Hopkinsville High School

Madison Central is No. 1 in latest KHSBCA poll

High School Baseball

The Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association has released its weekly top 25 poll. Check out the rankings below:

  1. Madison Central
  2. St. Xavier
  3. Eastern
  4. Central Hardin
  5. Lafayette
  6. Lexington Catholic
  7. Paul Laurence Dunbar
  8. Male
  9. Apollo
  10. Pleasure Ridge Park
  11. Covington Catholic
  12. Tates Creek
  13. Hopkinsville
  14. Ballard
  15. Bryan Station
  16. Harrison County
  17. Allen County Scottsville
  18. Woodford County
  19. Lawrence County
  20. Danville
  21. Ryle
  22. Pikeville
  23. Trinity
  24. Henderson County
  25. Warren East
You can see the other schools receiving votes here.

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

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

High School Baseball

The Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association has released its latest top 25 ranking last week. Check out the rankings below, noting the ties at No. 4 and No. 9:

  • 1 — St. Xavier
  • 2 — Lexington Catholic
  • 3 — Eastern
  • 4 — Male
  • 4 — Paul Laurence Dunbar
  • 6 — Apollo
  • 7 — Harrison County
  • 8 — Ballard
  • 9 — Central Hardin
  • 9 — Pleasure Ridge Park
  • 11 — Madison Central
  • 12 — West Jessamine
  • 13 — Lafayette
  • 14 — Trinity
  • 15 — Daviess County
  • 16 — Hopkinsville
  • 17 — Henderson County
  • 18 — Clay County
  • 19 — Beechwood
  • 20 — Somerset
  • 21 — Tates Creek
  • 22 — Danville
  • 23 — Covington Catholic
  • 24 — Pikeville
  • 25 — Woodford County
You can see the other schools receiving votes here.

Black, Ijames, Davis, Rice among Kentucky draftees who turned down professional contracts

College Baseball, High School Baseball

Matt Rice bats for WKU: BluGrass Baseball photo

While Louisville native Zack Cox and Danville native Blake Perry signed professional contracts before Monday’s midnight draft signing deadline, 16 other Kentucky draftees did not and will head to college in the coming weeks. UK shortstop Taylor Black, UofL outfielder Stewart Ijames, WKU  right-handed pitcher Rye Davis, NKU left-handed pitcher David Middendorf and WKU catcher Matt Rice were the Kentucky collegians who elected to return to school rather than sign deals with their professional clubs. Lexington native Casey Lucchese, the Cubs’ 39th round pick, will return to the College of Charleston for his senior season in 2011.

Ohio high school right-handed pitcher Dace Kime, the Pirates’ eight-round pick, was the highest drafted Kentucky player to choose college and will attend the University of Louisville this fall. UofL signee Chad Green, an Illinois right-handed pitcher and Blue Jays 37th round pick, also will play for the Cards in 2011. (Update 8/23: This item has been updated to correct previous error about UofL signee Joel Bender, who did sign with Reds)

Mr. Kentucky Baseball and Western Hills High School infielder/right-handed pitcher J. T. Riddle, the Red Sox’ 35th round pick; Lexington Christian Academy outfielder Lucas Witt, the Dodgers’ 38th round pick; and Trinity High School left-handed pitcher Corey Littrell, the Nationals’ 42nd round pick, will each play for the University of Kentucky in 2011 rather than sign pro deals. UK out-of-state commitments Jonathan Bobea, a New York right-handed pitcher and Angles’ 19th round pick, and Matt Reida, an Indiana infielder and White Sox 47th round pick, will also suit up for the Cats in 2011.

Hopkinsville High School right-handed pitcher Justin Hageman, the first Kentucky high schooler selected in the 2010 draft as the Royals 32nd round pick, will follow through on his commitment to Western Kentucky University. Former Boone County High School outfielder Ronald Cotton, the White Sox’ 45th round pick, will play for the University of Cincinnati next season. In all 31 of 48 players with Kentucky ties selected in the 2010 draft have signed professional contracts as well as six non-drafted free agents. Former UK left-handed pitcher James Paxton, the Mariners’ fourth-round pick, has yet to sign a pro deal but wasn’t restricted by the Monday deadline as he pitched in independent ball in 2010.

Several high school draftees look likely to attend college

College Baseball, High School Baseball

With the weekend deadline for MLB draft picks to sign looming, several of the Kentucky high school prospects selected in the 2010 appear ready to head to college. Ohio prep left-handed pitcher and University of Louisville signee Dace Kime, the eighth round pick of the Pittsburgh Pirates, told Tim McDonough of The Crescent-News in Defiance, Ohio, that he would follow through on his committment to UofL instead of signing with the Pirates. “The more I waited around (for the Pirates) and the more I was around Louisville, the more persuaded I became to go to school,” Kime told McDonough. “My mom didn’t know about my decision, my dad (Jay Kime) didn’t know about my decision, I just made it and let Louisville know I was coming. Then I told my parents.”

Similarly Mr. Kentucky Baseball, J. T. Riddle, the Western Hills High School shortstop/pitcher and Boston Red Sox 35th round selection, told Linda Younkin of The State Journal in Frankfort he would follow through on his commitment to the University of Kentucky. “After being drafted there was some thought about not going [to UK], but the Red Sox had come back and said that where my shoulder was injured they couldn’t offer what I was asking and so that really put that down the drain, and I just decided to go on to UK,” Riddle told Younkin. In July the Courier-Journal also reported Trinity High School right-handed pitcher Corey Littrell, the Nationals’ 42nd round pick and Louisville Slugger player of the year, would attend UK.

Indiana prep infielder Matt Reida, the White Sox 47th round pick, told the Kokomo Tribune in Indiana after the draft he was likely following through on his commitment to UK and has given no indication to the contrary since. Boone County High School outfielder Ronald Cotton, the White Sox 45th round pick, committed to play collegiate ball at the University of Cincinnati in July, one month after the draft. I’ve found no media reports about the status of Hopkinsville High School right-handed pitcher and WKU signee Justin Hageman, Lexington Christian Academy outfielder and UK signee Lucas Witt or UofL signees Joel Bender and Chad Green. Since each of those players was drafted after the 25th round the chances of them attending school are good.

The Kentucky high school player who appears most likely to sign a professional contract is Danville native Blake Perry, a right-handed pitcher who signed with UK but was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the sixth round. Perry told The Advocate-Messenger in late July he still had no idea whether he would sign or not, but he figures to garner a six-figure signing bonus if he choses to go to Arizona. Earlier this week Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic reported the Diamondbacks were still working to sign Perry.

Draft Update: 18 Kentucky draftees have yet to sign

College Baseball, High School Baseball, Major League Baseball

Zack Cox; University of Arkansas photo

We’re just over three weeks from the Aug. 16 deadline for Major League teams to sign their non-college senior draft picks, so I thought we’d look at the remaining Kentucky draftees who have yet to sign. Remember over-slot deals aren’t announced until the deadline so some of these players may have agreed to deals that haven’t been announced yet:

  • 3B — Zack Cox — Louisville (University of Arkansas) — 1st Round — St. Louis Cardinals
  • LHP — James Paxton — University of Kentucky (Ind. League) — 4th Round — Seattle Mariners
  • RHP — Blake Perry — Danville (Pendleton Academy, Fla.) — 6th Round — Arizona Diamondbacks
  • RHP — Dace Kime — Ohio HS (University of Louisville Signee) — 8th Round — Pittsburgh Pirates
  • LHP — Joel Bender — Ohio HS (UofL Signee) — 27th Round — Cincinnati Reds
  • SS — Taylor Black — University of Kentucky — 28th Round — St. Louis Cardinals
  • OF — Stewart Ijames — UofL — 29th Round — New York Yankees
  • RHP — Justin Hageman — Hopkinsville High School — 32nd Round — Kansas City Royals
  • SS — J. T. Riddle — Western Hills High School — 35th Round — Boston Red Sox
  • RHP — Rye Davis — Western Kentucky University — 36th Round — Cleveland Indians
  • RHP — Chad Green — Illinois HS (UofL Signee) — 37th Round — Toronto Blue Jays
  • OF — Lucas Witt — Lexington Christian Academy — 38th Round — Los Angeles Dodgers
  • RHP — Casey Lucchese — Lexington (College of Charleston) — 39th Round — Chicago Cubs
  • LHP — Corey Littrell — Louisville Trinity — 42nd Round — Washington Nationals
  • LHP — David Middendorf — Northern Kentucky University — 44th Round — New York Yankees
  • OF — Ronald Cotton — Boone County High School — 45th Round — Chicago White Sox
  • INF — Matt Reida — Indiana HS (UK Signee) — 47th Round — Chicago White Sox
  • C — Matt Rice — WKU — 50th Round — New York Yankees

Rice has already gone on record with his intentions to return to WKU for his senior season, but the final destinations for the other players are at least relatively uncertain. It’s probably safe to assume most of the high schoolers drafted in the later rounds will follow through on their college commitments, barring a team paying way over the slot recommendation to sign them.

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)

KHSAA State Tournament Day Two Roundup

High School Baseball

Recaps and awards from the final four first-round Kentucky High School Athletic Association state tournament games:

  • Region Three champion Daviess County High School broke a 3-3 tie open with a four-run fifth inning to record a 7-4 first-round win against Region Two champion Hopkinsville High School. Daviess County senior starting pitcher Austin Clay recorded the complete game victory to move to 7-0 on the season, allowing just two earned runs and striking out nine while walking just two. Daviess County sophomore center fielder Caleb McIntire was 3-5 with three runs scored in the game. Hopkinsville senior starting pitcher Justin Hageman, a Western Kentucky University signee and Detroit Tigers draft pick, took the loss after allowing seven runs on eight hits in five innings. (Box Score)
  • Region Seven champion Louisville Male High School rallied for four runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to secure a walk-off 5-4 victory over Region Four champion Warren Central High School in the second Tuesday first-round matchup. Male used two walks, two doubles, a hit-by-pitch and three wild pitches, all coming with two outs, to finish the improbable comeback. Male senior shortstop Kameron Mason finished the game 2-3 with two runs scored, and junior pitcher Brandon Allen earned his tenth win of the season with three innings of one-run relief out of bullpen. Warren Central senior starting pitcher Shane Waldrop looked to be in line for his 14th win of the year after allowing just one run through six and two-third innings, but could record the final out and fell to 13-3 on the season. Warren Central senior shortstop Jacob King was 3-3 with two RBI and one runs scored, and sophomore center fielder Trevor Lowe was 3-4. (Box Score)
  • In Tuesday’s third first-round game Region 11 champion Lexington Christian Academy had no trouble with Region One champion Lone Oak High School in a 7-2 victory. LCA senior left fielder Evan Stephens was 4-4 with three runs scored in the game. Junior right fielder Austin Bundy was 3-3, and junior starting pitcher Joe Duncan earned the win after allowing one run in five innings. Lone Oak freshman Lucas Englert was 2-3 at the plate but took the loss after allowing three runs in two and two-third innings on the mound. Lone Oak sophomore left fielder Jack Coleman was 2-4 with a run scored. (Box Score)
  • In a game that was suspended due to weather and completed Wednesday morning, Region 10 champion Harrison County High School recorded the tournament’s first shutout in an 8-0 win over Region 13 champion Clay County High School. Harrison County junior left fielder Eric Saunders was 2-4 with two RBI and two runs scored, and junior designated hitter Shane Fowler was 2-3 with a double, triple and two RBI. Harrison County junior starting pitcher Logan Daily struck out six in three scoreless innings. Clay County junior first baseman Brandon Griffin was 2-2 with two doubles and a walk. (Box Score)

Hitter of the day: OF Evan Stephens (LCA)

  • Stats: 4-4, 3 R, 1 2B
  • Honorable Mention: Caleb McIntire (Daviess Co.), Jacob King (Warren Central), Trevor Lowe (Warren Central), Kameron Mason (Male), Austin Bundy (LCA), Lucas Englert (Lone Oak), Brandon Griffin (Clay Co.), Eric Saunders (Harrison Co.)

Pitcher of the day: Austin Clay (Daviess Co.)

  • Stats: 1-0, 7 IP, 3 H, 4 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 9 SO
  • Honorable Mention: Brandon Allen (Male), Shane Waldrop (Warren Central), Joe Duncan (LCA), Logan Daily (Harrison Co.)

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