Class A
1. Lexington Christian
2. Mayfield
3. Beechwood
4. Crittenden County
5. Hazard
6. Frankfort
7. Louisville Holy Cross
8. Pikeville
9. Bellevue
10. Raceland
Class 2A
1. Fort Campbell
2. Louisville DeSales
3. Prestonsburg
4. Corbin
5. Monroe County
6. Newport Catholic
7. Murray
8. Covington Holy Cross
9. Green County
10. Christian Academy of Louisville
Class 3A
1. Louisville Central
2. Belfry
3. Mason County
4. Somerset
5. Sheldon Clark
6. Breathitt County
7. Russell
8. Union County
9. Henry County
10. North Oldham
Class 4A
1. Boyle County
2. Bell County
3. Lexington Catholic
4. Lone Oak
5. Allen County
6. Marion County
7. Louisville Western
8. Franklin-Simpson
9. Covington Holmes
10. Louisville Valley
Class 5A
1. Fort Thomas Highlands
2. Bowling Green
3. John Hardin
4. Christian County
5. Owensboro
6. Anderson County
7. Oldham County
8. Covington Catholic
9. Ashland
10. Dixie Heights
Class 6A
1. Louisville St. Xavier
2. Louisville Trinity
3. Simon Kenton
4. Lexington Henry Clay
5. Scott County
6. Louisville Ballard
7. Louisville Male
8. Lexington Bryan Station
9. Louisville Manual
10. Shelby County
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Please, no Dodgers-Yankees ...
Fox Sports must be salivating at the prospect of a Yankees-Dodgers series, with the two biggest media markets and the prospect of Joe Torre and Manny Ramirez (who grew up in Manhattan) renewing acquaintances with the Yankees, etc.
On the flip side, I can imagine the groans emanating from New York if the Phillies and Angels emerge as their respective league champions. Here's a brief synopsis on the two series:
Yankees-Angels: The most crucial element for the Angels is their starting pitching. Mike Scioscia is going with ace John Lackey in Game 1 and left-hander Joe Saunders in Game 2 — Saunders is a much better fit to pitch in Yankee Stadium than righty Jered Weaver, whose fly-ball tendencies make him a risk against New York's lefty power.
The story of the Angels' season has been their offense, which regularly features eight hitters that hit .287 or better — the lone holdout is underrated catcher Mike Napoli, who hit .272 with 20 home runs. The biggest keys will be whether Chone Figgins and Bobby Abreu can get on base for guys like Torii Hunter (90 RBI in only 119 games) and Kendry Morales, who drove in 108 runs this season in a surprisingly fine season.
The Yankees, however, seem to have too much firepower. Except when Jose Molina is in the lineup as A.J. Burnett's preferred catcher, New York doesn't have a hole in the lineup.
And New York has a big edge in the bullpen, with Joba Chamberlain potentially joining Phil Hughes as deluxe setup men for Mariano Rivera, still the game's best closer.
Pick: Yankees in six.
Dodgers-Phillies: If I was a Phillies fan, I would much rather have faced St. Louis. Why? The Dodgers have the lefty pitching that could neutralize Philly first baseman Ryan Howard, who is as good a hitter in the game against right-handed pitching, but southpaws tie him up in knots.
Notice that Howard had the big hit, a two-run double, in the Phillies' ninth-inning rally against Colorado in the series-deciding game. Colorado, stuck in the "closer mentality," left righty Huston Street in to face him with two runners on, even with reliable lefty Joe Beimel warmed up in the bullpen.
It also says something about Fox's coverage that none of the game announcers, and none of their post-game analysis, included an iota of discussion of the subject.
Los Angeles has two lefties in the rotation (young stud Clayton Kershaw and revived Randy Wolf) and two tough lefties in the pen in hard-throwing Hong-Chih Kuo and George Sherrill, quietly acquired from Baltimore at the trading deadline.
For much of the season, Philly hit lefties Chase Utley, Howard and Raul Ibanez in the 3-4-5 spots in the lineup, but Charlie Manuel has recently (and smartly) put Jayson Werth, who tattooes lefties, in the fifth spot above Ibanez.
This has the makings of a dynamite series. The pick here: Dodgers in seven.
And if I'm right, Fox gets their wish. I'm almost hoping I'm wrong somewhere.
On the flip side, I can imagine the groans emanating from New York if the Phillies and Angels emerge as their respective league champions. Here's a brief synopsis on the two series:
Yankees-Angels: The most crucial element for the Angels is their starting pitching. Mike Scioscia is going with ace John Lackey in Game 1 and left-hander Joe Saunders in Game 2 — Saunders is a much better fit to pitch in Yankee Stadium than righty Jered Weaver, whose fly-ball tendencies make him a risk against New York's lefty power.
The story of the Angels' season has been their offense, which regularly features eight hitters that hit .287 or better — the lone holdout is underrated catcher Mike Napoli, who hit .272 with 20 home runs. The biggest keys will be whether Chone Figgins and Bobby Abreu can get on base for guys like Torii Hunter (90 RBI in only 119 games) and Kendry Morales, who drove in 108 runs this season in a surprisingly fine season.
The Yankees, however, seem to have too much firepower. Except when Jose Molina is in the lineup as A.J. Burnett's preferred catcher, New York doesn't have a hole in the lineup.
And New York has a big edge in the bullpen, with Joba Chamberlain potentially joining Phil Hughes as deluxe setup men for Mariano Rivera, still the game's best closer.
Pick: Yankees in six.
Dodgers-Phillies: If I was a Phillies fan, I would much rather have faced St. Louis. Why? The Dodgers have the lefty pitching that could neutralize Philly first baseman Ryan Howard, who is as good a hitter in the game against right-handed pitching, but southpaws tie him up in knots.
Notice that Howard had the big hit, a two-run double, in the Phillies' ninth-inning rally against Colorado in the series-deciding game. Colorado, stuck in the "closer mentality," left righty Huston Street in to face him with two runners on, even with reliable lefty Joe Beimel warmed up in the bullpen.
It also says something about Fox's coverage that none of the game announcers, and none of their post-game analysis, included an iota of discussion of the subject.
Los Angeles has two lefties in the rotation (young stud Clayton Kershaw and revived Randy Wolf) and two tough lefties in the pen in hard-throwing Hong-Chih Kuo and George Sherrill, quietly acquired from Baltimore at the trading deadline.
For much of the season, Philly hit lefties Chase Utley, Howard and Raul Ibanez in the 3-4-5 spots in the lineup, but Charlie Manuel has recently (and smartly) put Jayson Werth, who tattooes lefties, in the fifth spot above Ibanez.
This has the makings of a dynamite series. The pick here: Dodgers in seven.
And if I'm right, Fox gets their wish. I'm almost hoping I'm wrong somewhere.
BluegrassPreps.com rankings ...
Class A
1. Lexington Christian
2. Mayfield
3. Beechwood
4. Crittenden County
5. Frankfort
6. Hazard
7. Louisville
8. Raceland
9. Pikeville
10. Fairview
Class 2A
1. Fort Campbell
2. Louisvile DeSales
3. Prestonsburg
4. Corbin
5. Monroe County
6. Newport Catholic
7. Murray
8. Covington Holy Cross
9. Green County
10. Christian Academy of Louisville
Class 3A
1. Louisville Central
2. Mason County
3. Somerset
4. Sheldon Clark
5. Belfry
6. Russell
7. Breathitt County
8. Union County
9. Paducah Tilghman
10. Henry County
Class 4A
1. Boyle County
2. Bell County
3. Lexington Catholic
4. Lone Oak
5. Allen County
6. Louisville Western
7. Marion County
8. Louisville Valley
9. Franklin-Simpson
10. Covington Holmes
Class 5A
1. Fort Thomas Highlands
2. Bowling Green
3. John Hardin
4. Christian County
5. Owensboro
6. Anderson County
7. Covington Catholic
8. Oldham County
9. Ashland
10. Dixie Heights
Class 6A
1. Louisville St. Xavier
2. Louisville Trinity
3. Simon Kenton
4. Lexington Henry Clay
5. Scott County
6. Louisville Ballard at Seneca
7. Louisville Fern Creek
8. Louisville Male
9. Lexington Bryan Station
10. Louisville Manual
1. Lexington Christian
2. Mayfield
3. Beechwood
4. Crittenden County
5. Frankfort
6. Hazard
7. Louisville
8. Raceland
9. Pikeville
10. Fairview
Class 2A
1. Fort Campbell
2. Louisvile DeSales
3. Prestonsburg
4. Corbin
5. Monroe County
6. Newport Catholic
7. Murray
8. Covington Holy Cross
9. Green County
10. Christian Academy of Louisville
Class 3A
1. Louisville Central
2. Mason County
3. Somerset
4. Sheldon Clark
5. Belfry
6. Russell
7. Breathitt County
8. Union County
9. Paducah Tilghman
10. Henry County
Class 4A
1. Boyle County
2. Bell County
3. Lexington Catholic
4. Lone Oak
5. Allen County
6. Louisville Western
7. Marion County
8. Louisville Valley
9. Franklin-Simpson
10. Covington Holmes
Class 5A
1. Fort Thomas Highlands
2. Bowling Green
3. John Hardin
4. Christian County
5. Owensboro
6. Anderson County
7. Covington Catholic
8. Oldham County
9. Ashland
10. Dixie Heights
Class 6A
1. Louisville St. Xavier
2. Louisville Trinity
3. Simon Kenton
4. Lexington Henry Clay
5. Scott County
6. Louisville Ballard at Seneca
7. Louisville Fern Creek
8. Louisville Male
9. Lexington Bryan Station
10. Louisville Manual
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Madding making an impact at Campbellsville ...
Campbellsville University's coaching staff thought it got a steal in Marshall County product Josh Madding, and the early returns say they're probably right.
Madding, a true freshman, caught seven passes for 96 yards as Campbellsville went on the road and knocked off 10th-ranked Shorter 42-28 last Thursday night. It was a breakout game for Madding, who had caught only one pass in the Tigers' previous four games.
Campbellsville continues its turnaround under former Paducah Tilghman coach Perry Thomas, who won three games with a team that was winless in 2007. The Tigers are currently 3-2.
Madding, a true freshman, caught seven passes for 96 yards as Campbellsville went on the road and knocked off 10th-ranked Shorter 42-28 last Thursday night. It was a breakout game for Madding, who had caught only one pass in the Tigers' previous four games.
Campbellsville continues its turnaround under former Paducah Tilghman coach Perry Thomas, who won three games with a team that was winless in 2007. The Tigers are currently 3-2.
BluegrassPreps.com rankings ...
Class A
1. Lexington Christian
2. Mayfield
3. Beechwood
4. Crittenden County
5. Frankfort
6. Hazard
7. Louisville Holy Cross
8. Raceland
9. Pikeville
10. Fairview
Class 2A
1. Fort Campbell
2. Louisville DeSales
3. Prestonsburg
4. Corbin
5. Monroe County
6. Newport Catholic
7. Covington Holy Cross
8. Murray
9. Green County
10. Christian Academy of Louisville
Class 3A
1. Louisville Central
2. Mason County
3. Somerset
4. Sheldon Clark
5. Belfry
6. Russell
7. Paducah Tilghman
8. Union County
9. Breathitt County
10. Spencer County
Class 4A
1. Boyle County
2. Bell County
3. Lone Oak
4. Allen County
5. Lexington Catholic
6. Louisville Western
7. Marion County
8. Louisville Fairdale
9. Franklin-Simpson
10. Rockcastle County
Class 5A
1. Fort Thomas Highlands
2. Bowling Green
3. John Hardin
4. Christian County
5. Owensboro
6. Ashland
7. Anderson County
8. Covington Catholic
9. Oldham County
10. Dixie Heights
Class 6A
1. Louisville St. Xavier
2. Lexington Henry Clay
3. Louisville Trinity
4. Simon Kenton
5. Scott County
6. Lexington Bryan Station
7. Louisville Ballard
8. Louisville Male
9. Ryle
10. Louisville Fern Creek
1. Lexington Christian
2. Mayfield
3. Beechwood
4. Crittenden County
5. Frankfort
6. Hazard
7. Louisville Holy Cross
8. Raceland
9. Pikeville
10. Fairview
Class 2A
1. Fort Campbell
2. Louisville DeSales
3. Prestonsburg
4. Corbin
5. Monroe County
6. Newport Catholic
7. Covington Holy Cross
8. Murray
9. Green County
10. Christian Academy of Louisville
Class 3A
1. Louisville Central
2. Mason County
3. Somerset
4. Sheldon Clark
5. Belfry
6. Russell
7. Paducah Tilghman
8. Union County
9. Breathitt County
10. Spencer County
Class 4A
1. Boyle County
2. Bell County
3. Lone Oak
4. Allen County
5. Lexington Catholic
6. Louisville Western
7. Marion County
8. Louisville Fairdale
9. Franklin-Simpson
10. Rockcastle County
Class 5A
1. Fort Thomas Highlands
2. Bowling Green
3. John Hardin
4. Christian County
5. Owensboro
6. Ashland
7. Anderson County
8. Covington Catholic
9. Oldham County
10. Dixie Heights
Class 6A
1. Louisville St. Xavier
2. Lexington Henry Clay
3. Louisville Trinity
4. Simon Kenton
5. Scott County
6. Lexington Bryan Station
7. Louisville Ballard
8. Louisville Male
9. Ryle
10. Louisville Fern Creek
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Soccer: Heath, Murray boys face big weekends
Does any western Kentucky soccer team finish with a tougher final week than Heath? Doubtful.
The Pirates (11-3-1) will close out the regular season with three games against state-ranked teams. Heath meets No. 23 Lexington Catholic and 22nd-ranked Scott, the top team in northern Kentucky, on Saturday as part of Madisonville's Donley Classic, then hosts 19th-ranked Marshall County on Thursday night.
Two of Heath's losses have come to ranked teams — No. 5 East Jessamine beat a shorthanded Pirates squad 5-1 at Bourbon County two weeks ago, and 10th-ranked Daviess County knocked off the Pirates 4-1 in late August.
Murray's boys will play Danville in the Class A Cup semifinals on Sunday in Frankfort, weather permitting — the final four has already been postponed twice because of heavy rain. Lexington Sayre and St. Henry will meet in the other semifinal.
"We may have to play twice in Frankfort," Murray coach Jim Baurer said. "Then we come back home and have to go to Madisonville on Monday. That's pretty tough scheduling, no matter what we do on Sunday."
The Pirates (11-3-1) will close out the regular season with three games against state-ranked teams. Heath meets No. 23 Lexington Catholic and 22nd-ranked Scott, the top team in northern Kentucky, on Saturday as part of Madisonville's Donley Classic, then hosts 19th-ranked Marshall County on Thursday night.
Two of Heath's losses have come to ranked teams — No. 5 East Jessamine beat a shorthanded Pirates squad 5-1 at Bourbon County two weeks ago, and 10th-ranked Daviess County knocked off the Pirates 4-1 in late August.
Murray's boys will play Danville in the Class A Cup semifinals on Sunday in Frankfort, weather permitting — the final four has already been postponed twice because of heavy rain. Lexington Sayre and St. Henry will meet in the other semifinal.
"We may have to play twice in Frankfort," Murray coach Jim Baurer said. "Then we come back home and have to go to Madisonville on Monday. That's pretty tough scheduling, no matter what we do on Sunday."
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