Month: October 2009

Ky. High School Record Book: Career Wrap-up

High School Baseball
Brad Wilkerson; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Brad Wilkerson; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

In the last of the high school record book posts, we’ll wrap up the career record holders in various categories. Remember the KHSAA official (an seemingly incomplete) record book is available online.

  • Runs: J. B. Schmidt — Harrison Co. — 311
  • Triples: Brad Wilkerson — Apollo — 21
  • Walks: J. B. Schmidt — Harrison Co. — 166
  • Wins: Paul Morse — Danville — 55
  • ERA: David Slovak — Eastern — 0.85
  • Strikeouts: Paul Morse — Danville — 651

Monday Links: Winter Ball season heating up

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

wkuWe officially have our World Series matchup: Yankees vs. Phillies. While we wait for the fall classic to kick off Wednesday here are some links to get you through a Monday morning:

  • Phil Sheridan of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes that UK alum Joe Blanton and the Phillies’ retooled rotation are driving Philadelphia this postseason.
  • WKU Sports breaks down the 2010 WKU baseball schedule.
  • EKU alum Neil Sellers is now batting .313 with one home run and nine RBI in 13 games in the Liga Mexicana del Pacifico.
  • Sellers’ Winter League teammate and fellow Phillies’ prospect UofL alum B. J. Rosenberg has surrendered five runs in five innings with two saves. He has four strikeouts and one walk.
  • In Baseball America’s “Scout’s Diary” an anonymous pro scout provides an excellent breakdown of the general Arizona Fall League talent. This AFL season you can see 2009 Bats Chris Heisey, Yonder Alonso, Logan Ondrusek and Sean Watson plus 2009 Legend Daniel Meszaros and Lafayette alum Chaz Roe.

Sunday Links: Blanton may start World Series in pen

Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball
philliesA rainout in the ALCS Saturday postponed the Phillies learning their World Series opponents identity for at least one more day, but there was still plenty of Kentucky-related World Series chatter. Here are those stories and more for a Sunday afternoon:
  • MLB.com reports Cliff Lee, Pedro Martinez and Cole Hamels will likely start the first three games for the Phillies in the World Series while UK alum Joe Blanton and J. A. Happ begin the series in the pen.
  • Jason Stark of ESPN.com reports that the youth of the Phillies’ rotation, including Blanton (28), has some Philadelphia fans and executives thinking they may build a dynasty.
  • The Sporting News also reports Blanton is a candidate for the game four start.
  • Evan Bittner of FanHuddle.com looks at Rockies’ top prospect and EKU alum Christian Friedrich.
  • 2009 Bat Yonder Alonso was 2-4 with two RBI and teammate Chris Hesiey was 0-5 in the AFL Saturday. Louisville closer Logan Ondrusek pitched a scoreless inning and struck out two.

Saturday Links: Webb inducted into UK Hall of Fame

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball
Brandon Webb; Photo by SD Dirk via Flickr

Brandon Webb; Photo by SD Dirk via Flickr

Brandon Webb and the rest of the 2009 UK Hall of Fame class were inducted last night, and will be recognized at halftime of the UK/ULM football game today. Here’s that story and more for a Saturday morning:

  • Kyle Graham of the Kentucky Kernel reports on the 2009 UK Hall of Fame class.
  • Chris Bahr of SportingNews.com asks six questions about the Phillies, and doesn’t like the look of their rotation with Joe Blanton.
  • WBKO in Bowling Green reports on local fans watching Blanton, a Franklin native make it back to the World Series.
  • Pikeville-native Mark Reynolds was named a postseason Sporting News National League All-Star.
  • MLB.com reports on Reynolds’ honor.
  • 2009 Legend Daniel Meszaros pitched a scoreless inning and 2009 Bat Sean Watson allowed three runs without recording an out in the AFL Friday.

Ky. High School Record Book: Single-Season

Uncategorized
Brad Wilkerson; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Brad Wilkerson; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

After another category full of Harrison County records, I’ve officially abandoned the category-by-category breakdown of the KHSAA record book. Instead, I’m going to wrap the whole thing up in two posts that detail the record holder in each category. Today we’ll do the single-season records, tomorrow look for the career records.

Single Season Records

  • Runs Scored — Shon Walker — Harrison Co. 92 — 82
  • Walks — Brad Wilkerson — Apollo 94 — 51
  • Wins — Mike Blakeman — Green Co. 68 — 16
  • ERA — David Slovak — Eastern 03 — 0.33
  • Strikeouts — Mike Blakeman — Green Co. 68 — 192

Friday Links: Chaz Roe makes AFL debut

High School Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

chaz roeA six-run seventh inning wasn’t enough for the Yankees to clinch their World Series berth, so the ALCS is going back to New York. Joe Blanton and the Phillies can’t start preparing for the Yankees just yet, as the Angels have served notice they’re not just going to role over. While we wait for the World Series to start here are some more Bluegrass storylines for a Friday morning:

  • Lafayette alum Chaz Roe pitched two scoreless innings in his Arizona Fall League debut.
  • 2009 Bats Chris Heisey and Yonder Alonso were 0-8 combined for Peoria in the AFL.
  • Bob Ford of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes the Phillies will need better pitching from starters like Joe Blanton to win the World Series.
  • Baseball America lists UK pitcher James Paxton as the one that got away in its Toronto Blue Jays’ drat report card. (subscription required)
  • BA also profiles the 2010 Rays draft class, many of whom will end up in Bowling Green next season.
  • Steve Gilbert of MLB.com recaps the Brandon Webb/Arizona negotiations in his latest mailbag.
  • Never thought I’d link the Helena Independent Record on here, but Angela Brandt of the newspaper reports about a lawsuit alleging Louisville Slugger is liable for damages due to the death of a Montana high school baseball player who died after being hit with a line drive.

Ky. High School Record Book: Hits

High School Baseball
Josh Anderson; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Josh Anderson; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

We’re chugging along in the high school record book series, today we’ll look at hits. Remember, the entire KHSAA baseball record book is located online, but some of the information may be incomplete. If you know of an error, email them (and me while your at it).

Career Hits Leaders

  1. J. B. Schmidt — Harrison Co. — 1994-00 — 275
  2. B. J. Foley — Corbin — 1995–?? — 236
  3. Scott Fryman — Harrison Co. — 1990-94 — 228
  4. Brent Hampton — Harrison Co. — 1990-95 — 227
  5. Will Renaker — Harrison Co. — 1994-98 — 226

Single-Season Hits Leaders

  1. Brooks Ewing — Taylor Co. — 2001 — 83
  2. Brandon Gupton — Taylor Co. — 2001 — 81
  3. Josh Anderson — Pulaski Co. — 2000 — 71
  4. Noochie Varner — Harrison Co. — 1997 — 71
  5. Brad Allison — Harrison Co. — 1992 — 71

NOTE: The KHSAA record book includes a note at the top about needing submissions to ensure its accuracy, but the further I get into this series the more I doubt the current manifestation’s usefullness. This is how the records officially read, but I find it hard to believe Harrison County holds most of the top 10 best offensive seasons in every category. Look for a new format of this series tomorrow.

Thursday Links: Phillies Win, 5 keys for UK

College Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball
Photo: UK Athletics

Photo: UK Athletics

The Phillies are National League champions for the second consecutive year after a 10-4 victory over Los Angeles in game five of the NLCS. That means Franklin Simpson and UK alum Joe Blanton has a chance to pick up another World Series victory.
  • Kendall Rogers of Rivals.com breaks down five keys for UK baseball for 2010.
  • Eric Lindsey, my former colleague at the Kentucky Kernel, evaluates Rogers’ list and adds his own analysis for UK Althletics’ blog Cat Scratches.
  • Nick Piecoro of The Arizona Republic lists picking up Ashland-native Brandon Webb’s option as the number one item on the D’backs to-do list.
  • Danny Wilde of MLB.com profiles 2009 Bat Chris Heisey’s AFL performance.
  • Heisey was 4-5 with two doubles, a triple, two RBI and two runs scored for Peoria in the Arizona Fall League Wednesday. Yonder Alonso was 1-4 with a home run and three RBI.

Ky. High School Record Book: RBI

High School Baseball

harrisonWe’ve looked at stolen bases, home runs and batting average in the High School record book series, now we’ll move on to runs batted in. As always, you can see the entire KHSAA baseball record book here.

Career RBI Leaders

  1. Will Renaker — Harrison Co. — 1994-98 — 253/Paul Morse — Danville — 1988-92 — 253
  2. Rich Witten — Danville — 2003-07 — 235
  3. B. J. Foley — Corbin — 220
  4. Noochie Vamer — Harrison Co. — 207

Single-Season RBI Leaders

  1. Brandon Gupton — Taylor Co. — 2001 — 82
  2. Will Renaker — Harrison Co. — 1997 — 81/Brad Allison — Harrison Co. — 1992 — 81
  3. Shon Walker — Harrison Co. — 1992 — 76
  4. Noochie Varner — Harrison Co. — 1997 — 70

NOTE: Nine of 17 career RBI leaders and Nine of 16 single-season leaders on the KHSAA record book are from Harrison County. Either Harrison County’s 1990s offensive juggernaut was truly historic, or the information compiled by KHSAA is incomplete.

UK picks up new local baseball recruit

College Baseball, High School Baseball

uk_logoMike Fields of the Lexington Herald-Leader is reporting Lexington Christian Academy outfielder Lucas Witt has committed to play baseball at the University of Kentucky. Witt, a senior who also is LCA’s starting quarterback, was a first team all-city selection each of the past two years. As a junior he batted .377 with 31 runs a 20 RBI. For the complete breakdown, check out Fields’ blog post. (Read more)