May 07, 2008 11:38 pm
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With just a week and a half of 16th Region play remaining in the regular season, the story-line pieces are falling into place like a breaking ball on the outside corner.
Some of my thoughts:
Musketeering
Greenup County, the defending region champions, looks to be in top form as the postseason nears. On Tuesday night, the Musketeers picked up another big victory over 21st ranked Lawrence County, running their win streak to 10 straight.
The win bettered the Musketeers’ record to 24-6 on the season and will almost certainly move them into the Top 25 for the first time this season when the state coaches poll comes out today.
I said it not long ago, and I’ll say it again. Greenup County, now 12-0 against the 16th Region, is the team to beat.
Round 3?
Taking a look ahead to the Semi-State matchups, there is the potential for another Greenup County-Lawrence County go-round in the first round of the State Tournament. The area powers have spilt two games this season.
It’s a way’s off, though, as I will explain.
The Semi-State 8 best-of-three series matches the 16th Region winner against the 14th Region at Powell County on June 4-6.
Semi-State 7 matches the 15th Region, Lawrence County’s region, against the 13th Region at Pike County Central, also June 4-6.
The Semi-State 8 champ will then face the Semi-State 7 champ June 12 at 10 a.m. at Applebee’s Park in Lexington in the first round of the State Tournament (the potential Greenup County-Lawrence County matchup).
The semifinal round of the State Tournament will put the 7-8 winner against the 5-6 winner on June 13 at 8:30 p.m. The championship game is June 14 at 7 p.m.
Got it? If not, we’ll be there soon enough.
The 16th Region Tournament will be at Morehead beginning the week of May 26. The 15th Region Tournament is at East Ridge the same week.
Working backwards
Of course, before we can worry about any of that, there’s the district tournaments, to be played the week of May 18-24.
Starting with the 64th District at Boyd County: Ashland vs. Fairview (May 20, 5:30 p.m.); Boyd County vs. Rose Hill (May 20, 7:30 p.m.), the third straight season the two have met in the first round; championship (May 21, 6 p.m.).
The 63rd District at Raceland: Lewis County vs. Russell (May 19, 5 p.m.); Raceland vs. Greenup County (May 19, 8 p.m.); championship (May 21, 6 p.m.)
The 62nd District, the only seeded district in the 16th Region, is at Morgan County. First roundup matchups are East Carter-Elliott County and Morgan County-West Carter. Game times are to be set on Friday.
And the 61st District at Bath County: Bath County vs. Fleming County (May 19, 5:30 p.m.); Rowan County vs. Menifee County (May 19, 7:30 p.m.); championship (May 20, 7:30 p.m.).
Working forward
Now back to the future — the near future, as in today.
There’s a handful of good ones on tap, beginning with Greenup County putting that win streak on the line against visiting Boyd County (6 p.m.)
Rowan County will have lefty/righty pitcher Nick Duff on the mound at Raceland (6 p.m.). That’s right, he pitches left- and right-handed, sometimes both in the same game.
All over .500 teams, East Carter is at Fairview (5:30 p.m.) and Ashland is at Lawrence County (6 p.m.), rounding out a nice lineup of games tonight.
If only the skies stay clear. The forecast is calling for a high of 76 with a chance of thunderstorms.
Switching gears
Crossing over to 16th Region softball for a moment, there’s a pair of great games lined up there as well.
All serious contenders for the region crown, Ashland plays at Boyd County and Raceland plays at Russell. Both are 5:30 starts tonight.
Back to baseball ...
Coming up rosy
At the beginning of the season, Rose Hill veteran coach Dale Hensley felt like he could have a winner with his young Royals. However, after a 2-0 start, things haven’t exactly come together, at least in terms of wins and losses.
Friday may have been a turning point, though, as Rose Hill picked up its first ever victory over city rival Ashland. Jacob Mullen pitched a four-hitter while striking out eight and the Royals broke a 2-2 tie in the final inning to beat the Tomcats 5-2. Ashland had beaten Rose Hill 13-1 earlier in the season.
“It was a good win for us, it’s always nice to beat a good team like that,” Hensley said. “It showed the boys they could play with the good teams.”
Rose Hill’s win over Ashland has started a mini run of success, too, having won two of its last three. With the stretch, Hensley is feeling a little more optimistic about running out the regular season.
“We have four games this weekend and three next week,” he said. “If we could win 5-of-7, we’d end up with 10 wins. Under the circumstances that wouldn’t be too bad.”
The Royals are scheduled to play at Rock Hill tonight (5 p.m.).
Russell Invitational
The third annual Russell Invitational, set for this weekend, will have a different ring to it. In honor of his longtime support and work for the Red Devils’ program, the invitational is being named after Frank Bloom.
Bloom, who retired last year, has been involved with Russell baseball for 25 years, playing a major role in many of the improvements made to the field and facilities.
Bloom has worked through four head coaches, saying his fondest memory of the whole experience came when he helped install a lighting system for the field.
“That was a big deal,” Bloom said, noting there wasn’t any way he was going to let someone else switch on the lights for the first game, which was against Boyd County.
With recent troubles with his knees, Bloom hasn’t been able to make it out to as many games this season, but is excited about attending this weekend’s invitational.
“I’ll be there, if it doesn’t rain,” he said. “I loved all the boys and we had some good ones go through there. It’s been fun. I have no regrets.”
Bloom starting working with Russell baseball in 1983, under the simplest of circumstances. While helping out, coach Tim Hanner told Bloom, “We need to get you a jersey and a hat.”
Pikeville, Sheldon Clark and Fairview, along with Russell, will be competing in the invitational. Bloom will be honored between games on Friday night.
ADAM VANKIRK can be reached at avankirk@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2664.
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