The Scribe
03-20-2008, 09:46 PM
Fifth Region Baseball Preview
By JOSH CLAYWELL
The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise
With University of Kentucky signee Sean Bouthilette leading the way, the Elizabethtown Panthers are primed for another season at the top of the 5th Region.
A senior right hander, Bouthilette went 7-2 with a 0.49 earned run average in 2007. Anchoring the rotation behind him will be junior Chris Gohman (6-2, 1.42 ERA) and Ryan Lutz (1.50 ERA).
“Our top three pitchers are experienced and have been successful at the varsity level,” Elizabethtown coach Don Pitts said.
Bouthilette, Gohman and Lutz combined for 16 of Elizabethtown’s 28 wins last year. The other two spots in the rotation could be filled by senior Trevor Schexneider, junior Erin Pennington or sophomore Jake Goodman.
Also back for the Panthers are second baseman Zach Riney, shortstop Chase Greenwell and catcher Micheal Thomas.
“The strength of this team should be defense,” Pitts said. “We return every one of our middle infielders (Riney, Greenwell, Thomas and Bouthlilette when he isn’t pitching).”
Greenwell was second on the team in runs batted in, while Thomas led the Panthers with four home runs on the season.
Elizabethtown beat rival Central Hardin for the 17th District and 5th Region tournament titles before falling to Shelby County in Semi-State 3. Pitts expects the district and region race will be just as hotly contested as in years past.
“The district will be extremely tough,” Pitts said. “Central Hardin returns nine starters from last year. North Hardin is always tough and may have the best hitter in the district in Ethan Hughes. John Hardin also returns plenty of talent from a team that closed 2007 very well.”
2. Central Hardin (23-13). The Bruins beat Nelson County in the region quarterfinals and LaRue County in the semifinals, before falling to Elizabethtown in the championship game.
Central Hardin went 6-5 in the 17th District and 11-6 against 5th Region competition. The Bruins’ longest winning streak was six games from April 28-May 8. The run included a 5-3 win over homestanding Elizabethtown, which won the next two meetings by a combined 17-1.
3. LaRue County (23-10). The Hawks will be looking for their seventh consecutive 18th District Tournament title.
LaRue County has won the district every year since 2001, when Green County won the title.
Since 2001, the Hawks have gone a combined 46-3 against district competition and 96-30 against region competition.
4. Taylor County (24-10). The Cardinals have won the 20th District 11 of the last 13 years, and Taylor County coach Jeff Gumm is looking for big things out of his upperclassmen-dominated team this year.
Back to lead the Cardinals at the plate is Mikey Brown, a left-handed hitting catcher who hit .415, stole 26 bases and had 36 RBI. Also back is centerfielder Chance Walls, who hit .354 with 22 stolen bases and 30 RBI.
“Just like every season we will be a solid team with several players contributing (to) the success of our team,” Gumm said. “Team defense is a strong point. Outfield speed is a strong point.”
On the mound, Taylor County returns Matt Burress, who was 7-2 with a 3.12 ERA last year. Aaron Gilpin, A.J. Wayne, Tyler Cross, Dallas Gribbins and Brown will man the rotation for the Cardinals, while Walls will relieve.
“Our pitching staff does not consist of a power pitcher,” Gumm said. “The staff must pound the strike zone to be effective.”
5. North Hardin (20-16). The Trojans struggled for most of last season, but won three consecutive games heading into the 17th District Tournament.
North Hardin knocked off Fort Knox in the quarterfinals, before falling to eventual champion Elizabethtown in the semifinals.
Longtime coach Greg Gumm will have to replace to key pieces from that team – starting pitcher Evan Daub and outfielder/pitcher Mark Jones.
But Gumm has four returning juniors – second baseman Jacob Hughes, third baseman/pitcher Tyler Perkins, center fielder/pitcher Levi Duncan and infielder Josh Stone – and two seniors in catcher Ethan Hughes and shortstop Desmond Goodman to rely on.
6. Campbellsville (18-14). Coach Kirby Smith will have to replace pitchers Clay Pickett, Justin Cox and Dion McClain, who combined to go 11-5 last season.
Anchoring the rotation this year will be senior Blake Milby, sophomore Ben James and junior Chris Holmes.
7. Marion County (17-16). Pitcher Billy Grant, last year’s 5th Region Player of the Year, returns for his senior season for the Knights.
Grant went 7-4 with a 2.35 ERA on the mound, while Tyler Wright, a 6-foot-8 sophomore, went 4-2 with a 3.59 ERA. Senior Jake Thompson (4-5, 2.88 ERA) is also back.
Grant hit .398 last year, while Wright hit .381. Grant will play in the outfield when he’s not pitching and Wright will play first base.
8. Nelson County (17-17). The Cardinals return seven starters from last year’s 19th District Tournament championship team.
Seniors Eric Thompson (7-4), Zach Greer (5-3) and Andrew Osborne (5-4) are the top three starting pitchers for Nelson County. Seniors Shawn Boyd, Nick Mudd and Devin Parker could all see time in the rotation.
Also back for the Cardinals are senior third baseman/outfielder Daniel Rodgers (.320, four home runs), senior catcher Matt Avis, senior first baseman Derek Shouse and junior second baseman Jordan Keene.
9. Hart County (14-17) – Five starters return for Hart County, but how quickly P/IF Thad Highbaugh recovers from offseason ACL surgery will determine how fast the Raiders become a factor in the 18th District this year.
Josh Riordan and Kevin Cruz will share the pitching duties, but Hart County will have to develop a catcher quickly.
Top Players. Sean Bouthilette, Elizabethtown; Billy Grant, Marion County; Mikey Brown, Taylor County; Ethan Hughes, North Hardin; Derek Self, Caverna; Joe Nash, Central Hardin; Blake Milby, Campbellsville; Chris Gohman, Elizabethtown; Chris Nichols, Central Hardin; Ross Redmond, John Hardin.
By JOSH CLAYWELL
The (Elizabethtown) News-Enterprise
With University of Kentucky signee Sean Bouthilette leading the way, the Elizabethtown Panthers are primed for another season at the top of the 5th Region.
A senior right hander, Bouthilette went 7-2 with a 0.49 earned run average in 2007. Anchoring the rotation behind him will be junior Chris Gohman (6-2, 1.42 ERA) and Ryan Lutz (1.50 ERA).
“Our top three pitchers are experienced and have been successful at the varsity level,” Elizabethtown coach Don Pitts said.
Bouthilette, Gohman and Lutz combined for 16 of Elizabethtown’s 28 wins last year. The other two spots in the rotation could be filled by senior Trevor Schexneider, junior Erin Pennington or sophomore Jake Goodman.
Also back for the Panthers are second baseman Zach Riney, shortstop Chase Greenwell and catcher Micheal Thomas.
“The strength of this team should be defense,” Pitts said. “We return every one of our middle infielders (Riney, Greenwell, Thomas and Bouthlilette when he isn’t pitching).”
Greenwell was second on the team in runs batted in, while Thomas led the Panthers with four home runs on the season.
Elizabethtown beat rival Central Hardin for the 17th District and 5th Region tournament titles before falling to Shelby County in Semi-State 3. Pitts expects the district and region race will be just as hotly contested as in years past.
“The district will be extremely tough,” Pitts said. “Central Hardin returns nine starters from last year. North Hardin is always tough and may have the best hitter in the district in Ethan Hughes. John Hardin also returns plenty of talent from a team that closed 2007 very well.”
2. Central Hardin (23-13). The Bruins beat Nelson County in the region quarterfinals and LaRue County in the semifinals, before falling to Elizabethtown in the championship game.
Central Hardin went 6-5 in the 17th District and 11-6 against 5th Region competition. The Bruins’ longest winning streak was six games from April 28-May 8. The run included a 5-3 win over homestanding Elizabethtown, which won the next two meetings by a combined 17-1.
3. LaRue County (23-10). The Hawks will be looking for their seventh consecutive 18th District Tournament title.
LaRue County has won the district every year since 2001, when Green County won the title.
Since 2001, the Hawks have gone a combined 46-3 against district competition and 96-30 against region competition.
4. Taylor County (24-10). The Cardinals have won the 20th District 11 of the last 13 years, and Taylor County coach Jeff Gumm is looking for big things out of his upperclassmen-dominated team this year.
Back to lead the Cardinals at the plate is Mikey Brown, a left-handed hitting catcher who hit .415, stole 26 bases and had 36 RBI. Also back is centerfielder Chance Walls, who hit .354 with 22 stolen bases and 30 RBI.
“Just like every season we will be a solid team with several players contributing (to) the success of our team,” Gumm said. “Team defense is a strong point. Outfield speed is a strong point.”
On the mound, Taylor County returns Matt Burress, who was 7-2 with a 3.12 ERA last year. Aaron Gilpin, A.J. Wayne, Tyler Cross, Dallas Gribbins and Brown will man the rotation for the Cardinals, while Walls will relieve.
“Our pitching staff does not consist of a power pitcher,” Gumm said. “The staff must pound the strike zone to be effective.”
5. North Hardin (20-16). The Trojans struggled for most of last season, but won three consecutive games heading into the 17th District Tournament.
North Hardin knocked off Fort Knox in the quarterfinals, before falling to eventual champion Elizabethtown in the semifinals.
Longtime coach Greg Gumm will have to replace to key pieces from that team – starting pitcher Evan Daub and outfielder/pitcher Mark Jones.
But Gumm has four returning juniors – second baseman Jacob Hughes, third baseman/pitcher Tyler Perkins, center fielder/pitcher Levi Duncan and infielder Josh Stone – and two seniors in catcher Ethan Hughes and shortstop Desmond Goodman to rely on.
6. Campbellsville (18-14). Coach Kirby Smith will have to replace pitchers Clay Pickett, Justin Cox and Dion McClain, who combined to go 11-5 last season.
Anchoring the rotation this year will be senior Blake Milby, sophomore Ben James and junior Chris Holmes.
7. Marion County (17-16). Pitcher Billy Grant, last year’s 5th Region Player of the Year, returns for his senior season for the Knights.
Grant went 7-4 with a 2.35 ERA on the mound, while Tyler Wright, a 6-foot-8 sophomore, went 4-2 with a 3.59 ERA. Senior Jake Thompson (4-5, 2.88 ERA) is also back.
Grant hit .398 last year, while Wright hit .381. Grant will play in the outfield when he’s not pitching and Wright will play first base.
8. Nelson County (17-17). The Cardinals return seven starters from last year’s 19th District Tournament championship team.
Seniors Eric Thompson (7-4), Zach Greer (5-3) and Andrew Osborne (5-4) are the top three starting pitchers for Nelson County. Seniors Shawn Boyd, Nick Mudd and Devin Parker could all see time in the rotation.
Also back for the Cardinals are senior third baseman/outfielder Daniel Rodgers (.320, four home runs), senior catcher Matt Avis, senior first baseman Derek Shouse and junior second baseman Jordan Keene.
9. Hart County (14-17) – Five starters return for Hart County, but how quickly P/IF Thad Highbaugh recovers from offseason ACL surgery will determine how fast the Raiders become a factor in the 18th District this year.
Josh Riordan and Kevin Cruz will share the pitching duties, but Hart County will have to develop a catcher quickly.
Top Players. Sean Bouthilette, Elizabethtown; Billy Grant, Marion County; Mikey Brown, Taylor County; Ethan Hughes, North Hardin; Derek Self, Caverna; Joe Nash, Central Hardin; Blake Milby, Campbellsville; Chris Gohman, Elizabethtown; Chris Nichols, Central Hardin; Ross Redmond, John Hardin.