The Scribe
03-22-2008, 05:53 PM
15th Region Baseball Preview
(Special to Bluegrasspreps.com)
Lawrence County (29-11) returns eight starters from last year’s region runner-up team and is picked to be the slight favorite in the hotly-contested 15th Region.
Veteran head coach Randy Keeton will again have the service of senior catcher Timmy Hayes, who has signed to play the University of Louisville.
Shortstop Jeff Cyrus and outfielder Brad Laney will both play at Pikeville College next year and will team with Hayes to provide the Bulldogs with some offensive firepower.
Lewis Michael and Dustin Kingsmore will also factor in the Lawrence County offense, which scored in double-digits 11 times last year.
On the mound, freshman Chandler Shepherd became the team’s top pitcher and is looking to have a breakout season in 2008.
Cyrus and Michael will join Shepherd in the rotation.
The Bulldogs are the lone region team to be ranked in the preseason coaches’ poll, checking in at No. 23.
Paintsville (27-6) returns six starters from last season’s team that was ousted from the district tournament in the first round by Johnson Central.
The Tigers will be in the very competitive 57th District. The school has made eight appearances in the State Tournament, with a runner-up finish in 1989 and state championship in 1990.
The Tigers won the 15th Region All “A” last year and will be hosting the tournament in 2008. They will also be hosting their 4th annual Tiger Classic and will travel to Florida for several games.
Head coach Tucker Howard will be relying on senior veterans Shane Grimm, J.D. VanHoose, Cory Humphrey, and Travis Ison.
Grimm, a 6-3 LHP who was 6-2 last year, is being touted by many college programs and will anchor the pitching staff.
Humphrey will patrol center field and hit in the top part of the order.
VanHoose is a solid shortstop and hits for power. Ison has power and will play third base as well as pitch.
Grimm and VanHoose were both members of the East/West All-Star team.
Junior catcher Corey Adams is a solid leadoff man and scored over 50 runs.
The Tigers will need solid years from junior outfielders Patrick Butcher and Jake Cyrus, who both have extensive experience.
Look for Zach Vilapando to anchor second base this season.
Sophomores Austin Lyons and Seth Rice will be counted on the mound, and Dyllon Brown will also catch and play various utility roles.
Hitting and defense should be a strong point for the Tigers and will help the pitching staff.
Johnson Central (27-14) lost to Lawrence County in the 57th District championship but turned the tables on the Bulldogs and knocked them off for the region title. The Eagles then advanced to Applebee’s Park where they lost to eventual state champion Paul Dunbar.
Johnson Central returns six starters from last year’s team but must replace their top two pitchers, Matt Fyffe and Justin Blanton, who were lost to graduation.
Sophomore Nick Vance and Junior Mike Conley should settle into the top two spots in the rotation. Vance was 6-0 with a 3.08 ERA last year, while Conley was 4-3 with a 3.47 ERA and struck out 47 batters in 39 innings.
Junior Dillon Baldwin and sophomore Jeremy Stacy should also see time on the mound.
At the plate, sophomore catcher Taylor Smith hit .409 and is one of just three starters returning on the infield.
Mike Dale hit .296 in limited action last year, while Conley batted .347 with 22 RBIs.
The entire outfield returns for Johnson Central, led by junior Chase Richardson, who hit .344 with 24 RBIs and a team-high 18 stolen bases.
Senior J.K. Ratliff (.273, 2 HRs) and sophomore Jeremy Stacy (.333) also return.
If the Eagles develop some pitching depth and can cut down on their strikeouts at the plate, there’s no reason why they can’t repeat as region champions.
Pikeville (18-16) won the district title last year and advanced to the region semifinals before they were knocked out by Johnson Central.
Daniel Harmon, a preseason All-State selection, returns for head coach Steve Priode, whose team will play tournaments in Hazard, Russell, and Paintsville this year.
Scott McDonald and J.D. McCoy should be the key cogs of the Panther offense, while Josh Staggs leads a pitching staff that allowed three runs or less in nine of their last 15 games.
Prestonsburg (16-17) could surprise some people this year and win the 58th District behind the play of third baseman/pitcher Josh Rodebaugh and Bobby Hughes.
Sheldon Clark (15-16) is another team that should be improved with the return of Josh Maynard and pitcher Brady Horn. However, they play in the loaded 57th District with region favorites Johnson Central, Lawrence County, and Paintsville.
Belfry (19-13) welcomes back Tyler Dotson and should feature a deeper rotation than last year.
Robert Lee Runyon, Ryan Preston, and Shane Williamson should give the Pirates enough pitching to repeat as 60th District champions and make a strong postseason run.
Allen Central (16-18) has a solid nucleus of players returning, which should only get stronger with the return of Scott Little.
One of the region’s best pitchers, Little underwent offseason surgery and should be ready at some point in the season.
Senior Alex Hammonds, junior Josh Prater, and sophomore Logan Crowder give new head coach Austin Shelton a wealth of returning experience.
The pitching staff of East Ridge (13-20) will be anchored by three strong starters – seniors Tyler Hylton and Casey Smith, and junior Joel Meade.
Tyler and Joel are power pitchers, and Casey gets by with location and a very good breaking ball.
Head coach David Spradlin is hoping sophomores Trey Lawson and Robert Coleman can give some them some quality innings and add some depth to the pitching staff.
East Ridge returns the core of last season’s team, including their entire infield.
Sophomore first baseman Payton Elswick, sophomore second baseman Trey Lawson, sophomore shortstop Cody Williams, and senior third baseman Tyler Hylton give the Warriors a young but experienced infield.
Juniors Joel Meade and Tommy Bingham return in the outfield.
Magoffin County (13-13) is another team returning a bunch of players in a loaded 57th District.
Head coach Davey Gibson will rely on a lineup that features two seniors and six juniors.
Tyler Gambill and Shane Allen will anchor the Hornet rotation and give Gibson a nice righy/lefty duo.
Left-hander Shane Allen should also join the Magoffin rotation after a busy offseason.
Ryan Hall, Kyle Rudd, and Joe Minix – all outfielders – will be the main keys to a Magoffin offense that must hit the ball better. They averaged just three runs in their 13 losses last year.
(Special to Bluegrasspreps.com)
Lawrence County (29-11) returns eight starters from last year’s region runner-up team and is picked to be the slight favorite in the hotly-contested 15th Region.
Veteran head coach Randy Keeton will again have the service of senior catcher Timmy Hayes, who has signed to play the University of Louisville.
Shortstop Jeff Cyrus and outfielder Brad Laney will both play at Pikeville College next year and will team with Hayes to provide the Bulldogs with some offensive firepower.
Lewis Michael and Dustin Kingsmore will also factor in the Lawrence County offense, which scored in double-digits 11 times last year.
On the mound, freshman Chandler Shepherd became the team’s top pitcher and is looking to have a breakout season in 2008.
Cyrus and Michael will join Shepherd in the rotation.
The Bulldogs are the lone region team to be ranked in the preseason coaches’ poll, checking in at No. 23.
Paintsville (27-6) returns six starters from last season’s team that was ousted from the district tournament in the first round by Johnson Central.
The Tigers will be in the very competitive 57th District. The school has made eight appearances in the State Tournament, with a runner-up finish in 1989 and state championship in 1990.
The Tigers won the 15th Region All “A” last year and will be hosting the tournament in 2008. They will also be hosting their 4th annual Tiger Classic and will travel to Florida for several games.
Head coach Tucker Howard will be relying on senior veterans Shane Grimm, J.D. VanHoose, Cory Humphrey, and Travis Ison.
Grimm, a 6-3 LHP who was 6-2 last year, is being touted by many college programs and will anchor the pitching staff.
Humphrey will patrol center field and hit in the top part of the order.
VanHoose is a solid shortstop and hits for power. Ison has power and will play third base as well as pitch.
Grimm and VanHoose were both members of the East/West All-Star team.
Junior catcher Corey Adams is a solid leadoff man and scored over 50 runs.
The Tigers will need solid years from junior outfielders Patrick Butcher and Jake Cyrus, who both have extensive experience.
Look for Zach Vilapando to anchor second base this season.
Sophomores Austin Lyons and Seth Rice will be counted on the mound, and Dyllon Brown will also catch and play various utility roles.
Hitting and defense should be a strong point for the Tigers and will help the pitching staff.
Johnson Central (27-14) lost to Lawrence County in the 57th District championship but turned the tables on the Bulldogs and knocked them off for the region title. The Eagles then advanced to Applebee’s Park where they lost to eventual state champion Paul Dunbar.
Johnson Central returns six starters from last year’s team but must replace their top two pitchers, Matt Fyffe and Justin Blanton, who were lost to graduation.
Sophomore Nick Vance and Junior Mike Conley should settle into the top two spots in the rotation. Vance was 6-0 with a 3.08 ERA last year, while Conley was 4-3 with a 3.47 ERA and struck out 47 batters in 39 innings.
Junior Dillon Baldwin and sophomore Jeremy Stacy should also see time on the mound.
At the plate, sophomore catcher Taylor Smith hit .409 and is one of just three starters returning on the infield.
Mike Dale hit .296 in limited action last year, while Conley batted .347 with 22 RBIs.
The entire outfield returns for Johnson Central, led by junior Chase Richardson, who hit .344 with 24 RBIs and a team-high 18 stolen bases.
Senior J.K. Ratliff (.273, 2 HRs) and sophomore Jeremy Stacy (.333) also return.
If the Eagles develop some pitching depth and can cut down on their strikeouts at the plate, there’s no reason why they can’t repeat as region champions.
Pikeville (18-16) won the district title last year and advanced to the region semifinals before they were knocked out by Johnson Central.
Daniel Harmon, a preseason All-State selection, returns for head coach Steve Priode, whose team will play tournaments in Hazard, Russell, and Paintsville this year.
Scott McDonald and J.D. McCoy should be the key cogs of the Panther offense, while Josh Staggs leads a pitching staff that allowed three runs or less in nine of their last 15 games.
Prestonsburg (16-17) could surprise some people this year and win the 58th District behind the play of third baseman/pitcher Josh Rodebaugh and Bobby Hughes.
Sheldon Clark (15-16) is another team that should be improved with the return of Josh Maynard and pitcher Brady Horn. However, they play in the loaded 57th District with region favorites Johnson Central, Lawrence County, and Paintsville.
Belfry (19-13) welcomes back Tyler Dotson and should feature a deeper rotation than last year.
Robert Lee Runyon, Ryan Preston, and Shane Williamson should give the Pirates enough pitching to repeat as 60th District champions and make a strong postseason run.
Allen Central (16-18) has a solid nucleus of players returning, which should only get stronger with the return of Scott Little.
One of the region’s best pitchers, Little underwent offseason surgery and should be ready at some point in the season.
Senior Alex Hammonds, junior Josh Prater, and sophomore Logan Crowder give new head coach Austin Shelton a wealth of returning experience.
The pitching staff of East Ridge (13-20) will be anchored by three strong starters – seniors Tyler Hylton and Casey Smith, and junior Joel Meade.
Tyler and Joel are power pitchers, and Casey gets by with location and a very good breaking ball.
Head coach David Spradlin is hoping sophomores Trey Lawson and Robert Coleman can give some them some quality innings and add some depth to the pitching staff.
East Ridge returns the core of last season’s team, including their entire infield.
Sophomore first baseman Payton Elswick, sophomore second baseman Trey Lawson, sophomore shortstop Cody Williams, and senior third baseman Tyler Hylton give the Warriors a young but experienced infield.
Juniors Joel Meade and Tommy Bingham return in the outfield.
Magoffin County (13-13) is another team returning a bunch of players in a loaded 57th District.
Head coach Davey Gibson will rely on a lineup that features two seniors and six juniors.
Tyler Gambill and Shane Allen will anchor the Hornet rotation and give Gibson a nice righy/lefty duo.
Left-hander Shane Allen should also join the Magoffin rotation after a busy offseason.
Ryan Hall, Kyle Rudd, and Joe Minix – all outfielders – will be the main keys to a Magoffin offense that must hit the ball better. They averaged just three runs in their 13 losses last year.