The Scribe
03-21-2008, 11:22 PM
14th Region Baseball Preview
(Special to Bluegrasspreps.com)
Pre-season favorite Estill County begins their third season in the 14th region under Coach Danny Wood. In 2007 Estill finished 10-4 in the region and had an overall record of 22-10.
Returning starters for Estill are Blake Christopher (senior), Drew Freeman (junior and 2008 Preseason All State), Ryan Boain (senior), Jacob Isaacs (senior), and Josh Napier (senior).
Estill will play in the Frank Shoop Classic at Harrison County and The Tanner Dodge Classic.
The other pre-season favorite is the Hazard Bulldogs. The Bulldogs are coached by John Meehan who won his 200th game last season against Pikeville. Hazard finished 2007 with a record of 14-7 in the region and 21-13 overall.
Returning starters for Hazard are T. J. Searcy (junior), Bart Teague (junior), and Jody Grigsby (junior).
Hazard will host the Queen City Classic and play in the Tanner Dodge Classic.
Letcher County Central, the 2007 14th Region champions, lost some key players, but head coach Bryan Dean has plenty of talented players to defend the Cougars title.
Letcher Central finished the 2007 with 11-5 record in the region and an overall record of 25-14.
Returning for the Cougars are Colton Cook (senior), juniors Nathan Adams, Derek Walzer, Aaron Wright, and Michael Frazier. Other notable players are Matt and Chase Adams, both sophomores and McKenzie Smith (sophomore).
Tanner Sexton, a freshman, started all 39 games last season as an 8th grader. Tanner’s brother Schyler, a 2007 grad, is pitching for the University of the Cumberlands.
“They are a hard working, intelligent group of players. Our junior varsity was undefeated last year, so our younger players are used to winning. Cook, Smith, Chase Adams, Nathan Adams, Sexton, and Matt Adams all played important roles in our post season run last season,” Dean said.
Letcher Central will play 15th region favorite, Paintsville, to start off the season.
Perry Central lost some key players last season, but still look to be in the region tournament at season’s end. Perry Central is coached by Bobby Keith Dixon.
The Commodores finished 2007 with the season best record of 18-2 and an overall record of 25-10.
Returning for Perry Central are Brandon Napier (junior and 2008 Preseason All State), Chance Ashworth (sophomore), and Taylin Goodson (junior).
Perry Central will play in the Queen City Classic, the Capitol Season Classic, and the Tanner Dodge Classic.
Another team looking to be a contender in the 14th is the Pirates of Powell County. The Pirates are coached by 2007 Coach of the Year, Chris Varney.
The Pirates finished 2007 with a record of 14-5 in the region and an overall record of 23-9.
Returning starters for Powell are seniors Sean Ryan, Daniel Kinser, Seth Profitt, Devon Pelfrey, and Cory Brewer. Returning juniors are Russ Dotson, Tyler Mastin, and Josh Rison.
Brewer, Proffitt, and Kinser will head the Pirate rotation.
Coach Varney has some players that will attain some milestones in their high school career.
Devon Pelfrey has 79 hits, 21 shy on 100, and 71 career games played, 29 shy of 100.
Seth Profitt and Sean Ryan are also 29 games shy of 100 games for their career. Daniel Kinser needs 8 runs and 9 hits for 100 in both categories for his career.
Cory Brewer needs 43 hits to be the all time hits leader in Powell County History. Brewer and Kinser both played in their 100th career games last season.
Powell will play in the Cocoa Expo tournament in Cocoa Beach, Florida and the Tanner Dodge Classic.
Leslie County was the 14th Region Tournament runner-ups in 2007. The Eagles are coached by Russell Martin. Leslie finished 2007 with a record of 9-5 in the region and an overall record of 20-9.
The Eagles lost a lot of key players last season and are rebuilding. One notable player is Jimmy Joe Morgan a junior OF-P.
Leslie County will play in the Queen City Classic and in the 14th Region “All A” tournament.
Lee County is in one of the toughest districts in the 14th region, the 56th. Lee is coached by 2nd year Jason Jewell. Lee finished the 2007 season with a 14-8 record in the 14th and an overall record of 16-15.
Lee County is still in a rebuilding phase of the program. Returning players for Lee are Josh Drake (senior) Joey Stamper, Tyler Campbell and Gus Wise (sophomore).
Lee County will play in the 14th Region “All A”.
Jenkins surprised a lot of people last season in the 14th by making it to the semi finals of the 14th Region tournament. The Cavaliers look to keep up with the success that they had last season. Jenkins is coached by Scott Anderson and has six starters returning.
Jenkins will be lead by senior pitcher Chris Puckett (6-3, 3.13 ERA, 73 Ks) and Nathaniel Wilder (4-4).
Puckett and sophomore Matt Gross lead the Cavalier offense.
Jenkins plays in the Bo Upton Memorial Classic in Lincoln County, the Paintsville Tiger Classic, and the 14th Region “All A” Tournament.
Knott County Central had a rough season in 2007. With high expectations, the Patriots were upset by Jenkins in the 53rd District Tournament.
Knott Central is coached by KHSAA Hall of Famer Gary Hammonds. In 2007 the Patriots finished the season with a 7-15 record in the region and an overall record of 8-19.
Knott lost a lot of key players last season. The Patriots will have four returning starters Zach Mullins (junior), Lenny Hicks (junior), Cody Smith (sophomore), and Ryan Mosley (sophomore).
Knott has some new comers that should play a key part in the Patriots’ season.
Josh Richardson (junior), Jarrod Amburgey (junior), Josh Huff (junior), Blake Dixon (freshman), Michael Slone (freshman), and Zeke Maggard (freshman) should help out Knott.
Knott Central will be tested in the first few games by playing 14th region Estill County, Perry Central, and Powell County.
Breathitt County returns seven starters and all of their pitchers from last year’s 18-12 squad.
Dakota Ritchie and Tanner Lawson can both pitch and play the infield, while Ryan Allen and Travis Terry return to the outfield.
Another plus for head coach Glenn Napier’s team is that Breathitt County will host the regional tournament.
(Special to Bluegrasspreps.com)
Pre-season favorite Estill County begins their third season in the 14th region under Coach Danny Wood. In 2007 Estill finished 10-4 in the region and had an overall record of 22-10.
Returning starters for Estill are Blake Christopher (senior), Drew Freeman (junior and 2008 Preseason All State), Ryan Boain (senior), Jacob Isaacs (senior), and Josh Napier (senior).
Estill will play in the Frank Shoop Classic at Harrison County and The Tanner Dodge Classic.
The other pre-season favorite is the Hazard Bulldogs. The Bulldogs are coached by John Meehan who won his 200th game last season against Pikeville. Hazard finished 2007 with a record of 14-7 in the region and 21-13 overall.
Returning starters for Hazard are T. J. Searcy (junior), Bart Teague (junior), and Jody Grigsby (junior).
Hazard will host the Queen City Classic and play in the Tanner Dodge Classic.
Letcher County Central, the 2007 14th Region champions, lost some key players, but head coach Bryan Dean has plenty of talented players to defend the Cougars title.
Letcher Central finished the 2007 with 11-5 record in the region and an overall record of 25-14.
Returning for the Cougars are Colton Cook (senior), juniors Nathan Adams, Derek Walzer, Aaron Wright, and Michael Frazier. Other notable players are Matt and Chase Adams, both sophomores and McKenzie Smith (sophomore).
Tanner Sexton, a freshman, started all 39 games last season as an 8th grader. Tanner’s brother Schyler, a 2007 grad, is pitching for the University of the Cumberlands.
“They are a hard working, intelligent group of players. Our junior varsity was undefeated last year, so our younger players are used to winning. Cook, Smith, Chase Adams, Nathan Adams, Sexton, and Matt Adams all played important roles in our post season run last season,” Dean said.
Letcher Central will play 15th region favorite, Paintsville, to start off the season.
Perry Central lost some key players last season, but still look to be in the region tournament at season’s end. Perry Central is coached by Bobby Keith Dixon.
The Commodores finished 2007 with the season best record of 18-2 and an overall record of 25-10.
Returning for Perry Central are Brandon Napier (junior and 2008 Preseason All State), Chance Ashworth (sophomore), and Taylin Goodson (junior).
Perry Central will play in the Queen City Classic, the Capitol Season Classic, and the Tanner Dodge Classic.
Another team looking to be a contender in the 14th is the Pirates of Powell County. The Pirates are coached by 2007 Coach of the Year, Chris Varney.
The Pirates finished 2007 with a record of 14-5 in the region and an overall record of 23-9.
Returning starters for Powell are seniors Sean Ryan, Daniel Kinser, Seth Profitt, Devon Pelfrey, and Cory Brewer. Returning juniors are Russ Dotson, Tyler Mastin, and Josh Rison.
Brewer, Proffitt, and Kinser will head the Pirate rotation.
Coach Varney has some players that will attain some milestones in their high school career.
Devon Pelfrey has 79 hits, 21 shy on 100, and 71 career games played, 29 shy of 100.
Seth Profitt and Sean Ryan are also 29 games shy of 100 games for their career. Daniel Kinser needs 8 runs and 9 hits for 100 in both categories for his career.
Cory Brewer needs 43 hits to be the all time hits leader in Powell County History. Brewer and Kinser both played in their 100th career games last season.
Powell will play in the Cocoa Expo tournament in Cocoa Beach, Florida and the Tanner Dodge Classic.
Leslie County was the 14th Region Tournament runner-ups in 2007. The Eagles are coached by Russell Martin. Leslie finished 2007 with a record of 9-5 in the region and an overall record of 20-9.
The Eagles lost a lot of key players last season and are rebuilding. One notable player is Jimmy Joe Morgan a junior OF-P.
Leslie County will play in the Queen City Classic and in the 14th Region “All A” tournament.
Lee County is in one of the toughest districts in the 14th region, the 56th. Lee is coached by 2nd year Jason Jewell. Lee finished the 2007 season with a 14-8 record in the 14th and an overall record of 16-15.
Lee County is still in a rebuilding phase of the program. Returning players for Lee are Josh Drake (senior) Joey Stamper, Tyler Campbell and Gus Wise (sophomore).
Lee County will play in the 14th Region “All A”.
Jenkins surprised a lot of people last season in the 14th by making it to the semi finals of the 14th Region tournament. The Cavaliers look to keep up with the success that they had last season. Jenkins is coached by Scott Anderson and has six starters returning.
Jenkins will be lead by senior pitcher Chris Puckett (6-3, 3.13 ERA, 73 Ks) and Nathaniel Wilder (4-4).
Puckett and sophomore Matt Gross lead the Cavalier offense.
Jenkins plays in the Bo Upton Memorial Classic in Lincoln County, the Paintsville Tiger Classic, and the 14th Region “All A” Tournament.
Knott County Central had a rough season in 2007. With high expectations, the Patriots were upset by Jenkins in the 53rd District Tournament.
Knott Central is coached by KHSAA Hall of Famer Gary Hammonds. In 2007 the Patriots finished the season with a 7-15 record in the region and an overall record of 8-19.
Knott lost a lot of key players last season. The Patriots will have four returning starters Zach Mullins (junior), Lenny Hicks (junior), Cody Smith (sophomore), and Ryan Mosley (sophomore).
Knott has some new comers that should play a key part in the Patriots’ season.
Josh Richardson (junior), Jarrod Amburgey (junior), Josh Huff (junior), Blake Dixon (freshman), Michael Slone (freshman), and Zeke Maggard (freshman) should help out Knott.
Knott Central will be tested in the first few games by playing 14th region Estill County, Perry Central, and Powell County.
Breathitt County returns seven starters and all of their pitchers from last year’s 18-12 squad.
Dakota Ritchie and Tanner Lawson can both pitch and play the infield, while Ryan Allen and Travis Terry return to the outfield.
Another plus for head coach Glenn Napier’s team is that Breathitt County will host the regional tournament.