The Scribe
03-24-2007, 04:21 PM
Eighth Region Baseball Preview
Shelby County (18-13) got hot at the right time and won the 30th District and Eighth Region last year before getting swept by St. Xavier in the semi state.
However, Oldham County (19-10) appears to have enough pitching to win the region and try to advance to the school’s first-ever state tournament.
Senior lefty Dean Kiekhefer was one of the more dominant pitchers in the state with a 9-0 record, 0.24 ERA, and two perfect games to his credit.
The Louisville signee fanned 119 batters in just 53 innings pitched, including 19 Ks vs. North Oldham in last year’s district tournament.
Seniors Preston Thiess (1.70 ERA) and Shane Wisecarver (3.10 ERA) also return for the Colonels, who also return five position players.
Thiess plays first base when not on the mound and hit .330 last year with 25 RBIs.
Senior second baseman Mark Grieshaber (.420), junior shortstop Josh Kovach (.340), and senior left fielder Zach Byrne (4 HR, 30 RBI) also return for head coach Scott Gerlach.
Shelby County has five starters back from last year’s team that lost to St. Xavier in the semi state round.
Head coach Donnie Williams has the experience on the mound to rival Oldham County but not that one dominant pitcher like Kiekhefer. Lincoln Wagner, Jordan Burk, and John Maxey should comprise a nice rotation, with Burk and Wagner also starting in the field along with Chris Seige and Greg Tingle.
Simon Kenton (20-15) adjusted to their move to the Eighth Region by winning the 32nd District title before losing to Oldham County in the first round of the region tournament.
Five-year starter Ricky Parrott returns at second base after hitting .432 last year.
The left side of the infield features juniors Josh Brown (ss) and Jacob Robinson (3B), with Robinson returning to the mound where he was 2-1 with a 3.12 ERA in limited action last year.
Tyler Hutton also returns for head coach John Finn, who enters his 28th year with the Pioneers.
Owen County (19-9) won the 31st District title and fell to Oldham County by a run in the second round of the region tourney.
With five starters back and a key transfer, hopes are high for Bob Osborne’s Rebels this year.
Senior Trey Lenear hit .493 with 11 homers and 41 RBIs last year and was just as dominant on the mound, posting a 0.96 ERA with 76 strikeouts.
Junior Michael Ogden was nearly as stingy with a 1.86 ERA and 73 strikeouts.
Daniel Neely, a transfer from Owsley County, will also see some time in the Rebel rotation.
Jared Perkins (.368) returns at first base while Danny O’Toole (3B) and sophomore Colling Gamble (2B) round out the infield.
Henry County (13-12) didn’t shy away from playing the big boys last year, suffering losses to Male, Trinity, Eastern, and North Bullitt. Head coach Mike Thibodeaux is hoping that experience, along with the return a talented junior class can get his team over the hump in the 31st District.
Michael Douglas and Travis Martin are the only seniors on the 14-player Wildcat roster that also includes junior pitchers Daniel Lyons, Nolan Deburger, and Tyler Cox.
Anderson County (13-21) has the most experience returning in the region with eight starters expected back in 2007.
Second baseman Jeremy Newton (.350) and outfielder Corey Nicholson (.330) return for head coach L.W. Barnes, who will look to Hunter Bagwell, Aaron Burkhead, and Eric Hanson to anchor the Bearcat rotation.
Trimble County (13-12) has five starters returning but must replace their top pitcher Eric Staples.
Jordan Bray and Michael Snell return to the Raider offense and will also be looked to shore up the pitching rotation.
Eighth District Rankings
1. Oldham County
2. Shelby County
3. Simon Kenton
4. Owen County
5. Henry County
6. Anderson County
7. Trimble County
8. Spencer County
9. Gallatin County
10. Williamstown
11. South Oldham
12. North Oldham
13. Grant County
14. Carroll County
15. Walton-Verona
16. Eminence
Shelby County (18-13) got hot at the right time and won the 30th District and Eighth Region last year before getting swept by St. Xavier in the semi state.
However, Oldham County (19-10) appears to have enough pitching to win the region and try to advance to the school’s first-ever state tournament.
Senior lefty Dean Kiekhefer was one of the more dominant pitchers in the state with a 9-0 record, 0.24 ERA, and two perfect games to his credit.
The Louisville signee fanned 119 batters in just 53 innings pitched, including 19 Ks vs. North Oldham in last year’s district tournament.
Seniors Preston Thiess (1.70 ERA) and Shane Wisecarver (3.10 ERA) also return for the Colonels, who also return five position players.
Thiess plays first base when not on the mound and hit .330 last year with 25 RBIs.
Senior second baseman Mark Grieshaber (.420), junior shortstop Josh Kovach (.340), and senior left fielder Zach Byrne (4 HR, 30 RBI) also return for head coach Scott Gerlach.
Shelby County has five starters back from last year’s team that lost to St. Xavier in the semi state round.
Head coach Donnie Williams has the experience on the mound to rival Oldham County but not that one dominant pitcher like Kiekhefer. Lincoln Wagner, Jordan Burk, and John Maxey should comprise a nice rotation, with Burk and Wagner also starting in the field along with Chris Seige and Greg Tingle.
Simon Kenton (20-15) adjusted to their move to the Eighth Region by winning the 32nd District title before losing to Oldham County in the first round of the region tournament.
Five-year starter Ricky Parrott returns at second base after hitting .432 last year.
The left side of the infield features juniors Josh Brown (ss) and Jacob Robinson (3B), with Robinson returning to the mound where he was 2-1 with a 3.12 ERA in limited action last year.
Tyler Hutton also returns for head coach John Finn, who enters his 28th year with the Pioneers.
Owen County (19-9) won the 31st District title and fell to Oldham County by a run in the second round of the region tourney.
With five starters back and a key transfer, hopes are high for Bob Osborne’s Rebels this year.
Senior Trey Lenear hit .493 with 11 homers and 41 RBIs last year and was just as dominant on the mound, posting a 0.96 ERA with 76 strikeouts.
Junior Michael Ogden was nearly as stingy with a 1.86 ERA and 73 strikeouts.
Daniel Neely, a transfer from Owsley County, will also see some time in the Rebel rotation.
Jared Perkins (.368) returns at first base while Danny O’Toole (3B) and sophomore Colling Gamble (2B) round out the infield.
Henry County (13-12) didn’t shy away from playing the big boys last year, suffering losses to Male, Trinity, Eastern, and North Bullitt. Head coach Mike Thibodeaux is hoping that experience, along with the return a talented junior class can get his team over the hump in the 31st District.
Michael Douglas and Travis Martin are the only seniors on the 14-player Wildcat roster that also includes junior pitchers Daniel Lyons, Nolan Deburger, and Tyler Cox.
Anderson County (13-21) has the most experience returning in the region with eight starters expected back in 2007.
Second baseman Jeremy Newton (.350) and outfielder Corey Nicholson (.330) return for head coach L.W. Barnes, who will look to Hunter Bagwell, Aaron Burkhead, and Eric Hanson to anchor the Bearcat rotation.
Trimble County (13-12) has five starters returning but must replace their top pitcher Eric Staples.
Jordan Bray and Michael Snell return to the Raider offense and will also be looked to shore up the pitching rotation.
Eighth District Rankings
1. Oldham County
2. Shelby County
3. Simon Kenton
4. Owen County
5. Henry County
6. Anderson County
7. Trimble County
8. Spencer County
9. Gallatin County
10. Williamstown
11. South Oldham
12. North Oldham
13. Grant County
14. Carroll County
15. Walton-Verona
16. Eminence