The Scribe
03-23-2007, 02:00 AM
2nd Region Baseball Preview
Christian County’s path to a third straight state championship appearance came to an end with a shaky defensive effort against Beechwood in the quarterfinals of the state tournament last year.
The Colonels gave up six runs in the final two innings to see their season come to a premature end with a record of 29-10.
Kevin Crider stepped down as head coach, and assistant Josh Hunt was promoted to take over a Colonel squad that should be picked to win their fourth straight region title.
The Colonels return seven starters and three-fourths of their starting rotation from a team that cruised through the first round of the state tournament last year.
Senior Chase Joiner will return as the staff ace after notching a 12-2 record and a 1.23 ERA. He also hit .417 with a team-high nine home runs and 40 RBIs.
Sophomore lefthander Tyler Gilliland was 9-1 with a miniscule 0.72 ERA and batted .290 as an outfielder.
Senior Scott Gentry was 2-2 with a 3.79 ERA. When he wasn’t on the mound, he batted .333 with four homers and 24 RBI.
Hunt has several other offensive weapons at his disposal, including senior shortstop Greg Casebier (.394, 33 RBI); senior outfielder Keith Tandy (.358, 27 RBI, 26 SB); sophomore catcher Jordan Williams (.284); and junior third baseman Will Winfield (.274).
Christian County’s biggest competition could come from across town.
Hopkinsville (23-12) lost over half their offense but has five starters returning and several underclassmen that should be ready to step into starting roles.
Senior righty Kyle Robertson and Jason Denton return to the rotation as does Justin Hageman, who is also the leading returning hitter with a .358 average.
Tyler Perry (.326), Tony Beatty (.315), and Ben Russell (.310) also return for the Tigers, who haven’t won an Eighth District title since 1986.
Madisonville (26-8) features one of the region’s best pitchers in senior lefty Seth McCabe. The Maroons won the Seventh District title last year before getting blitzed by Hopkinsville in the first round of the region tournament.
It’s a season of change at Henderson County (19-14) where 28-year-old Nathan Isenberg takes over as head coach after Bill Tom Wayne was not rehired after a 702-405-3 record in 32 seasons.
Isenberg was an assistant coach at the University of the Cumberlands and has also been an assistant coach at Franklin-Simpson and Bowling Green.
The new coach will have the services of junior Ryne Pinkston, who will also see time on the mound.
Cory Bowling and Isaac Vaughan could also see plenty of time in the Colonel rotation, while Chase Tucker, Travis Noland, Jordan Boston, and Lon Schuster will try and bat Henderson to their first state tournament in seven years.
Union County (20-13) posted a better than expected record but lost in the first round of the district tournament to Webster County. Crew Utley is expected to return for head coach Jeff Caudill.
Will Cartwright and Clayton Dunbar return for a Hopkins County Central squad that is expected to improve upon last year’s 11-17 record.
Livingston Central (19-12) lost a strong senior class and their head coach when Mike Johnson left for the Murray job.
Trigg County returns a solid nucleus from last year’s 11-15 team that is looking for the school’s first district title since 1979.
Lucas Riddle won five games and hit .317 at the plate, while John David Fourqurean (.500, 17 RBIs) and Kyle Allen (.302) also return for the Wildcats.
Lyon County (8-13) also returns a solid nucleus of players and could make the Fifth District a three-way race along with Trigg County and Livingston Central.
Senior catcher Jonathon Guess hit .470 last year, while sophomore Aaron Ausenbaugh won three games and had a 3.11 ERA on the mound.
Sophomore outfielder Aaron Corley hit .357 and led the Lyons with 25 RBIs.
With seven returning starters, head coach Corky Peek is hoping to also have the Lyons challenging for the All-A region title this year.
Second Region Rankings
1. Christian County
2. Hopkinsville
3. Madisonville
4. Henderson County
5. Union County
6. Hopkins County Central
7. Livingston Central
8. Trigg County
9. Webster County
10. Caldwell County
11. Lyon County
12. University Heights
13. Fort Campbell
14. Crittenden County
15. Dawson Springs
Christian County’s path to a third straight state championship appearance came to an end with a shaky defensive effort against Beechwood in the quarterfinals of the state tournament last year.
The Colonels gave up six runs in the final two innings to see their season come to a premature end with a record of 29-10.
Kevin Crider stepped down as head coach, and assistant Josh Hunt was promoted to take over a Colonel squad that should be picked to win their fourth straight region title.
The Colonels return seven starters and three-fourths of their starting rotation from a team that cruised through the first round of the state tournament last year.
Senior Chase Joiner will return as the staff ace after notching a 12-2 record and a 1.23 ERA. He also hit .417 with a team-high nine home runs and 40 RBIs.
Sophomore lefthander Tyler Gilliland was 9-1 with a miniscule 0.72 ERA and batted .290 as an outfielder.
Senior Scott Gentry was 2-2 with a 3.79 ERA. When he wasn’t on the mound, he batted .333 with four homers and 24 RBI.
Hunt has several other offensive weapons at his disposal, including senior shortstop Greg Casebier (.394, 33 RBI); senior outfielder Keith Tandy (.358, 27 RBI, 26 SB); sophomore catcher Jordan Williams (.284); and junior third baseman Will Winfield (.274).
Christian County’s biggest competition could come from across town.
Hopkinsville (23-12) lost over half their offense but has five starters returning and several underclassmen that should be ready to step into starting roles.
Senior righty Kyle Robertson and Jason Denton return to the rotation as does Justin Hageman, who is also the leading returning hitter with a .358 average.
Tyler Perry (.326), Tony Beatty (.315), and Ben Russell (.310) also return for the Tigers, who haven’t won an Eighth District title since 1986.
Madisonville (26-8) features one of the region’s best pitchers in senior lefty Seth McCabe. The Maroons won the Seventh District title last year before getting blitzed by Hopkinsville in the first round of the region tournament.
It’s a season of change at Henderson County (19-14) where 28-year-old Nathan Isenberg takes over as head coach after Bill Tom Wayne was not rehired after a 702-405-3 record in 32 seasons.
Isenberg was an assistant coach at the University of the Cumberlands and has also been an assistant coach at Franklin-Simpson and Bowling Green.
The new coach will have the services of junior Ryne Pinkston, who will also see time on the mound.
Cory Bowling and Isaac Vaughan could also see plenty of time in the Colonel rotation, while Chase Tucker, Travis Noland, Jordan Boston, and Lon Schuster will try and bat Henderson to their first state tournament in seven years.
Union County (20-13) posted a better than expected record but lost in the first round of the district tournament to Webster County. Crew Utley is expected to return for head coach Jeff Caudill.
Will Cartwright and Clayton Dunbar return for a Hopkins County Central squad that is expected to improve upon last year’s 11-17 record.
Livingston Central (19-12) lost a strong senior class and their head coach when Mike Johnson left for the Murray job.
Trigg County returns a solid nucleus from last year’s 11-15 team that is looking for the school’s first district title since 1979.
Lucas Riddle won five games and hit .317 at the plate, while John David Fourqurean (.500, 17 RBIs) and Kyle Allen (.302) also return for the Wildcats.
Lyon County (8-13) also returns a solid nucleus of players and could make the Fifth District a three-way race along with Trigg County and Livingston Central.
Senior catcher Jonathon Guess hit .470 last year, while sophomore Aaron Ausenbaugh won three games and had a 3.11 ERA on the mound.
Sophomore outfielder Aaron Corley hit .357 and led the Lyons with 25 RBIs.
With seven returning starters, head coach Corky Peek is hoping to also have the Lyons challenging for the All-A region title this year.
Second Region Rankings
1. Christian County
2. Hopkinsville
3. Madisonville
4. Henderson County
5. Union County
6. Hopkins County Central
7. Livingston Central
8. Trigg County
9. Webster County
10. Caldwell County
11. Lyon County
12. University Heights
13. Fort Campbell
14. Crittenden County
15. Dawson Springs