The Scribe
03-20-2008, 08:15 PM
Fourth Region Baseball Preview
The Fourth Region is as wide-open as any in the state, with defending champion Bowling Green again the favorite to repeat. Whoever wins will try and become the first team from the region since Franklin-Simpson in 1999 to advance to the state’s final four.
The Pruples (21-15) were a streaky team last year but caught fire at the right time and rolled to the region title before getting swept by Heath at the semi-state round.
Matt Logic’s team returns their top three pitchers from last year in Caleb Haines, Trent Steelman, and Matt Ingram. He says all three are equally talented and will be counted on to carry the pitching load for the Purples in 2008.
“When you have two seniors and a junior in your rotation, you expect them to go out there with confidence and locate well. These guys have plenty of experience in big situations, and so we're expecting great things,” Logic said.
Haines, a junior, plays first base when he’s not on the mound, while seniors Steelman and Ingram are outfielders.
Senior Brandon Higdon returns behind the plate for the Purples, while the infield returns mostly intact with junior shortstop J.P. Jackson making the move over from second base and sophomore third baseman LaVance Anderson shoring up the left side.
Seniors Corbin Smith and Ben Rauh also return in the lineup.
“We are looking forward to seeing how well we produce offensively 1 through 9. I really feel that we have guys all the way through the lineup that can produce and have success for us on any given day,” Logic said. “We just want to be consistently good in our approach this year at the plate.”
Greeting the Purples and their opponents this year are improvements at Harold Stahl Field that include a new outfield wall and bullpens.
Franklin-Simpson (17-18) played a young squad that advanced to the region title game before falling to Bowling Green.
Head coach Craig Delk has one senior, five juniors, a sophomore, and a freshman among his returning starters from last year.
While there are some important holes to fill, the Wildcats should field a nice balance at the plate and on the mound.
Senior pitcher Adam Slinger throws like his name, and he and his fastball will be pitching at Wabash College next year.
Juniors Dillion Satterly and Zack Herrington will split time between the field and the mound. Satterly, who also plays shortstop, led the team in ERA (1.86) and saves (3), while hitting over .400 with runners in scoring position.
Herrington is an outfielder and table-setter for the Wildcats, leading the team last year in runs and stolen bases.
Preston Johnson, Patrick Flippin, and Preston Dallas also return for Franklin-Simpson, who could challenge for the region title if they underclassmen continue to produce.
Barren County (27-9) won the 15th District but ran into a hot Franklin-Simpson team in the first round of the region tournament and saw their season end quicker than they would have liked.
With eight starters returning for first-year head coach Scott Gillon, the Trojans could be primed to advance to the state tournament for the first time in the school’s history.
Lucas Mohon is one of the region’s top players – both at the plate and on the mound. He has signed to play at Carson Newman College, and teams with Blake Crabtree to provide a nice combo on the mound and field. Crabtree has signed with Vol State College.
Catcher Jonathon Riddle and infielder Tyler Richardson also provide experience for a team looking to top last year’s school-record win total of 27.
The Trojans will get a chance to see how they stack up against the state’s elite when they play Apollo, Lexington Christian, and Paul Dunbar at different points in the season.
Cumberland County (22-9) returns seven starters to a team looking to make noise in both the All-A Classic and 16th District.
Senior Cody Pruitt and junior Daniel Lee are multi-tool players for the Panthers, while seniors Nick Rush and Harrison Ashley also return to the CCHS lineup.
Warren Central (23-10) returns a couple of the region’s better players in centerfielder Quenton Smith and pitcher Shane Waldrop. However, the Dragons are stuck in the toughest district in the Fourth Region.
Monroe County (13-19) returns three pitchers that are expected to be much improved this year. Juniors Andy Branch and Justin Meadows and sophomore Spencer Petett should give the Falcons an experienced pitching staff, while Petett also returns to the outfield.
Three starters return on the infield, including middle combo Jackson Arnett (2B) and Neal Wilson (SS).
The Fourth Region is as wide-open as any in the state, with defending champion Bowling Green again the favorite to repeat. Whoever wins will try and become the first team from the region since Franklin-Simpson in 1999 to advance to the state’s final four.
The Pruples (21-15) were a streaky team last year but caught fire at the right time and rolled to the region title before getting swept by Heath at the semi-state round.
Matt Logic’s team returns their top three pitchers from last year in Caleb Haines, Trent Steelman, and Matt Ingram. He says all three are equally talented and will be counted on to carry the pitching load for the Purples in 2008.
“When you have two seniors and a junior in your rotation, you expect them to go out there with confidence and locate well. These guys have plenty of experience in big situations, and so we're expecting great things,” Logic said.
Haines, a junior, plays first base when he’s not on the mound, while seniors Steelman and Ingram are outfielders.
Senior Brandon Higdon returns behind the plate for the Purples, while the infield returns mostly intact with junior shortstop J.P. Jackson making the move over from second base and sophomore third baseman LaVance Anderson shoring up the left side.
Seniors Corbin Smith and Ben Rauh also return in the lineup.
“We are looking forward to seeing how well we produce offensively 1 through 9. I really feel that we have guys all the way through the lineup that can produce and have success for us on any given day,” Logic said. “We just want to be consistently good in our approach this year at the plate.”
Greeting the Purples and their opponents this year are improvements at Harold Stahl Field that include a new outfield wall and bullpens.
Franklin-Simpson (17-18) played a young squad that advanced to the region title game before falling to Bowling Green.
Head coach Craig Delk has one senior, five juniors, a sophomore, and a freshman among his returning starters from last year.
While there are some important holes to fill, the Wildcats should field a nice balance at the plate and on the mound.
Senior pitcher Adam Slinger throws like his name, and he and his fastball will be pitching at Wabash College next year.
Juniors Dillion Satterly and Zack Herrington will split time between the field and the mound. Satterly, who also plays shortstop, led the team in ERA (1.86) and saves (3), while hitting over .400 with runners in scoring position.
Herrington is an outfielder and table-setter for the Wildcats, leading the team last year in runs and stolen bases.
Preston Johnson, Patrick Flippin, and Preston Dallas also return for Franklin-Simpson, who could challenge for the region title if they underclassmen continue to produce.
Barren County (27-9) won the 15th District but ran into a hot Franklin-Simpson team in the first round of the region tournament and saw their season end quicker than they would have liked.
With eight starters returning for first-year head coach Scott Gillon, the Trojans could be primed to advance to the state tournament for the first time in the school’s history.
Lucas Mohon is one of the region’s top players – both at the plate and on the mound. He has signed to play at Carson Newman College, and teams with Blake Crabtree to provide a nice combo on the mound and field. Crabtree has signed with Vol State College.
Catcher Jonathon Riddle and infielder Tyler Richardson also provide experience for a team looking to top last year’s school-record win total of 27.
The Trojans will get a chance to see how they stack up against the state’s elite when they play Apollo, Lexington Christian, and Paul Dunbar at different points in the season.
Cumberland County (22-9) returns seven starters to a team looking to make noise in both the All-A Classic and 16th District.
Senior Cody Pruitt and junior Daniel Lee are multi-tool players for the Panthers, while seniors Nick Rush and Harrison Ashley also return to the CCHS lineup.
Warren Central (23-10) returns a couple of the region’s better players in centerfielder Quenton Smith and pitcher Shane Waldrop. However, the Dragons are stuck in the toughest district in the Fourth Region.
Monroe County (13-19) returns three pitchers that are expected to be much improved this year. Juniors Andy Branch and Justin Meadows and sophomore Spencer Petett should give the Falcons an experienced pitching staff, while Petett also returns to the outfield.
Three starters return on the infield, including middle combo Jackson Arnett (2B) and Neal Wilson (SS).