Butler High School

St. X remains No. 1 in latest KHSBCA top 25 poll

High School Baseball

The Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association has released an update on its top 25 high school poll. Check out the rankings below, noting ties at No. 18 and No. 25:

  • 1. St. Xavier
  • 2. Madison Central
  • 3. Eastern
  • 4. Lexington Catholic
  • 5. Paul Laurence Dunbar
  • 6. Ballard
  • 7. Male
  • 8. Pleasure Ridge Park
  • 9. Apollo
  • 10. Central Hardin
  • 11. Lafayette
  • 12. Harrison County
  • 13. Hopkinsville
  • 14. Tates Creek
  • 15. West Jessamine
  • 16. Woodford County
  • 17. Danville
  • 18. Covington Catholic
  • 18. Daviess County
  • 20. Butler
  • 21. Pikeville
  • 22. Lawrence County
  • 23. Clay County
  • 24. Trinity
  • 25. Allen County Scottsville
  • 25. Bryan Station

Ryan Wright named preseason All American; EKU to celebrate 100 years of baseball

College Baseball, High School Baseball, Minor League Baseball

An assortment of the latest links and stories from around Kentucky baseball:

  • The National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association named University of Louisville junior infielder Ryan Wright a second-team preseason All American.
  • Eastern Kentucky University has announced its 100 Years of Baseball celebration for the upcoming season. EKU will unveil its All-Century baseball team on Feb. 5.
  • Butler High School infielder Ryan Asher, Mercer County High School corner infielder Colin Buckner and Knox Central High School right-handed pitcher Justin King have signed to play baseball at Lincoln Memorial University.
  • Bob Livingston of the Daily Republican Register reports several former Wabash Valley College baseball players are moving on to Kentucky universities: Noah Zipko and Alex Gordon have signed with Murray State University and Steve Hodgins has signed with Western Kentucky University.
  • The Tampa Bay Rays have announced Brady Williams will return as the Bowling Green Hot Rods manager in 2011.

KHSAA All-Tournament Team and Awards

High School Baseball

Check out the all-tournament team and Kentucky High School Athletic Association awards below:

MVP — Eric Sanders (Harrison County)

All Tournament Team

  • Ryan Messex (Male)
  • Brandon Allen (Male)
  • Steven Layne (Pikeville)
  • Gavin Miller (Pikeville)
  • Kyle McGrath (Butler)
  • Kyle Asher (Butler)
  • Dewight Bigbee  (Butler)
  • Logan Dailey (Harrison County)
  • Matthew Dye (Harrison County)
  • Eric Sanders (Harrison County)

Forcht Bank Scholarship Winners

  • Christian Chasteen (Harrison County)
  • Matthew Purdom (Shelby County)
  • Kyle Smithson (Hopkinsville)
  • Jared Martin (Harrison County)

Forcht Group of Kentucky Sportsmanship Award — Shane Fowler (Harrison County)

Kentucky National Guard Leadership Award — Christopher Beam (Butler)

Harrison Co. wins KHSAA title behind freshman pitcher

High School Baseball

Two first-inning runs were all Region 10 champion Harrison County High School needed Saturday as the school held on for its fourth Kentucky High School Athletic Association championship with a 2-1 win over Region Six champion Butler High School. Harrison County freshman starting pitcher Jordan Martin earned the championship victory after allowing just one run in a complete-game performance. Martin struck out five and walked just three. Harrison County scored its two first-inning runs with two outs on a RBI single from junior right fielder Shane Fowler that scored junior left fielder Eric Sanders and a RBI single from junior designated hitter Samuel Logan Daily that scored senior shortstop Jared Martin. Sanders was named the state tournament MVP.

Butler senior starting pitcher Kyle McGrath almost equaled Martin’s pitching performance by allowing just two runs in his own complete-game performance. McGrath struck out eight batters and walked none. McGrath, an Eastern Kentucky University signee, ended the state tournament with 26 strikeouts in 15 innings. Butler senior shortstop Zach Lucas was the only player in the game to record multiple hits with a 2-4, one-run scored performance. (Box Score)

Player of the game: SP Jordan Martin — Martin, a freshman, had pitched just 27 innings before the state championship game but certainly didn’t show his inexperience in a complete game performance. Martin surrendered just one run on five hits in seven innings and struck out five while walking three. The performance ended Harrison County’s season on a 24-game winning streak.

KHSAA State Tournament Semifinals Roundup

High School Baseball

We know what two teams will square off for tonight’s Kentucky High School Athletic Association state tournament finals after Friday’s semifinal action. Check out recaps and awards from those two games below:

  • In the first semifinal of the day Region Six champion Butler High School scored two runs in the top of the sixth innings to take the lead for good in its 3-2 win over Region 15 champion Pikeville High School. Butler took the lead in the sixth on a two-run double from senior outfielder Daniel Pardue, and senior pitcher Kyle McGrath held on with a  scoreless seventh inning despite walking two batters to preserve the win. Senior reliever Austin Fuqua was credited with the win after holding Pikeville scoreless in one and one-third inning. Butler senior shortstop Zach Lucas was 2-3 with a run scored. Pikeville sophomore shortstop Gavin Miller was 3-4, and junior starting pitcher Layne Cecil took the loss despite allowing just three runs in a complete-game performance. (Box Score)
  • In the second semifinal matchup Region 10 champion Harrison County High School jumped out to an early 5-0 lead and held on for an 8-5 victory over Region Seven champion Louisville Male High School. Harrison County junior left fielder Eric Sanders was 3-4 with a home run, three RBI and two runs scored. Junior starting pitcher Samuel Logan Daily earned the win after surrendering five runs, four of which were earned, in a complete-game effort. Daily was also 2-3 with four RBI at the plate. Male senior catcher Ryan Messex was 4-4 with one RBI. Junior left fielder Jimmy Faul, sophomore third baseman Dalton Howell and sophomore designated hitter Tyler Adams each tallied two hits in four at-bats. (Box Score)

Hitter of the day: OF Eric Sanders (Harrison Co.)

  • Stats: 3-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 2 R
  • Honorable Mention: Samuel Logan Daily (Harrison Co.), Ryan Messex (Male), Jimmy Faul (Male), Dalton Howell (Male), Tyler Adams (Male), Zach Lucas (Butler), Daniel Pardue (Butler), Gavin Miller (Pikeville)

Pitcher of the day: SP Layne Cecil (Pikeville)

  • Stats: 0-1, 7 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 1 BB, 3 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Samuel Logan Daily (Harrison Co.), Cameron Clark (Butler), Austin Fuqua (Butler)

KHSAA State Tournament Day Three Roundup

High School Baseball

Recaps and awards from the two quarterfinals games from day three of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association state baseball tournaments:

  • Region 15 champion Pikeville High School earned a 10-0, mercy-rule, win over Region 16 champion Greenup County in Wednesday’s first quarterfinal game. Pikeville was led by eight-grade left-handed pitcher Jacob Hamilton, who earned the win after holding Greenup County scoreless for five and two-third innings. Pikeville sophomore shortstop Gavin Miller was 4-4 with three runs scored, and senior right fielder Patrick Keene was 3-3 with two runs scored and a walk.  Greenup County senior infielder Zach James was 2-3 in the game. (Box Score)
  • Region Six champion Butler High School scored an upset of Region 12 champion West Jessamine High School, the tournament’s highest ranked team at No. four in the KHSBCA poll, with a 2-1 win in Wednesday’s second quarterfinals game. Butler was led by junior starting pitcher Kyle Asher, who allowed just one unearned run on five hits in a complete-game performance. Asher struck out five batters and walked none. At the plate Butler senior first baseman Kyle McGrath was 2-3 with a run scored and one RBI. West Jessamine starting pitcher Gus Sherrow took the loss despite allowing just one earned run in five innings and striking out eight batters. West Jessamine designated hitter Jackson Deyer was 2-3 in the game. (Box Score)

Hitter of the day: SS Gavin Miller (Pikeville)

  • Stats: 4-4, 3 R, 1 2B, 1 3B
  • Honorable Mention: Patrick Keene (Pikeville), Stephen Layne (Pikeville), Zach James (Greenup Co.), Jackson Deyer (West Jessamine), Kyle McGrath (Butler), Ryan Jesse (Butler), Kyle Asher (Butler)

Pitcher of the day: Kyle Asher (Butler)

  • Stats: 1-0, 7 IP, 5 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 5 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Gus Sherrow (West Jessamine), Jacob Hamilton (Pikeville)

Day One State Tournament Roundup

High School Baseball

The first four games of the Kentucky High School Athletic Association state tournament are in the books. Check out brief recaps and awards from those games below and remember Lone Oak, LCA, Male, Warren Central, Hopkinsville, Daviess County, Harrison County and Clay County play their first-round games today.

  • Region 15 champion Pikeville High School came back from an early deficit and held off a late rally to defeat Region 14 champion Perry County Central High School in game one of the KHSAA state tournament. Pikeville junior second baseman Stephen Layne was 3-5 with one run scored and one RBI, and sophomore shortstop Gavin Miller was 2-4 with a home run, three RBI and one run scored. Junior starting pitcher Layne Cecil earned the win after surrendering six runs in five innings. Perry County senior left fielder Tyler Mullins was 2-4 with a run scored. (Box Score)
  • Region 16 champion Greenup County High School rode an outstanding pitching performance from senior starting pitcher Ethan Hardin en route to a 5-2 victory over Region Five champion Central Hardin High School. Hardin surrendered two runs on five hits in seven innings and struck out five while walking none. Greenup County senior left fielder Juan Staten was 3-4 with one run scored and one RBI. Five different Central Hardin batters recorded one hit in the game, and junior starting pitcher Dylan Schoffner took the loss despite allowing just two runs in four innings. (Box Score)
  • Region 12 champion West Jessamine High School, the highest ranked team in the tournament at No. 4 in the KHSBCA top 25, overcame an early 6-1 deficit to defeat Region Eight champion Shelby County High School 8-6 in its first-round game. West Jessamine reliever Alex Lester was almost unhittable as he allowed no runs on three hits in five and one-third innings for the win. Lester struck out 11 and walked none. Designated hitter Gus Sherrow was 3-4 with three runs scored, and third baseman Tyler West was 3-3 with two RBI and one run scored. Shelby County scored six runs in the first two innings with the help of five West Jessamine errors. Senior catcher John Hunter was 2-4 with a run scored. (Box Score)
  • Region Six champion Butler High School senior starting pitcher Kyle McGrath turned in the best pitching performance of the young tournament to lead Butler to a 7-2 win over Region Nine champion Boone County High School. McGrath struck out 16 batters in seven innings and allowed just two unearned runs on three hits. Butler junior left fielder Dwight Bigbee was 3-4 with a run scored, and senior shortstop Zach Lucas was 2-2 with two RBI and one run scored. Boone County sophomore starting pitcher Doug Teegarden took the loss after surrendering four runs in four and two-third innings but did strike out six batters. Chicago White Sox draft pick Ronald Cotton was 0-3 with a strikeout for Boone County. (Box Score)

Hitter of the day: SS Gavin Miller (Pikeville)

  • Stats: 2-4, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 1 R
  • Honorable Mention: Stephen Layne (Pikeville), Tyler Mullins (Perry Co.), Juan Staten (Greenup Co.), Gus Sherrow (West Jessamine), Tyler West (West Jessamine), John Hunter (Shelby Co.), Zach Lucas (Butler), Dwight Bigbee (Butler)

Pitcher of the day: Kyle McGrath (Butler)

  • Stats: 1-0, 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 0 ER, 0 BB, 16 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Ethan Hardin (Greenup Co.), Dylan Shoffner (Central Hardin), Alex Lester (West Jessamine)

KHSAA State Tournament Schedule

High School Baseball

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association state baseball tournament is underway. I thought I’d pass along the schedule for the event with a few links to get you ready to crown the 2010 state champion:

Monday

  • GM 1 — Perry Central vs. Pikeville — 11 a.m.
  • GM 2 — Central Hardin vs. Greenup Co. — 1:30 p.m.
  • GM 3 — Shelby Co. vs. West Jessamine — 6 p.m.
  • GM 4 — Butler vs. Boone Co. — 8:30 p.m.

Tuesday

  • GM 1 — Hopkinsville vs. Daviess Co. — 11 a.m.
  • GM 2 — Male vs. Warren Central — 1:30 p.m.
  • GM 3 — Lone Oak vs. Lexington Christian — 6 p.m.
  • GM 4 — Harrison Co. vs. Clay County — 8:30 p.m.

Wednesday

  • Quarterfinal 1 — 6 p.m.
  • Quarterfinal 2 — 8:30 p.m.

Thursday

  • Quarterfinal 3 — 6 p.m.
  • Quarterfinal 4 — 8:30 p.m.

Friday

  • Semifinal 1 — 6 p.m.
  • Semifinal 2 — 8:30 p.m.

Saturday

  • Championship — 7 p.m.

Links

  • Mike Fields of the Lexington Herald-Leader writes pitching depth will be key to the tournament as teams face the new “Sweet Sixteen” format for the first time in his preview of the action.
  • Fields will also be live blogging the action all week on his “Fields Notes” blog.
  • You can visit KHSAA’s tournament hub here.

2010 KHSAA Regional Champions

High School Baseball

Last week we listed each of the KHSAA district baseball champions and now the state tournament has progressed through the regional round. With the new “Sweet 16” style state tournament set to start Monday, we’ll now look at each of the 16 regional champions:

  • Region 1 — Lone Oak
  • Region 2 — Hopkinsville
  • Region 3 — Daviess County
  • Region 4 — Warren Central
  • Region 5 — Central Hardin
  • Region 6  — Butler
  • Region 7 — Male
  • Region 8 — Shelby County
  • Region 9 — Boone County
  • Region 10 — Harrison County
  • Region 11 — Lexington Christian Academy
  • Region 12 — West Jessamine
  • Region 13 — Clay County
  • Region 14 — Perry County Central
  • Region 15  — Pikeville
  • Region 16 — Greenup County

Bynum suspended 50 games for amphetamines

Minor League Baseball

Seth Bynum; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Butler Traditional High School alum Seth Bynum was suspended 50 games by Major League Baseball Thursday for testing positive for an amphetamine. “The amphetamine violated the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program,” Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post reports. “The suspension is effective immediately.” Bynum is a second baseman with the Syracuse Chiefs, the AAA affiliate of the Washington Nationals.

The Louisville native spent two seasons at Indiana University and was the Montreal Expos’ 38th round pick in 2003. He signed with the Expos following the 2004 collegiate season as a draft-and-follow in May. Bynum was batting .248 with four home runs and 17 RBI in 29 games at the time of his suspension. (Read m0re)