From Monday, Central Hardin upset #9 Anderson County 8-4, ending what had been an impressive early-season run for the Bearcats...Christian Academy-Louisville continues its strong play with a 6-2 win over Eastern...#7 Mercy slid past Assumption 1-0...Russell is 18-3 with a 5-0 win over Ashland Blazer...#12 Scott County validated their ranking with a 6-0 shutout of #18 Estill County...
And now the games to watch over the middle of this week...
Tuesday
#7 Mercy @ #6 Ballard
Apollo @ #3 Christian County
#10 Allen County-Scottsville @ #2 Greenwood
#8 Reidland @ Heath
Meade County @ #14 North Hardin
Wednesday
#6 Ballard @ Eastern
Dixie Heights @ #1 Ryle
Thursday
#4 Owensboro Catholic @ Apollo
Sacred Heart @ #6 Ballard
#11 Butler @ Manual
#20 Edmonson County @ #5 Grayson County
#15 Union County @ #16 Henderson County
Christian Academy-Louisville @ #14 North Hardin
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
Reflection
Some results to consider from this weekend...
Friday
#14 Allen County-Scottsville d. #18 George Rogers Clark 1-0
Estill County d. #15 South Laurel 3-1
#1 Owensboro Catholic TIES #10 North Laurel 2-2
#3 Ryle d. #17 Scott County 1-0
Saturday
#14 Allen County-Scottsville d. Montgomery County 12-0
Butler d. #2 Greenwood 1-0
#6 Christian County d. Lafayette 3-0
#6 Christian County d. #1 Owensboro Catholic 2-0
#13 Manual d. #10 North Laurel 3-1
#18 George Rogers Clark d. #15 South Laurel 2-0
#2 Greenwood d. #19 Sacred Heart 5-1
Muhlenberg North d. #13 Manual 5-3
#1 Owensboro Catholic d. #11 Dunbar 8-1
#3 Ryle d. #17 Scott County 2-1
Union County d. #11 Dunbar 1-0
And so the new Top 20 Rankings...
1. Ryle
2. Greenwood
3. Christian County
4. Owensboro Catholic
5. Grayson County
6. Ballard
7. Mercy
8. Reidland
9. Anderson County
10. Allen County-Scottsville
11. Butler
12. Scott County
13. North Laurel
14. North Hardin
15. Union County
16. Henderson County
17. George Rogers Clark
18. Estill County
19. Dunbar
20. Edmonson County
Friday
#14 Allen County-Scottsville d. #18 George Rogers Clark 1-0
Estill County d. #15 South Laurel 3-1
#1 Owensboro Catholic TIES #10 North Laurel 2-2
#3 Ryle d. #17 Scott County 1-0
Saturday
#14 Allen County-Scottsville d. Montgomery County 12-0
Butler d. #2 Greenwood 1-0
#6 Christian County d. Lafayette 3-0
#6 Christian County d. #1 Owensboro Catholic 2-0
#13 Manual d. #10 North Laurel 3-1
#18 George Rogers Clark d. #15 South Laurel 2-0
#2 Greenwood d. #19 Sacred Heart 5-1
Muhlenberg North d. #13 Manual 5-3
#1 Owensboro Catholic d. #11 Dunbar 8-1
#3 Ryle d. #17 Scott County 2-1
Union County d. #11 Dunbar 1-0
And so the new Top 20 Rankings...
1. Ryle
2. Greenwood
3. Christian County
4. Owensboro Catholic
5. Grayson County
6. Ballard
7. Mercy
8. Reidland
9. Anderson County
10. Allen County-Scottsville
11. Butler
12. Scott County
13. North Laurel
14. North Hardin
15. Union County
16. Henderson County
17. George Rogers Clark
18. Estill County
19. Dunbar
20. Edmonson County
Friday, April 20, 2007
We'll have a new #1
Let's revisit the past three days in Kentucky high school softball...
Tuesday
--I sure didn't see #5 Grayson County stomping #1 Owensboro Catholic 5-1 in Leitchfield coming after the Cougars lost to Edmonson County, but the crazy good (and deep) 3rd region is full of surprises. Of course, the Lady Aces will remain the favorite in this region until they lose when it counts, and that hasn't happened in quite some time.
--And another big upset: Assumption laid their claim to challenge for the 7th region title with an impressive 3-2 win over #4 Ballard. How far the Bruins drop in the poll remains to be seen, but expect to see Assumption up there soon. More craziness in the 7th region: Christian Academy-Louisville upsets #19 Sacred Heart 2-1 in extra innings.
--Shelby County has a decent team, but #9 Anderson County is flat good folks. The Bearcats smothered their regional rival 15-0, leaving no doubt who the favorite in the 8th region is.
--#8 Mercy continued their fine early-season play with a win over #12 North Hardin, 4-1. The Trojans are struggling so far this season, losing six games already and four of those to Kentucky teams.
--#10 North Laurel looks to be getting back on the right track, as the Jaguars took down #17 Scott County 5-0.
Wednesday
--#9 Anderson County continues to win (3-1 over West Jessamine), and #4 Ballard reversed their fortunes from Tuesday (3-0 over Fern Creek).
--Lafayette, a winner over Lexington Catholic on Tuesday, came darn close to beating #11 Dunbar on Wednesday. The Generals fell 6-2 in extra innings, but seem to be serving notice that they will be a force in the 11th region.
--#13 Manual is quietly going about its business, as the Crimsons took down a tough Eastern squad 3-2.
Thursday
--#5 Grayson County picked off Catholic on Tuesday and came ever so close to defeating another powerhouse on Thursday. The Cougars dropped a 2-1, 10-inning game at #2 Greenwood, who should ascend to the #1 position. Even with the loss, such a stress establishes the Cougars as a state contender, if they qualify...something that's never happened.
--This is not the year for Male. The Bulldogs lost to #6 Mercy 3-1, dropping to an abysmal 3-7 on the season. Looks like a rebuilding year in the tough 7th region for this team.
--#1 Owensboro Catholic bounced back from the Grayson County loss with a 6-0 win over crosstown rival Owensboro.
--Shelby County, after getting blown to smithereens against Anderson County, fired back with a nice 7-3 victory over #19 Sacred Heart, whose two losses this week will doom their ranked status.
--#10 North Laurel sits several of their top players against #15 South Laurel and loses 7-0. New head coach, and former Christian County coach, Shane Weaver seems to be playing strategy here, saving his big guns for the regional final. It's been done before.
Tuesday
--I sure didn't see #5 Grayson County stomping #1 Owensboro Catholic 5-1 in Leitchfield coming after the Cougars lost to Edmonson County, but the crazy good (and deep) 3rd region is full of surprises. Of course, the Lady Aces will remain the favorite in this region until they lose when it counts, and that hasn't happened in quite some time.
--And another big upset: Assumption laid their claim to challenge for the 7th region title with an impressive 3-2 win over #4 Ballard. How far the Bruins drop in the poll remains to be seen, but expect to see Assumption up there soon. More craziness in the 7th region: Christian Academy-Louisville upsets #19 Sacred Heart 2-1 in extra innings.
--Shelby County has a decent team, but #9 Anderson County is flat good folks. The Bearcats smothered their regional rival 15-0, leaving no doubt who the favorite in the 8th region is.
--#8 Mercy continued their fine early-season play with a win over #12 North Hardin, 4-1. The Trojans are struggling so far this season, losing six games already and four of those to Kentucky teams.
--#10 North Laurel looks to be getting back on the right track, as the Jaguars took down #17 Scott County 5-0.
Wednesday
--#9 Anderson County continues to win (3-1 over West Jessamine), and #4 Ballard reversed their fortunes from Tuesday (3-0 over Fern Creek).
--Lafayette, a winner over Lexington Catholic on Tuesday, came darn close to beating #11 Dunbar on Wednesday. The Generals fell 6-2 in extra innings, but seem to be serving notice that they will be a force in the 11th region.
--#13 Manual is quietly going about its business, as the Crimsons took down a tough Eastern squad 3-2.
Thursday
--#5 Grayson County picked off Catholic on Tuesday and came ever so close to defeating another powerhouse on Thursday. The Cougars dropped a 2-1, 10-inning game at #2 Greenwood, who should ascend to the #1 position. Even with the loss, such a stress establishes the Cougars as a state contender, if they qualify...something that's never happened.
--This is not the year for Male. The Bulldogs lost to #6 Mercy 3-1, dropping to an abysmal 3-7 on the season. Looks like a rebuilding year in the tough 7th region for this team.
--#1 Owensboro Catholic bounced back from the Grayson County loss with a 6-0 win over crosstown rival Owensboro.
--Shelby County, after getting blown to smithereens against Anderson County, fired back with a nice 7-3 victory over #19 Sacred Heart, whose two losses this week will doom their ranked status.
--#10 North Laurel sits several of their top players against #15 South Laurel and loses 7-0. New head coach, and former Christian County coach, Shane Weaver seems to be playing strategy here, saving his big guns for the regional final. It's been done before.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Yesterday and This Week
Here were some interesting results from Monday...
--Edmonson County pulls an upset on #5 Grayson County 4-2. It's a big win for the Wildcats, and a tough loss for the Cougars, who were approaching the level of Owensboro Catholic before this disappointing defeat.
--Fresh off a win over Henderson County, Union County dropped a game to Hancock County. It was a good night for the 3rd region in terms of regional depth, what with Edmonson County's nice win as well.
--#8 Mercy looks to be establishing itself as a favorite in the 7th region. The Jaguars beat #13 Manual 4-1 at home.
--In an old rematch of 8th Region rivals, #16 Scott County defeated Shelby County 4-2. The Cardinals might be overlooked in the 11th region this year, which doesn't seem to have the strength it usually carries. Dunbar looks to be the only team that can challenge top-10 status, but Scott County may be there too.
Other interesting games this week...
Tuesday
Shelby County @ #9 Anderson County
#4 Ballard @ Assumption
#1 Owensboro Catholic @ #5 Grayson County
Lexington Catholic @ Lafayette
#8 Mercy @ #12 North Hardin
#10 North Laurel @ #17 Scott County
Wednesday
Eastern @ #13 Manual
#4 Ballard @ Fern Creek
#11 Dunbar @ Lafayette
Thursday
Franklin-Simpson @ #14 Allen County-Scottsville
Presentation @ Assumption
Woodford County @ Estill County
#5 Grayson County @ #2 Greenwood
#8 Mercy @ Male
Hancock County @ Meade County
#18 George Rogers Clark @ Montgomery County
#19 Sacred Heart @ Shelby County
#10 North Laurel @ #15 South Laurel
--Edmonson County pulls an upset on #5 Grayson County 4-2. It's a big win for the Wildcats, and a tough loss for the Cougars, who were approaching the level of Owensboro Catholic before this disappointing defeat.
--Fresh off a win over Henderson County, Union County dropped a game to Hancock County. It was a good night for the 3rd region in terms of regional depth, what with Edmonson County's nice win as well.
--#8 Mercy looks to be establishing itself as a favorite in the 7th region. The Jaguars beat #13 Manual 4-1 at home.
--In an old rematch of 8th Region rivals, #16 Scott County defeated Shelby County 4-2. The Cardinals might be overlooked in the 11th region this year, which doesn't seem to have the strength it usually carries. Dunbar looks to be the only team that can challenge top-10 status, but Scott County may be there too.
Other interesting games this week...
Tuesday
Shelby County @ #9 Anderson County
#4 Ballard @ Assumption
#1 Owensboro Catholic @ #5 Grayson County
Lexington Catholic @ Lafayette
#8 Mercy @ #12 North Hardin
#10 North Laurel @ #17 Scott County
Wednesday
Eastern @ #13 Manual
#4 Ballard @ Fern Creek
#11 Dunbar @ Lafayette
Thursday
Franklin-Simpson @ #14 Allen County-Scottsville
Presentation @ Assumption
Woodford County @ Estill County
#5 Grayson County @ #2 Greenwood
#8 Mercy @ Male
Hancock County @ Meade County
#18 George Rogers Clark @ Montgomery County
#19 Sacred Heart @ Shelby County
#10 North Laurel @ #15 South Laurel
Monday, April 16, 2007
Looking Back...Top 20 recap
For the weekly review, let's go back to last week and see how the top 20 fared...
Games are from April 9 to April 15
1. Owensboro Catholic 2-1
W: Apollo, Greenville (OH)
L: New Palenstine (IN)
2. Greenwood 2-2
W: Satsuma (AL), Foley (AL)
L: Robertsdale (AL), Baker (AL)
3. Ryle 1-0
W: Scott
4. Ballard 0-0
5. Grayson County 0-0
6. Christian County 3-0
W: Fort Campbell, Marshall County, Western Hills
7. Reidland 2-1
W: Baldwin County (AL), Warren East
L: Gulf Shores (AL)
8. Mercy 0-0
9. Dunbar 1-1
W: Lexington Catholic
L: North Laurel
10. Anderson County 2-0
W: Henry Clay, Nelson County
11. North Hardin 2-0
W: Oak Hill (SC), Franklin (OH)
12. North Laurel 3-0
W: Middlesboro, Dunbar, Christian Academy-Louisville
13. Manual 0-0
14. Henderson County 2-1
W: Webster County, Ohio County
L: Union County
15. Allen County-Scottsville 4-0
W: Glasgow, Monroe County, Barren County, Christian Academy-Louisville
16. Scott County 0-0
17. South Laurel 2-0
W: Whitley County, Madison Central
18. Sacred Heart 0-0
19. George Rogers Clark 3-0
W: Lake Catholic (OH), Tates Creek, Henry County
20. Oldham County 1-0
W: North Bullitt
So there's very little change in the rankings for this week...
1. Owensboro Catholic
2. Greenwood
3. Ryle
4. Ballard
5. Grayson County
6. Christian County
7. Reidland
8. Mercy
9. Anderson County
10. North Laurel
11. Dunbar
12. North Hardin
13. Manual
14. Allen County-Scottsville
15. South Laurel
16. Henderson County
17. Scott County
18. George Rogers Clark
19. Sacred Heart
20. Oldham County
Games are from April 9 to April 15
1. Owensboro Catholic 2-1
W: Apollo, Greenville (OH)
L: New Palenstine (IN)
2. Greenwood 2-2
W: Satsuma (AL), Foley (AL)
L: Robertsdale (AL), Baker (AL)
3. Ryle 1-0
W: Scott
4. Ballard 0-0
5. Grayson County 0-0
6. Christian County 3-0
W: Fort Campbell, Marshall County, Western Hills
7. Reidland 2-1
W: Baldwin County (AL), Warren East
L: Gulf Shores (AL)
8. Mercy 0-0
9. Dunbar 1-1
W: Lexington Catholic
L: North Laurel
10. Anderson County 2-0
W: Henry Clay, Nelson County
11. North Hardin 2-0
W: Oak Hill (SC), Franklin (OH)
12. North Laurel 3-0
W: Middlesboro, Dunbar, Christian Academy-Louisville
13. Manual 0-0
14. Henderson County 2-1
W: Webster County, Ohio County
L: Union County
15. Allen County-Scottsville 4-0
W: Glasgow, Monroe County, Barren County, Christian Academy-Louisville
16. Scott County 0-0
17. South Laurel 2-0
W: Whitley County, Madison Central
18. Sacred Heart 0-0
19. George Rogers Clark 3-0
W: Lake Catholic (OH), Tates Creek, Henry County
20. Oldham County 1-0
W: North Bullitt
So there's very little change in the rankings for this week...
1. Owensboro Catholic
2. Greenwood
3. Ryle
4. Ballard
5. Grayson County
6. Christian County
7. Reidland
8. Mercy
9. Anderson County
10. North Laurel
11. Dunbar
12. North Hardin
13. Manual
14. Allen County-Scottsville
15. South Laurel
16. Henderson County
17. Scott County
18. George Rogers Clark
19. Sacred Heart
20. Oldham County
Monday, April 9, 2007
Top 20 Rankings
Here's my top 20 rankings for this week...
1. Owensboro Catholic
2. Greenwood
3. Ryle
4. Ballard
5. Grayson County
6. Christian County
7. Reidland
8. Mercy
9. Dunbar
10. Anderson County
11. North Hardin
12. North Laurel
13. Manual
14. Henderson County
15. Allen County-Scottsville
16. Scott County
17. South Laurel
18. Sacred Heart
19. George Rogers Clark
20. Oldham County
Perhaps the biggest surprise in this poll is the team ranked #10--Anderson County. But the Bearcats own three impressive wins so far this season: Mercy, Butler, and Meade County. Their two losses come to two very good teams from Louisville: Ballard and Assumption. In addition, the Bearcats are winning in Alabama, beating teams like Foley and Gulf Shores. Plus, none of the teams ranked below them have been all that impressive to start the season.
So good work Anderson County.
1. Owensboro Catholic
2. Greenwood
3. Ryle
4. Ballard
5. Grayson County
6. Christian County
7. Reidland
8. Mercy
9. Dunbar
10. Anderson County
11. North Hardin
12. North Laurel
13. Manual
14. Henderson County
15. Allen County-Scottsville
16. Scott County
17. South Laurel
18. Sacred Heart
19. George Rogers Clark
20. Oldham County
Perhaps the biggest surprise in this poll is the team ranked #10--Anderson County. But the Bearcats own three impressive wins so far this season: Mercy, Butler, and Meade County. Their two losses come to two very good teams from Louisville: Ballard and Assumption. In addition, the Bearcats are winning in Alabama, beating teams like Foley and Gulf Shores. Plus, none of the teams ranked below them have been all that impressive to start the season.
So good work Anderson County.
Apologies
My workload kept me from posting over the last half week, and I'm afraid throughout the rest of the year I will only be able to post once every week. In that time, I will try to recap the week as best as I can. So let's take a look at the last four days, and what notable things went down...
Wednesday
Manual defeated Sacred Heart 4-2 in a battle of 7th region contenders. The list of these contenders is probably the biggest story of the season so far, as probably six or seven teams have jumped out to great starts on the season. Meanwhile, state champion Ryle picked up their best win of the season to date with a 2-0 home win over Lafayette.
Thursday
After a horrendous start to the season, Butler picked up some steam with a 7-0 spanking of Male (more on the Bulldogs' struggles later). Several state powers, like Ryle, Henderson County, and North Laurel dropped games to out-of-state foes. Finally, Wayne County beat Casey County 21-18 in eight innings in what must have been one of the year's best games so far.
Friday
Graves County put 22 on their rival Mayfield in only three innings. Ouch. Yeah, not much else happened...many teams spent the week playing across the south in Spring Break tournaments, but I don't take much from these games.
Saturday
Estill County picked up a nice 2-0 win over Sacred Heart. The Engineers continue to be a force in the eastern part of the state. They also beat Franklin County on the same day.
So over the next week, here's some games to watch...
Monday
Male vs. Central Hardin (Florida Beach Bash)
Union County @ Daviess County
Tuesday
Lexington Catholic @ Dunbar
Henderson County @ Union County
Wednesday
Nelson County @ Anderson County
Christian County @ Barren County
Thursday
Marshall County @ Christian County
Apollo @ Owensboro Catholic
I'll come back to preview the weekend on Friday.
Wednesday
Manual defeated Sacred Heart 4-2 in a battle of 7th region contenders. The list of these contenders is probably the biggest story of the season so far, as probably six or seven teams have jumped out to great starts on the season. Meanwhile, state champion Ryle picked up their best win of the season to date with a 2-0 home win over Lafayette.
Thursday
After a horrendous start to the season, Butler picked up some steam with a 7-0 spanking of Male (more on the Bulldogs' struggles later). Several state powers, like Ryle, Henderson County, and North Laurel dropped games to out-of-state foes. Finally, Wayne County beat Casey County 21-18 in eight innings in what must have been one of the year's best games so far.
Friday
Graves County put 22 on their rival Mayfield in only three innings. Ouch. Yeah, not much else happened...many teams spent the week playing across the south in Spring Break tournaments, but I don't take much from these games.
Saturday
Estill County picked up a nice 2-0 win over Sacred Heart. The Engineers continue to be a force in the eastern part of the state. They also beat Franklin County on the same day.
So over the next week, here's some games to watch...
Monday
Male vs. Central Hardin (Florida Beach Bash)
Union County @ Daviess County
Tuesday
Lexington Catholic @ Dunbar
Henderson County @ Union County
Wednesday
Nelson County @ Anderson County
Christian County @ Barren County
Thursday
Marshall County @ Christian County
Apollo @ Owensboro Catholic
I'll come back to preview the weekend on Friday.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Revenge
Note: Rankings are suspended until further notice...I have decided to follow the KSCA's rankings for the entire season, and their new rankings have not been posted.
Well not four days after Grayson County had defeated Christian County in the finals of the Meade County Tournament, the Colonels come back strong to defeat the Cougars 1-0 last night. Here are three other significant results from last night...
--Central Hardin only accentuates Butler's slide, as the Bruins beat the Bears 4-1.
--Like Butler, North Hardin has failed to meet preseason expectations. The Trojans dropped a 6-4 game to a pretty decent Sacred Heart squad.
--Mercy outlasted Eastern 4-3 in 10 innings. The 7th region is by far the best region in the state of Kentucky.
Now, tonight's big games...
--Mercy @ Central Hardin
--Eastern @ Fern Creek
--Ballard @ Bullitt East
Yeah, that's it. Pretty depressing, I know.
Well not four days after Grayson County had defeated Christian County in the finals of the Meade County Tournament, the Colonels come back strong to defeat the Cougars 1-0 last night. Here are three other significant results from last night...
--Central Hardin only accentuates Butler's slide, as the Bruins beat the Bears 4-1.
--Like Butler, North Hardin has failed to meet preseason expectations. The Trojans dropped a 6-4 game to a pretty decent Sacred Heart squad.
--Mercy outlasted Eastern 4-3 in 10 innings. The 7th region is by far the best region in the state of Kentucky.
Now, tonight's big games...
--Mercy @ Central Hardin
--Eastern @ Fern Creek
--Ballard @ Bullitt East
Yeah, that's it. Pretty depressing, I know.
Monday, April 2, 2007
Friday-Saturday-Sunday
Teams that made hay this weekend...
Grayson County (champions of the Meade County Tournament)
After losing earlier in the week to Meade County, the Cougars fired back with an impressive weekend performance in Brandenburg. They defeated Western Hills and Breckinridge County, but impressive wins over North Hardin, Reidland, Mercy, and Christian County catch my eye. A great run like that puts the Cougars in the running for a regional title once more.
Christian County (runners-up of the Meade County Tournament)
The Colonels were pretty good too in this early season tournament. Solid wins over North Hardin and Mercy count for a lot, and victories over Central Hardin and Henry County shouldn't be ignored either. Yes, there was a loss against Grayson County in the finals, but reaching the finals in an early season tournament such as this is no small achievement.
Greenwood (champions of the Warren East Invitational)
Try five wins by a combined score of 60-0. That's right, 60-0. We all know about the Gators' hitting prowess, but their pitching didn't allow a run in five games. Yes, the teams played weren't quite up to some other menus from this weekend, but they still romped in style and should be considered a frontrunner for state champion right now.
Ballard (champions of the Ballard Invitational)
Much like Greenwood, the Ballard Bruins stomped through the competition for five wins and a tournament championship. But unlike Greenwood, Ballard beat some real solid foes along the way, including Anderson County, Butler, and Manual in the tournament final.
And some teams that didn't...
North Hardin
The Trojans went 2-2, but ugly losses to Christian County and Grayson County by scores of 9-0 and 11-0, respectively, cast doubt on this 5th region power.
North Laurel
The Jaguars did not get to see Greenwood in the Warren East Invitational. Instead, they saw both Butler County and Warren East and lost to both of them.
Butler
Butler, as far as wins and losses go, is off to a horrible start this season. The Bears added three more losses to the total this weekend, albeit all of them coming to solid teams.
OK, new rankings will be out later today. Here's a look at three games to watch for Monday afternoon (with old rankings)...
Sacred Heart @ #8 North Hardin
#10 Grayson County @ #5 Christian County
#12 Butler @ Central Hardin
Grayson County (champions of the Meade County Tournament)
After losing earlier in the week to Meade County, the Cougars fired back with an impressive weekend performance in Brandenburg. They defeated Western Hills and Breckinridge County, but impressive wins over North Hardin, Reidland, Mercy, and Christian County catch my eye. A great run like that puts the Cougars in the running for a regional title once more.
Christian County (runners-up of the Meade County Tournament)
The Colonels were pretty good too in this early season tournament. Solid wins over North Hardin and Mercy count for a lot, and victories over Central Hardin and Henry County shouldn't be ignored either. Yes, there was a loss against Grayson County in the finals, but reaching the finals in an early season tournament such as this is no small achievement.
Greenwood (champions of the Warren East Invitational)
Try five wins by a combined score of 60-0. That's right, 60-0. We all know about the Gators' hitting prowess, but their pitching didn't allow a run in five games. Yes, the teams played weren't quite up to some other menus from this weekend, but they still romped in style and should be considered a frontrunner for state champion right now.
Ballard (champions of the Ballard Invitational)
Much like Greenwood, the Ballard Bruins stomped through the competition for five wins and a tournament championship. But unlike Greenwood, Ballard beat some real solid foes along the way, including Anderson County, Butler, and Manual in the tournament final.
And some teams that didn't...
North Hardin
The Trojans went 2-2, but ugly losses to Christian County and Grayson County by scores of 9-0 and 11-0, respectively, cast doubt on this 5th region power.
North Laurel
The Jaguars did not get to see Greenwood in the Warren East Invitational. Instead, they saw both Butler County and Warren East and lost to both of them.
Butler
Butler, as far as wins and losses go, is off to a horrible start this season. The Bears added three more losses to the total this weekend, albeit all of them coming to solid teams.
OK, new rankings will be out later today. Here's a look at three games to watch for Monday afternoon (with old rankings)...
Sacred Heart @ #8 North Hardin
#10 Grayson County @ #5 Christian County
#12 Butler @ Central Hardin
Thursday, March 29, 2007
Friday! You know what that means...
Before we get to WEEKEND TOURNAMENT WATCH, let's have a look at last night's highlights...
--Assumption upset #15 Manual 1-0. Once again, the 7th region is one of the deepest regions in the state of Kentucky. Oh, so you don't believe me? Well what about #19 Male falling to unranked Fern Creek 4-3? So Mercy, Manual and Male have all lost to begin this season (though Mercy rallied to hammer Sacred Heart 10-3 last night after SH had beaten the 6th's Butler), and Ballard was pushed to nine innings by Oldham County. This will be one wild ride.
--Meade County will be ranked next week for sure. The Wave warmed up for their tournament (see below) with a solid 5-4 win over Central Hardin. Remember, Meade County defeated #10 Grayson County earlier this week.
--Quality wins for quality teams: #1 Owensboro Catholic and #3 Greenwood beat #18 Union County and Larue County, respectively, by a 9-0 count. #4 North Laurel slid past #23 Lafayette 4-2.
--#16 Scott County escaped doom with an eight-inning 4-3 win over Grant County.
Now, for the season's first Weekend Tournament Watch...
Other Tournaments to Watch
Ballard Invitational (Ballard, Butler, Sacred Heart, Anderson County)
Watch out for Anderson County in this one. The Bearcats upset Mercy early this week, proving they can play with the best in the Louisville area.
Warren East Tournament (Greenwood, North Laurel, Edmonson County)
Two of the state's top five teams will highlight this tournament, which features teams representing a wide array of regions.
Boyle County Invitational
Commanderette Diamond Classic
Covington Holy Cross Fast Pitch Tournament
TOURNAMENT OF THE WEEK
Meade County Tournament
The Green Wave will host the most intriguing tournament of the weekend. Five top ten teams (Christian County, Mercy, Reidland, North Hardin, Grayson County) are scheduled to participate, while other quality teams such as George Rogers Clark, Breckinridge County, Central Hardin, and host Meade County are also in the tournament. Last year, it was North Hardin that stole the show in Brandenburg and captured state headlines with an impressive performance. Which highly ranked team will shoot up the rankings with a tournament championship this year?
--Assumption upset #15 Manual 1-0. Once again, the 7th region is one of the deepest regions in the state of Kentucky. Oh, so you don't believe me? Well what about #19 Male falling to unranked Fern Creek 4-3? So Mercy, Manual and Male have all lost to begin this season (though Mercy rallied to hammer Sacred Heart 10-3 last night after SH had beaten the 6th's Butler), and Ballard was pushed to nine innings by Oldham County. This will be one wild ride.
--Meade County will be ranked next week for sure. The Wave warmed up for their tournament (see below) with a solid 5-4 win over Central Hardin. Remember, Meade County defeated #10 Grayson County earlier this week.
--Quality wins for quality teams: #1 Owensboro Catholic and #3 Greenwood beat #18 Union County and Larue County, respectively, by a 9-0 count. #4 North Laurel slid past #23 Lafayette 4-2.
--#16 Scott County escaped doom with an eight-inning 4-3 win over Grant County.
Now, for the season's first Weekend Tournament Watch...
Other Tournaments to Watch
Ballard Invitational (Ballard, Butler, Sacred Heart, Anderson County)
Watch out for Anderson County in this one. The Bearcats upset Mercy early this week, proving they can play with the best in the Louisville area.
Warren East Tournament (Greenwood, North Laurel, Edmonson County)
Two of the state's top five teams will highlight this tournament, which features teams representing a wide array of regions.
Boyle County Invitational
Commanderette Diamond Classic
Covington Holy Cross Fast Pitch Tournament
TOURNAMENT OF THE WEEK
Meade County Tournament
The Green Wave will host the most intriguing tournament of the weekend. Five top ten teams (Christian County, Mercy, Reidland, North Hardin, Grayson County) are scheduled to participate, while other quality teams such as George Rogers Clark, Breckinridge County, Central Hardin, and host Meade County are also in the tournament. Last year, it was North Hardin that stole the show in Brandenburg and captured state headlines with an impressive performance. Which highly ranked team will shoot up the rankings with a tournament championship this year?
Better Weather Today
Well only three games have been reported from yesterday, with #9 Ballard leading the way with a 15-0 hammering of Waggener.
As for this afternoon's upcoming action...
--Larue County @ #3 Greenwood
--#5 Christian County @ Muhlenberg North
--#6 Mercy @ Sacred Heart
--#7 Reidland @ Ballard Memorial
--Green County @ #8 North Hardin
--Jeffersontown @ #9 Ballard
--#10 Grayson County @ Whitesville Trinity
--#12 Butler @ Holy Cross
--Glasgow @ #14 Allen County-Scottsville
--#15 Manual @ Assumption
--Grant County @ #16 Scott County
--#19 Male @ Fern Creek
--Paris @ #20 George Rogers Clark
--#21 Woodford County @ Lexington Catholic
--Montgomery County @ #24 Estill County
--#25 Russell @ Northwest, OH
GAMES OF THE NIGHT
--#23 Lafayette @ #4 North Laurel
The Generals could become the Team of the Week with an upset win over the powerhouse Jaguars.
#18 Union County @ #1 Owensboro Catholic
We saw Greenwood steamroll over a ranked opponent; how would Owensboro Catholic do against another solid, yet unspectacular, opponent?
As for this afternoon's upcoming action...
--Larue County @ #3 Greenwood
--#5 Christian County @ Muhlenberg North
--#6 Mercy @ Sacred Heart
--#7 Reidland @ Ballard Memorial
--Green County @ #8 North Hardin
--Jeffersontown @ #9 Ballard
--#10 Grayson County @ Whitesville Trinity
--#12 Butler @ Holy Cross
--Glasgow @ #14 Allen County-Scottsville
--#15 Manual @ Assumption
--Grant County @ #16 Scott County
--#19 Male @ Fern Creek
--Paris @ #20 George Rogers Clark
--#21 Woodford County @ Lexington Catholic
--Montgomery County @ #24 Estill County
--#25 Russell @ Northwest, OH
GAMES OF THE NIGHT
--#23 Lafayette @ #4 North Laurel
The Generals could become the Team of the Week with an upset win over the powerhouse Jaguars.
#18 Union County @ #1 Owensboro Catholic
We saw Greenwood steamroll over a ranked opponent; how would Owensboro Catholic do against another solid, yet unspectacular, opponent?
Wednesday, March 28, 2007
Here Comes The Rain
Many of Wednesday's games will be washouts because of the bad weather, but before we get to the games that likely won't be played today, let's examine the games that were played yesterday...
UPSETS!
--Anderson County takes down #6 Mercy 2-1. What Oldham County couldn't pull against Ballard was done on Tuesday...the 8th region is looking good so far this season.
--Meade County spanks #10 Grayson County 6-2. The Cougars will have a tough time dealing with Owensboro Catholic, but apparently the Aces won't be the only team they have to deal with in the underrated 3rd region.
--#12 Butler placed fourth in last year's state tournament, but the Bears didn't bring it Tuesday against Sacred Heart, as the Valkyries stuffed Butler 7-1.
OTHER NOTABLE RESULTS
--The Greenwood Gator machine was well tuned on Tuesday as #3 Greenwood smoked #22 Edmonson County 16-3 in Brownsville.
--#23 Lafayette picked up a nice season-opening win against #20 George Rogers Clark 5-4. The Generals may be a sleeper team in the 11th region, where Dunbar and Scott County are considered the favorites.
--Central Hardin, after losing to Owensboro Catholic to begin the season, dropped another game on Tuesday by losing to Breckinridge County 4-1 in 8 innings.
AND NOW FOR WEDNESDAY'S GAMES...
Holmes @ #2 Ryle
Fern Creek @ #6 Mercy
#9 Ballard @ Waggener
Lexington Catholic @ #24 Estill County
GAME OF THE NIGHT
#19 Male @ #15 Manual
Arguably the greatest rivalry in Kentucky sports takes to the softball diamond tonight. Look for both teams to play a large role in how the 7th region unfolds this season.
UPSETS!
--Anderson County takes down #6 Mercy 2-1. What Oldham County couldn't pull against Ballard was done on Tuesday...the 8th region is looking good so far this season.
--Meade County spanks #10 Grayson County 6-2. The Cougars will have a tough time dealing with Owensboro Catholic, but apparently the Aces won't be the only team they have to deal with in the underrated 3rd region.
--#12 Butler placed fourth in last year's state tournament, but the Bears didn't bring it Tuesday against Sacred Heart, as the Valkyries stuffed Butler 7-1.
OTHER NOTABLE RESULTS
--The Greenwood Gator machine was well tuned on Tuesday as #3 Greenwood smoked #22 Edmonson County 16-3 in Brownsville.
--#23 Lafayette picked up a nice season-opening win against #20 George Rogers Clark 5-4. The Generals may be a sleeper team in the 11th region, where Dunbar and Scott County are considered the favorites.
--Central Hardin, after losing to Owensboro Catholic to begin the season, dropped another game on Tuesday by losing to Breckinridge County 4-1 in 8 innings.
AND NOW FOR WEDNESDAY'S GAMES...
Holmes @ #2 Ryle
Fern Creek @ #6 Mercy
#9 Ballard @ Waggener
Lexington Catholic @ #24 Estill County
GAME OF THE NIGHT
#19 Male @ #15 Manual
Arguably the greatest rivalry in Kentucky sports takes to the softball diamond tonight. Look for both teams to play a large role in how the 7th region unfolds this season.
Tuesday, March 27, 2007
Nothing Spectacular
Except, of course, #9 Ballard's nine-inning win against Oldham County, 5-3. Other than that, all the ranked teams powered through the first day of the regular season.
As for tonight's ranked action...
#2 Ryle @ Notre Dame
#4 North Laurel @ Danville
#6 Mercy @ Anderson County
Murray @ #7 Reidland
North Bullitt @ #8 North Hardin
#10 Grayson County @ Meade County
Bryan Station @ #11 Dunbar
#12 Butler @ Sacred Heart
Warren Central @ #14 Allen County-Scottsville
Southwestern @ #17 South Laurel
#18 Union County @ Gallatin County, IL
Frankfort @ #19 Male
Tates Creek @ #21 Woodford County
Lewis County @ #25 Russell
And the GAMES OF THE DAY...
#3 Greenwood @ #22 Edmonson County
It should be Riley vs. Caudill in this pitcher's duel, but Greenwood's offensive firepower should prove to be the difference.
#23 Lafayette @ #20 George Rogers Clark
Two teams hanging on to the bottom of the rankings can make a great first impression with a big win tonight.
As for tonight's ranked action...
#2 Ryle @ Notre Dame
#4 North Laurel @ Danville
#6 Mercy @ Anderson County
Murray @ #7 Reidland
North Bullitt @ #8 North Hardin
#10 Grayson County @ Meade County
Bryan Station @ #11 Dunbar
#12 Butler @ Sacred Heart
Warren Central @ #14 Allen County-Scottsville
Southwestern @ #17 South Laurel
#18 Union County @ Gallatin County, IL
Frankfort @ #19 Male
Tates Creek @ #21 Woodford County
Lewis County @ #25 Russell
And the GAMES OF THE DAY...
#3 Greenwood @ #22 Edmonson County
It should be Riley vs. Caudill in this pitcher's duel, but Greenwood's offensive firepower should prove to be the difference.
#23 Lafayette @ #20 George Rogers Clark
Two teams hanging on to the bottom of the rankings can make a great first impression with a big win tonight.
Monday, March 26, 2007
Opening Night
A doubleheader for an Eastern Kentucky power...
--Lawrence County @ #25 Russell
--Fairland, OH @ #25 Russell
Two good games from the Louisville area...
--#12 Butler @ Central
--#9 Ballard @ Oldham County
Many other quality games involving ranked teams...
--#2 Ryle @ St. Henry
--#3 Greenwood @ Glasgow
--Paducah Tilgham @ #7 Reidland
--Lyon County @ #13 Henderson County
--#16 Scott County @ Madison Central
--#17 South Laurel @ Corbin
--Livingston Central @ #18 Union County
--Harrison County @ #20 George Rogers Clark
--Model @ #21 Woodford County
Two quality 3rd vs. 5th region battles...
--#22 Edmonson County @ Larue County
and the other is the...
GAME OF THE NIGHT
#1 Owensboro Catholic @ Central Hardin
The Aces take their game on the road to Radcliff, where the Bruins always pose a formidable threat in the 5th region.
--Lawrence County @ #25 Russell
--Fairland, OH @ #25 Russell
Two good games from the Louisville area...
--#12 Butler @ Central
--#9 Ballard @ Oldham County
Many other quality games involving ranked teams...
--#2 Ryle @ St. Henry
--#3 Greenwood @ Glasgow
--Paducah Tilgham @ #7 Reidland
--Lyon County @ #13 Henderson County
--#16 Scott County @ Madison Central
--#17 South Laurel @ Corbin
--Livingston Central @ #18 Union County
--Harrison County @ #20 George Rogers Clark
--Model @ #21 Woodford County
Two quality 3rd vs. 5th region battles...
--#22 Edmonson County @ Larue County
and the other is the...
GAME OF THE NIGHT
#1 Owensboro Catholic @ Central Hardin
The Aces take their game on the road to Radcliff, where the Bruins always pose a formidable threat in the 5th region.
Preseason Top 25
Here's the KSCA's Preseason Top 25. I'll start the year with these rankings, but I'll edit them as we go along, of course...
1. Owensboro Catholic
2. Ryle
3. Greenwood
4. North Laurel
5. Christian County
6. Mercy
7. Reidland
8. North Hardin
9. Ballard
10. Grayson County
11. Dunbar
12. Butler
13. Henderson County
14. Allen County-Scottsville
15. Manual
16. Scott County
17. South Laurel
18. Union County
19. Male
20. George Rogers Clark
21. Woodford County
22. Edmonson County
23. Lafayette
24. Estill County
25. Russell
Best of The Rest...
Assumption
Apollo
Oldham County
Hopkins County Central
Heath
Montgomery County
Pulaski County
Anderson County
Meade County
Presentation
1. Owensboro Catholic
2. Ryle
3. Greenwood
4. North Laurel
5. Christian County
6. Mercy
7. Reidland
8. North Hardin
9. Ballard
10. Grayson County
11. Dunbar
12. Butler
13. Henderson County
14. Allen County-Scottsville
15. Manual
16. Scott County
17. South Laurel
18. Union County
19. Male
20. George Rogers Clark
21. Woodford County
22. Edmonson County
23. Lafayette
24. Estill County
25. Russell
Best of The Rest...
Assumption
Apollo
Oldham County
Hopkins County Central
Heath
Montgomery County
Pulaski County
Anderson County
Meade County
Presentation
Welcome back!
Well the offseason flew by, so it's time to restart high school softball in the Bluegrass. I hope you enjoyed last year's blog, but there will be a couple of differences this year.
--From May 28th on, I will be unavailable to post any updates. So this means there will be no regional or state tournament coverage. I realize this is a bummer, and at first I considered not running a blog this year for that reason, but I have decided to run the blog through the district tournament action.
--Also, daily updates won't be as thorough. Of course, I will analyze and preview, but it likely won't be to the degree as it was last year due to several responsibilities I have here at UK (18 credit hours, of course, is at the top of the list ;)
But I hope you keep this blog bookmarked as we sail through the regular season and district tournament play over the next two months!
Ben
--From May 28th on, I will be unavailable to post any updates. So this means there will be no regional or state tournament coverage. I realize this is a bummer, and at first I considered not running a blog this year for that reason, but I have decided to run the blog through the district tournament action.
--Also, daily updates won't be as thorough. Of course, I will analyze and preview, but it likely won't be to the degree as it was last year due to several responsibilities I have here at UK (18 credit hours, of course, is at the top of the list ;)
But I hope you keep this blog bookmarked as we sail through the regular season and district tournament play over the next two months!
Ben
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