The Scribe
03-21-2008, 08:57 PM
11th Region Baseball Preview
Lexington baseball has dominated the state landscape the past few years, and it’s tough to see how 2008 will be any different.
Tates Creek (23-9) returns five starters, including University of Louisville signee Alex Blodgett. He will be in the middle of the lineup after hitting .276 with three homers last year.
On the mound, the 6-foot-4 right-hander was 4-3 with 52 strikeouts and a 3.08 ERA. Head coach Dom Fucci said Blodgett has added a slider and change up to his command of pitches.
Senior Corey Kingsley won three games last year with 66 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.12. Fucci said the 6-1 righty had an outstanding summer and should team with Blodgett for a nice 1-2 combo at the top of the rotation.
Senior Garrett Dillingham and sophomore Trevor Gott will move in behind Kingsley and Blodgett in the rotation.
Junior outfielder T.J. Mangione set a school record with 32 stolen bases and is a nice table-setter (.330 BA, .457 OBP).
Joining Mangione in the outfield will be Scott Denno (.338, 11 doubles) in right and senior Tyler Howard (.286) in left.
Senior Evan Broome hit .357 at second base last year and, like Mangione, has good speed on the base paths.
Junior Logan Jackson (.452, 2 HR, 30 RBI) will start behind the plate and features a strong and accurate arm.
If Fucci wants to move Jackson to a corner position, junior Lee Kimbrell (.405) can fill in behind the plate.
Tates Creek has a strong junior class that will see plenty of time on the diamond, including shortstop Tanner Baldwin (.375, 10 stolen bases).
The Creekers were eliminated by Paul Dunbar in the first round of the tough 43rd District and would love to avenge that loss and erase an 18-year absence from the state tournament.
Paul Dunbar became the third consecutive 43rd District school to win the state title, rolling to a 38-6 record and the school’s first championship.
Head coach Mickey Marshall has four starters returning to play one of the state’s toughest schedules.
Senior Chad Richie, who also catches, was 2-0 with a 0.51 ERA and 44 strikeouts last year and is the top returning pitcher for Marshall along with senior Chase Ballinger, who was 7-2 with a 2.05 ERA and 74 strikeouts.
Seniors Tom Travis, Tyler Jones, and Joe Thompson will also see action on the mound.
Richie hit .288 last year and will be joined in the lineup by seniors Chris Kubarjak (.344), Tyler Back (.284), Josh Burke (.306), and junior outfielder Brandon Eggenschwiler (.421).
Dunbar has the ability to reload nicely, and in any other region, it would be enough to repeat as champs. If his upperclassmen that includes 16 seniors contribute as Marshall expects, the Bulldogs could be in position to repeat as region champions.
Lexington Catholic (32-5) returns Nick Maronde, a pitcher who has signed with Florida. The Knights lost to Dunbar in the championship game of both the 43rd District finals and the 11th Region finals.
Michael Champa and Will Hicks also return for the Knights, who should be able to plug several holes left void by the graduation of a strong senior class.
Henry Clay (23-11) welcomes back six starters from last year’s team that won the 42nd District and lost to Lexington Catholic in the semifinals of the 11th Region Tournament.
Michael Bryant, Matthew Harris, and Cameron Flynn should see most of the innings on the mound. When not pitching, Bryant plays first base and will catch some, and Harris and Flynn will play the outfield.
The Blue Devils should be strong up the middle defensively with shortstop Jonathon Craycraft and second baseman Charlie Brown. Patrick Whalen is back at third base.
Outfielder Michael Buschmann is another returning starter for head coach Herb Hammond.
Lexington Christian (20-14) failed to make it out of the district, but should challenge for a return with seven starters returning for head coach Keith Galloway.
The Eagles have one of the state’s best pitchers in Robbie Ross, a left-handed senior who was 4-5 with a 2.95 ERA and 67 strikeouts.
Ross also gets the job done at the plate, batting at a .370 clip with 34 runs scored. He has signed to play at the University of Kentucky.
Galloway also welcomes back infielders Austin Johnson, Shane Crain, Tyler Townsend, and Ben Hartley, and outfielders Lucas Witt and Dalton Henzman.
Johnson, Crain, and Evans will join Ross in the pitching rotation.
Galloway is trying to find a consistent catcher, but the mix of pitching, speed, and hitting should make the Eagles a region contender once again.
Bryan Station (14-16) should be the favorites to win the 42nd District with six starters returning for head coach Larry Poynter.
Brandon Boling, Bobby Bollmer, and Chase Turner should take care of things on the mound, while Danny Olszowy, Boling, Jordan Craig, and Turner should lead the offense.
Woodford County (17-15) could be a darkhorse with six starters and a strong senior class coming back for head coach Jay Lucas.
Seniors Adam Miller, Justin Purvis, and Matt Smith, and sophomore Gus Sherrow give the Yellow Jackets a deep rotation.
Miller will also play first base, and Purvis and Smith will see time in the outfield.
Tyler Adams can play a variety of positions, and Ian Miller will return to the middle of the Woodford lineup.
Madison Central (23-12) returns Zac Coldiron and Tyler Weaver from a team that won 23 games and the 44th District title and advanced to the region semifinals.
Franklin County (21-13) has just three starters returning, and will build around seniors Adam Johnson and Jacob Brackett.
Eric Sanders and Blake Burus will lead a Scott County team (18-14) that has not won a district title since moving to the 11th Region three years ago.
Western Hills (15-13) head coach Craig Fry has seven starters returning, which should make the Wolverines a favorite to win the 41st District title.
The entire infield returns for Western Hills. Andy Fisher will be behind the plate while Mike Satterwhite, Matt Freire, J.T. Riddle, and Jordan Queen comprise the infield first to third.
Matt Hyatt and Nolan McGaughey will be in the outfield.
Queen, Hyatt, and Hunter Fry make up a pitching staff short on speed but good on control.
Lexington baseball has dominated the state landscape the past few years, and it’s tough to see how 2008 will be any different.
Tates Creek (23-9) returns five starters, including University of Louisville signee Alex Blodgett. He will be in the middle of the lineup after hitting .276 with three homers last year.
On the mound, the 6-foot-4 right-hander was 4-3 with 52 strikeouts and a 3.08 ERA. Head coach Dom Fucci said Blodgett has added a slider and change up to his command of pitches.
Senior Corey Kingsley won three games last year with 66 strikeouts and an ERA of 2.12. Fucci said the 6-1 righty had an outstanding summer and should team with Blodgett for a nice 1-2 combo at the top of the rotation.
Senior Garrett Dillingham and sophomore Trevor Gott will move in behind Kingsley and Blodgett in the rotation.
Junior outfielder T.J. Mangione set a school record with 32 stolen bases and is a nice table-setter (.330 BA, .457 OBP).
Joining Mangione in the outfield will be Scott Denno (.338, 11 doubles) in right and senior Tyler Howard (.286) in left.
Senior Evan Broome hit .357 at second base last year and, like Mangione, has good speed on the base paths.
Junior Logan Jackson (.452, 2 HR, 30 RBI) will start behind the plate and features a strong and accurate arm.
If Fucci wants to move Jackson to a corner position, junior Lee Kimbrell (.405) can fill in behind the plate.
Tates Creek has a strong junior class that will see plenty of time on the diamond, including shortstop Tanner Baldwin (.375, 10 stolen bases).
The Creekers were eliminated by Paul Dunbar in the first round of the tough 43rd District and would love to avenge that loss and erase an 18-year absence from the state tournament.
Paul Dunbar became the third consecutive 43rd District school to win the state title, rolling to a 38-6 record and the school’s first championship.
Head coach Mickey Marshall has four starters returning to play one of the state’s toughest schedules.
Senior Chad Richie, who also catches, was 2-0 with a 0.51 ERA and 44 strikeouts last year and is the top returning pitcher for Marshall along with senior Chase Ballinger, who was 7-2 with a 2.05 ERA and 74 strikeouts.
Seniors Tom Travis, Tyler Jones, and Joe Thompson will also see action on the mound.
Richie hit .288 last year and will be joined in the lineup by seniors Chris Kubarjak (.344), Tyler Back (.284), Josh Burke (.306), and junior outfielder Brandon Eggenschwiler (.421).
Dunbar has the ability to reload nicely, and in any other region, it would be enough to repeat as champs. If his upperclassmen that includes 16 seniors contribute as Marshall expects, the Bulldogs could be in position to repeat as region champions.
Lexington Catholic (32-5) returns Nick Maronde, a pitcher who has signed with Florida. The Knights lost to Dunbar in the championship game of both the 43rd District finals and the 11th Region finals.
Michael Champa and Will Hicks also return for the Knights, who should be able to plug several holes left void by the graduation of a strong senior class.
Henry Clay (23-11) welcomes back six starters from last year’s team that won the 42nd District and lost to Lexington Catholic in the semifinals of the 11th Region Tournament.
Michael Bryant, Matthew Harris, and Cameron Flynn should see most of the innings on the mound. When not pitching, Bryant plays first base and will catch some, and Harris and Flynn will play the outfield.
The Blue Devils should be strong up the middle defensively with shortstop Jonathon Craycraft and second baseman Charlie Brown. Patrick Whalen is back at third base.
Outfielder Michael Buschmann is another returning starter for head coach Herb Hammond.
Lexington Christian (20-14) failed to make it out of the district, but should challenge for a return with seven starters returning for head coach Keith Galloway.
The Eagles have one of the state’s best pitchers in Robbie Ross, a left-handed senior who was 4-5 with a 2.95 ERA and 67 strikeouts.
Ross also gets the job done at the plate, batting at a .370 clip with 34 runs scored. He has signed to play at the University of Kentucky.
Galloway also welcomes back infielders Austin Johnson, Shane Crain, Tyler Townsend, and Ben Hartley, and outfielders Lucas Witt and Dalton Henzman.
Johnson, Crain, and Evans will join Ross in the pitching rotation.
Galloway is trying to find a consistent catcher, but the mix of pitching, speed, and hitting should make the Eagles a region contender once again.
Bryan Station (14-16) should be the favorites to win the 42nd District with six starters returning for head coach Larry Poynter.
Brandon Boling, Bobby Bollmer, and Chase Turner should take care of things on the mound, while Danny Olszowy, Boling, Jordan Craig, and Turner should lead the offense.
Woodford County (17-15) could be a darkhorse with six starters and a strong senior class coming back for head coach Jay Lucas.
Seniors Adam Miller, Justin Purvis, and Matt Smith, and sophomore Gus Sherrow give the Yellow Jackets a deep rotation.
Miller will also play first base, and Purvis and Smith will see time in the outfield.
Tyler Adams can play a variety of positions, and Ian Miller will return to the middle of the Woodford lineup.
Madison Central (23-12) returns Zac Coldiron and Tyler Weaver from a team that won 23 games and the 44th District title and advanced to the region semifinals.
Franklin County (21-13) has just three starters returning, and will build around seniors Adam Johnson and Jacob Brackett.
Eric Sanders and Blake Burus will lead a Scott County team (18-14) that has not won a district title since moving to the 11th Region three years ago.
Western Hills (15-13) head coach Craig Fry has seven starters returning, which should make the Wolverines a favorite to win the 41st District title.
The entire infield returns for Western Hills. Andy Fisher will be behind the plate while Mike Satterwhite, Matt Freire, J.T. Riddle, and Jordan Queen comprise the infield first to third.
Matt Hyatt and Nolan McGaughey will be in the outfield.
Queen, Hyatt, and Hunter Fry make up a pitching staff short on speed but good on control.