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.

St. Xavier headlines latest KHSBCA top 25 poll

High School Baseball

The Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association has released its first in-season top 25 rankings. Check out the top 25 below (Note the ties for No. 11, 20 and 22):

  • 1) St. Xavier High School
  • 2) Harrison County High School
  • 3) Male High School
  • 4) Apollo High School
  • 5) Lexington Catholic High School
  • 6) Eastern High School
  • 7) Pleasure Ridge Park High School
  • 8 ) Central Hardin High School
  • 9) Paul Laurence Dunbar High School
  • 10) Lawrence County High School
  • 11) Madison Central High School
  • 11) Trinity High School
  • 13) Ballard High School
  • 14) West Jessamine High School
  • 15) Lafayette High School
  • 16) Daviess County High School
  • 17) Clay County High School
  • 18) Henderson County High School
  • 19) Lexington Christian Academy
  • 20) Beechwood High School
  • 20) Tates Creek High School
  • 22) Christian County High School
  • 22) Somerset High School
  • 24) Russell County High School
  • 25) Pikeville High School

You can see the top 25 with the “others receiving votes” here.

Harrison County headlines KHSBCA preseason top 25

High School Baseball

The Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association has released its preseason top 25 rankings. Check out the list below or at the KHSBCA website here. (Note the two-way tie for No. 14 and three-way tie for No. 19)

  • 1) Harrison Count High School
  • 2) St. Xavier High School
  • 3) Lexington Catholic High School
  • 4) Apollo High School
  • 5) Pleasure Ridge Park High School
  • 6) Eastern High School
  • 7) Male High School
  • 8) Trinity High School
  • 9) Central Hardin High School
  • 10) Ballard High School
  • 11) Lexington Christian Academy
  • 12) West Jessamine High School
  • 13) Lafayette High School
  • 14) Christian County High School
  • 14) Henderson County High School
  • 16) Henry County High School
  • 17) Lawrence County High School
  • 18) Lone Oak High School
  • 19) Bryan Station High School
  • 19) Clay County High School
  • 19) Mercer County High School
  • 22) Pikeville High School
  • 23) Oldham County High School
  • 24) Tates Creek High School
  • 25) Warren Central High School

PRP alum Zack Cox signs with St. Louis Cardinals

Major League Baseball

Zack Cox; University of Arkansas photo

Pleasure Ridge Park High School alum and former University of Arkansas third baseman Zack Cox signed a major league contract with the St. Louis Cardinals as the team’s first-round draft pick just before the MLB deadline to sign draft picks last night. Cox signed for a $3.2 million bonus and will receive a spot on the Cardinals’ 40-man roster, Kendall Rogers of Yahoo! Sports and Rivals.com reports. The Louisville native was ranked by many as the top college bat in the draft and was projected to be selected in the first 10 picks but slid to No. 25 due to high contract demands.

Cox is the first Kentucky native selected in the first round since the Minnesota Twins took Lexington native Ben Revere with the 28th pick in 2007. Eastern Kentucky University left-handed pitcher Christian Friedrich, an Illinois native, was selected with the 25th pick in 2008. Cox will report to the Cardinals’ rookie-level Gulf Coast League team to begin his professional career. Cox led all Kentucky collegians in 2010 with a .429 batting average.

Mr. Ky. Baseball: Where are they now?

High School Baseball, Major League Baseball, Minor League Baseball

Austin Kearns; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

We did this last summer, but with Monday’s announcement that Western Hills shortstop J. T. Riddle had been named the 2010 Mr. Baseball it’s always fun to look back on previous Mr. Baseballs and see where they are today. Check out the list below with each player’s most recent baseball affiliation:

  • 2010: J. T. Riddle (Western Hills) — Riddle has signed to play college ball at the University of Kentucky in 2011 and was drafted by the Boston Red Sox in the 35th round of the 2010 MLB draft.
  • 2009: Luke Maile (Covington Catholic) — Maile is a rising sophomore at UK and was 7-25 with three home runs and six RBI in limited action as a freshman.
  • 2008: Zack Cox (Pleasure Ridge Park) — Spent 2010 as a sophomore at Arkansas where he was named an All-American by several outlets after batting .429. Cox was the first-round pick of the St. Louis Cardinals in the 2010 MLB draft.
  • 2007: Ben Revere (Lexington Catholic) — Revere was the Minnesota Twins’ first round pick in 2007 and has done nothing but hit in his Minor League career. Revere is currently batting .307 with 21 stolen bases for the AA New Britain Rock Cats and was named the fifth best prospect in the Twins’ system by Baseball America prior to the 2010 season.
  • 2006: Nathan Adcock (North Hardin) — After three and one-half mediocre season in the Seattle Mariners’ organization Adcock was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2009 as part of the Jack Wilson trade. Adcock is having his best season to date in 2010 for the high A Bradenton Marauders where he is 6-2 with a 2.99 ERA in 13 starts.
  • 2005: Chaz Roe (Lafayette) — Roe was the Colorado Rockies’ first-supplemental round pick in the 2005 MLB draft and has worked his way through the Minor Leagues to AAA. Last year was Roe’s best season to date when he went 7-3 with a 3.15 ERA for AA Tulsa, but he has struggled so far in 2010 to the tune of a 5-7 record and 5.86 ERA in hitter-friendly AAA Colorado Springs.
  • 2004: Collin Cowgill (Henry Clay) — Cowgill was a standout in his four seasons at UK and has continued to excel in professional baseball after the Arizona Diamondbacks took him with their fifth-round pick in 2008. Named the ninth best prospect in the D’Backs farm system by Baseball America prior to the 2010 season, Cowgill is batting .280 with five home runs and 43 RBI for AA Mobile this season.
  • 2003: Josh Ellis (Paul Laurence Dunbar) — While older brother A.J. Ellis has carved a niche for himself as the Los Angeles Dodgers’ backup catcher this season, Josh is still working his way through the Diamobacks system after the team selected him in the 11th round of the 2007 draft. Ellis is 1-0 with a  2.86 ERA in 18 relief appearances between AAA Reno and AA Mobile this season.
  • 2002: Brad Corley (Pleasure Ridge Park) — Corley was the Pirates second-round pick as an outfielder in 2005 and was named the tenth best prospect in the team’s system by Baseball America entering the 2008 season. Corely’s career stalled after that honor. and he hasn’t advanced past AA since. He was acquired by Colorado in 2009 and is currently playing for short-season Tri-City as he attempts to become a full-time pitcher.
  • 2001: Jeremy Sowers (Ballard) — Sowers was the Indian’s first-round pick in 2004 out of Vanderbilt University and has appeared in 72 games over parts of four season with the Indians. Sowers is 18-30 as a MLB starting pitcher, and he is currently struggling to the tune of a 1-4 record and 6.49 ERA as a left-handed reliever for AAA Columbus.
  • 2000: Spencer Graeter (Ballard) — Greater batted .307 with 14 home runs and 98 RBI in four seasons for UK from 2001-2004 but never appeared in affiliated ball.
  • 1999: Joe Blanton (Franklin-Simpson) — Blanton has appeared in two World Series and even earned a victory in game four of the Philadelphia Phillies World Series win in 2008. Blanton is just 2-5 with a 6.96 ERA in eight starts for Philadelphia this season, but is 65-59 with a 4.34 ERA in seven MLB seasons with the Oakland Athletics and Phillies.
  • 1998: Austin Kearns (Lafayette) — Kearns won a job as a reserve outfielder with the Cleveland Indians in Spring Training and has worked his way into a starting role. On the season Kearns is batting .288 with seven home runs an 32 RBI. In nine MLB seasons, Kearns has batted .258 with 112 home runs and 454 RBI with the Cincinnati Reds, Washington Nationals and Indians.
  • 1997: Scott Hodges (Henry Clay) — Hodges was the Montreal Expos’ first-round pick in 1997 and spent nine seasons in the Minor Leagues appearing as high as AAA. In 2005 he was diagnosed with lymphoma, ending his career.
  • 1996: Aaron McGlone (Greenup Co.) — McGlone batted .345 with eight home runs and 51 RBI for UK in 2000, but never appeared in affiliated ball.
  • 1995: Brad Wilkerson (Apollo) — Wilkerson spent parts of eights season in the Major Leagues, batting .247 with 122 home runs and 399 RBI for the Expos, Washington Nationals, Texas Rangers, Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays. He retired in 2008 before briefly making a comeback with the Phillies during Spring Training this season only to announce his retirement for good.
  • 1994: Scott Downs (Pleasure Ridge Park) — Downs was the Chicago Cubs’ third-round pick in 1997 out of UK, and has spent parts of ten season in the big leagues. Over the past four seasons he has carved out a niche as one of the best left-handed relievers in baseball with the Toronto Blue Jays. In 2010 he is 2-5 with a 3.34 ERA in 34 games for the Blue Jays.
  • 1993: Dion Newby (Harrison Co.) — Newby played collegiately at North Alabama but never appeared in affiliated ball.
  • 1992: Shon Walker (Harrison Co.) — Walker was the Pirates first-round pick in 1992 and last appeared in affiliated ball in 1998 at High A Lynchburg.
  • 1991: Trever Miller (Trinity) — Miller’s long Major League career is still going strong as a left-handed reliever in the St. Louis Cardinals’ bullpen. Miller is 0-1 with a 3.12 ERA in 25 games for the Cardinals this season and is 18-16 with a 4.17 ERA over 12 MLB seasons. Miller was the Detroit Tigers’ first-round pick in 1991.
  • 1990: Darren Burton (Pulaski Co.) — Burton was the Royals’ fifth-round pick in 1990 and last appeared in affiliated ball at AA Altoona in 2001. He spent parts of six seasons in AAA.
  • 1989: Tab Brown (St. Xavier) — Brown was drafted by the Atlanta Braves in 1989 and spent at least two seasons in the Braves’ organization.

Kentucky High School Poll (May 8)

High School Baseball

The Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association released its latest top 25 poll on May 6. Lexington Catholic is holding steady in the No. 1 spot as the regular season winds down but several teams can challenge the Nights. Check out the most rankings below with each team’s total points listed and number of first place votes in parentheses:

1.   Lexington Catholic — 218 — (16)
2.   Eastern — 200 — (4)
3.   Lexington Christian — 194
4.   St. Xavier — 159
5.   West Jessamine — 156 — (2)
6.   Apollo — 155
7.   Pleasure Ridge Park — 150
8.   Tates Creek — 144
9.   Harrison County — 122
10.   Male — 114
11.   Trinity — 108
12.   Western Hills — 105
13.   Elizabethtown — 97
14.   DeSales — 96
15.   Henderson County — 93
16.   Lafayette — 88
17.   DuPont Manual — 85
18.   Central Hardin — 73
19.   Franklin County — 70
20.   Madison Central — 64
21.   Russell County — 63
22.   George Rogers Clark — 55
23.   Mercer County — 50 — (1)
24.   Butler — 44
25.   Glasgow — 43

Lexington schools headline latest KHSBCA top 25

High School Baseball

The Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association has released its latest top 25, and two Lexington teams headline the rankings. No. 1 Lexington Catholic and No. 2 Lexington Christian will face off Tuesday in one of the biggest games of the high school season. For more information about the showdown check out Adam Revelette’s preview for Examiner.com here.

KHSCBA Top 25

  1. Lexington Catholic (22) — 786 pts.
  2. Lexington Christian (3) — 701 pts.
  3. Eastern (4) — 640 pts.
  4. Pleasure Ridge Park (1) — 619 pts.
  5. West Jessamine (7) — 600 pts.
  6. St. Xavier (4) — 591 pts.
  7. Tates Creek (1) — 518 pts.
  8. Apollo (2) — 453 pts.
  9. Harrison County (1) — 392
  10. Male — 367
  11. Trinity — 263
  12. Henderson County — 252
  13. Franklin County — 248
  14. Lafayette — 244
  15. Elizabethtown (1) — 240
  16. Ballard — 217
  17. Glasgow — 197
  18. Dupont Manual (1) — 190
  19. Central Hardin — 166
  20. Bullit East — 134
  21. Western Hills — 127
  22. Butler — 114
  23. Mercer County — 108
  24. Danville (1) — 99
  25. Bryan Station (1) — 96

Blanton, Pence, Rodriguez don’t reach arbitration agreements; Cox among NCAA’s best

College Baseball, High School Baseball, Major League Baseball

Joe Blanton; Photo from Wikimedia Commons

Tuesday was the MLB deadline for arbitration-eligible players and teams to exchange salary figures. If teams and players don’t agree to terms before a arbitration hearing a judge will side with one party. Check out two relevant arbitration updates and a honor for a Kentucky high school alum in some afternoon links:

  • Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com reports University of Kentucky alum Joe Blanton and the Philadelphia Phillies are far apart in their exchanged salary arbitration figures.
  • Most arbitration cases meet somewhere in the middle of the two exchanged figures, but Blanton and the Phillies are so far apart this probably will go to a hearing.
  • The College Baseball Blog ranked Louisville-native, PRP alum and Arkansas infielder Zack Cox the third best player in college baseball.
  • Brian McTaggert of MLB.com reports Lexington Legends Hall of Famers Hunter Pence and Wandy Rodriguez did not reach a deal with the Astros before Tuesday’s deadline to exchange salary arbitration figures.
  • Darren Heitner of the Sports Agent Blog examines what implications the James Paxton situation will have on college advisors.