plates their only run in the 5th on four straight singles, but misses out on a chance to add more runs when a suicide attempt was popped up and Cooper turned a double play. Cooper only threatened one time against Downs, when he gave up a hit and two walks to load the bases, but otherwise he was dominant. Not that Collins wasn't. First time I have seen him pitch - he's very, very good. I'm told he's a junior and, if so, will undoubtedly be in the running for top pitcher in the region next year and may very well find himself on the winning side of a 1-0 district game.

Actually, if starter goes one pitch past 5th inning on Monday (one pitch counts as an inning), he would be ineligible for Wednesday, as his rest days would be Tuesday and Wednesday. If he pitches 7 innings on Monday, he would be done for the tournament, as he would be required to rest Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday (3 days rest). As always, the draw is going to be huge.

CCH was probably ducking them.

Actually, I can't locate the schedule on the KHSAA website. I am assuming the 9th will run them the same as last year - opening round games on Monday (Memorial Day), semis on Wednesday, and championship on Friday? Anyone know differently?

My top teams in 9th at end of regular season: 1 - Cov Cath 1A - Ryle 2 - Holy Cross 3 - Dixie 4 - NCC 4A - Boone

33rd District Tournament information: All games at Cooper High School starting at 5:30 p.m. Monday (5/21) - #1 Ryle vs. #4 Cooper Tuesday (5/22) - #2 Boone vs. #3 Conner Wednesday (5/23) - winners meet for district championship

Not so certain I agree that the number of games scheduled is the sole determinant in deciding whether a school takes baseball "serious", but I certainly think Ryle takes its baseball very serious. Just out of curiosity, I went back and checked the number of regular season games they played in the past 10 seasons (including 2012) - 36, 31, 35, 30, 30, 33, 35, 30, 33, 32. You can be certain that any season they did not push the 35-36 game total had to do with weather and not scheduling. I would also submit that Ryle's coach annually puts together one of the toughest schedules of any team in NKY. He usually plays between 5-8 state-ranked teams from outside the NKY area each season. On the flipside, I would like to see the school step up its commitment to the program and invest a couple of dollars into helping to upgrade the team's field. Every bit of improvement over the past 5-6 years has come with funds generated by parents.

Congrats to Raiders! Finished the season with an impressive 24-9 overall record and the regional championship. Special congrats to Head Coach Jim Demler, the only JV baseball coach in the 20 year history of Ryle, who just led his 7th straight JV squad (and 9th in 11 years) to 20 or more wins and captured his 5th JV regional championship (1995, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2012). Appears to be plenty of talent "down on the farm" for the Raiders. :thumb:

Mason Forbes with the acrobatic catch in LF and it was indeed a dandy. Ryle pitcher Michael Nelson was impressive tonight. Kid lived at the knees all night long and had Scott hitters constantly swinging at curveballs around their ankles. Control faded a bit in the 7th as he walked a couple hitters and was pulled for a reliever (Ethan Brennan), who promptly shut the door on the Eagles. Great tourney and bright future for both teams.

Without question. And, should either of these teams end up representing the 9th region at state, will HAVE to make such plays if they want to have any success at Whitaker Bank ballpark.

Fair enough and I'm sure you're right. Just mistakenly got the impression that Ryle wasn't being given their fair due over what qualifies as their biggest win on the season to date. Probably was already a little sensitive about it given the silly state rankings. :sssh: And, for the record, I'm not saying that CCH's fielding did not have anything to do with their loss/Ryle's win. Clearly it did. Just that, in totality, the game wasn't served on a silver platter to Ryle and that they did indeed earn what is a nice win for them.

I was there. I don't recall the 1Bman muffing the thrown ball. I recall the SS's throw pulling the 1Bman off the bag.

:lol: Think I was pretty clear that I said I didn't see the play, I took the word of a couple Ryle players that it was a hit. If you say it bounced out of his glove, so be it, not arguing. We actually call plays like that an error at Ryle as well. I am well aware that CCH is in a very special elite status that defines acceptable play at a much higher level than every other team in NKY. Thank you for reminding us. As far as the dropped foul pop up, again, so what? Had absolutely zero impact on that at-bat and was, as I said, a very, very difficult catch looking straight into the sun. Again, I realize there are no exceptions/mitigations allowed for any defensive miscues by a Colonel defender, but this was a very tough play. Ask your first baseman. Ultimately, however, your implied point in your first post that Ryle was only able to win this game because it was given away by CCH due to a plethora of errors is simply not accurate. In a game in which neither team was particularly impressive in the field, Ryle simply pitched a little better and hitter a little better and deserved the win.

I couldn't see this one from where we were sitting. Ryle players said it was a hit, so I believed them. :ohbrother: Did he just flat out drop the ball? The drop in foul territory by 1Bman I didn't record as an error since, as Clyde said, the batter was ultimately retired and the fielder clearly struggled with the sun. Unless you've ever had to look up for a ball into the sun at that time of day at Ryle's field, you can't imagine how difficult it is. Obviously catchable, but not nearly an easy as it looks, trust me.

Conner's momentum seems to have cooled off a bit with recent losses to Lloyd and Highlands. Should still bit an entertaining game against Boone is districts next Tuesday.

Ryle beats Simon Kenton 5-4 in bottom of 7th. Ryle runner at 2B attempts steal of 3B, ball thrown into LF, and runner scores. Ryle vs. Scott in championship game tomorrow night.

Ryle adds yet another win over a state-ranked team, defeating #4 CCH tonight by the score of 6-5. The final week of the season Ryle defeats a tough NCC team, #11 Bryan Station, Simon Kenton (on a 2-hit shutout), and #4 CCH. One would hope this performance would limit their drop in the next statewide poll to only 3 or 4 spots.

Don't recall 6 errors either. I'm looking at the scorebook kept at the announcer's table and am counting only 4 errors (2 E4, 1 E6, and 1 E2). Ryle had 3 errors themselves (plus a lazy flyball that dropped two feet from two OF'ers and should have been easily caught) and a bunch of walks - so there were quite a few giveaways on both sides. This was not some game which Ryle won because they played a clean game and CCH handed it to them. Ryle was down the whole game until they plated 3 runs in the 5th inning on 5 straight singles to take a 5-4 lead. CCH tied it in the 6th and could have taken the lead if not for an outstanding diving play by Ryle 3Bman Tyler Lonnemann. Ryle then picks up the winning run in the bottom of the 6th when the first batter reaches on an error and eventually scores from third when CCH fails to turn a clean DP with one out. Again, not a well-played defensive game by either team, but an exciting game nonetheless and a great Senior Day for Ryle's seniors. Ryle finishes the final week of regular season with wins over NCC, #11 Bryan Station, Simon Kenton, and #4 CCH to run their record to 24-11-1. I would assume they'll drop at least 4 more places in the next state poll.

Justin Hoard. First time I've got to see him myself and I was equally impressed. Throws hard, nice curve, decent control. Very well may end up the ace of the staff next season.

Wow, now that makes zero sense. Ryle now has 6 wins over ranked teams - #11 Bryan Station (2x), #13 Danville, #16 Franklin County, #18 Bullitt East, and #24 Boone County - and again drops in the rankings?! Too funny. No offense to Boone at all, but they have one such win (#2 Eastern). And Holy Cross has two (#13 Danville and #24 Boone). Ryle really doesn't have a "bad" loss either - they've come to teams like #3 St. X, #4 CCH (2x), #26 LCA, Hamilton Badin, Bishop Brossart, NCC, Scott Cty, Jeffersontown. Ryle deserves to not only be there, but should probably be in the low teens. That being said, congrats to #4 CCH and new NKY entries Boone and Holy Cross. Glad NKY getting a little more respect, just think Ryle has more than earned some themselves.

It's not often around here that a team gets in its full allowable allotment of 36 regular season games. Ryle will be close to that number as well.

Ryle 11-1 over Lloyd. Will meet Conner on Wednesday at 5:00 p.m. at Champion Window Field in the quarterfinals.

Not counting on it either. I think this is one game where Coach Roesel will make absolutely certain he doesn't cross any line that would get him tossed. Then again, Ryle/CCH is a special rivalry to him . . . . :lol: