Heath product Chad Wright, one of the Kentucky baseball team's biggest surprises last spring, has maintained his level of performance early in his sophomore season. Wright, the everyday left fielder, was hitting .348 with a team-high 16 RBI in 16 game and led the team in total bases before the Wildcats' game with Wright State on Wednesday night.
Kentucky was ranked 20th nationally before Monday's 7-5 loss to Murray State and was 13-3 going into the Wright State contest.
Gabriel Shaw, a former St. Mary star, has given Louisville stellar bullpen work so far this season. Shaw is 3-0 with a 1.64 ERA in eight appearances and has a couple of saves. Shaw has pitched 11 innings, allowing 11 hits with a walk and 11 strikeouts.
Shaw appears to have recovered well from elbow surgery late last summer.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
Jones pitching well down south ...
Ballard Memorial product James Jones, now pitching collegiately for Louisiana-Monroe, was named the pitcher of the week for the Sun Belt Conference and the state of Louisiana after tossing a two-hit shutout against Mississippi Valley State on March 6.
Jones, who is now 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA, followed up that outing with a strong performance at conference rival Middle Tennessee on Friday, in the opener of a weekend series. Jones worked eight innings, allowing three earned runs and getting a no-decision.
Drafted in June in the 45th round by the Cleveland Indians after spending two seasons at John A. Logan, Jones opted to pitch in the Northwoods League last summer (4-2 with a 3.52 ERA) and go to Louisiana-Monroe to up his draft stock. The Warhawks pay Western Kentucky a visit for a three-game series that begins on March 26.
Jones, who is now 1-1 with a 4.50 ERA, followed up that outing with a strong performance at conference rival Middle Tennessee on Friday, in the opener of a weekend series. Jones worked eight innings, allowing three earned runs and getting a no-decision.
Drafted in June in the 45th round by the Cleveland Indians after spending two seasons at John A. Logan, Jones opted to pitch in the Northwoods League last summer (4-2 with a 3.52 ERA) and go to Louisiana-Monroe to up his draft stock. The Warhawks pay Western Kentucky a visit for a three-game series that begins on March 26.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Former Racer Fowler gets first head coaching job ...
Cary Fowler, who played at Murray State and later served as an assistant coach under Houston Nutt and Denver Johnson, has been named as the head coach at Tarleton State, a Division II program in Texas.
Fowler, a Hopkinsville native, has been the defensive coordinator at Tarleton the last two seasons after serving in the same capacity at in-state conference rival Midwestern State.
Fowler, a Hopkinsville native, has been the defensive coordinator at Tarleton the last two seasons after serving in the same capacity at in-state conference rival Midwestern State.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Baseball's "floating realignment" plan ...
Word was leaked this week of a potential Major League Baseball realignment proposal, one that reportedly has the endorsement of commissioner Bud Selig.
According to various reports, teams could change divisions, depending on geography and desire to contend.
For example, it has been reported that a team like Tampa Bay, with all of its fine young talent, could move to the AL Central in a given season if a team in that division wished to move to the East. The idea is that the Rays would benefit from not having to compete against the Yankees and Red Sox, both of which have exponentially higher payrolls and more financial resources with which to assemble a team.
The school of thought is that an AL Central team that isn't expected to contend might want to move to the East, given that more games against New York and Boston might result in increases in attendance and revenue.
In short, the idea stinks to high heaven. If Selig really wants to deal with the financial restraints facing some small-market teams, it's time to consider the institution of a salary cap.
According to various reports, teams could change divisions, depending on geography and desire to contend.
For example, it has been reported that a team like Tampa Bay, with all of its fine young talent, could move to the AL Central in a given season if a team in that division wished to move to the East. The idea is that the Rays would benefit from not having to compete against the Yankees and Red Sox, both of which have exponentially higher payrolls and more financial resources with which to assemble a team.
The school of thought is that an AL Central team that isn't expected to contend might want to move to the East, given that more games against New York and Boston might result in increases in attendance and revenue.
In short, the idea stinks to high heaven. If Selig really wants to deal with the financial restraints facing some small-market teams, it's time to consider the institution of a salary cap.
Hayden, Downey, Richerson on state Top 50 list ...
Baseball season isn't far away, and three of the First Region's top players were named to the state coaches' association's preseason list of Kentucky's top 50 players.
Ryan Hayden, Graves County's No. 1 pitcher, heads the list. Hayden also played second base and shortstop for the Eagles last spring.
Two Murray players, left-handed pitcher and outfielder Brock Downey and catcher Tanner Richerson, are also on the list.
Ryan Hayden, Graves County's No. 1 pitcher, heads the list. Hayden also played second base and shortstop for the Eagles last spring.
Two Murray players, left-handed pitcher and outfielder Brock Downey and catcher Tanner Richerson, are also on the list.
Fields' likely destination: West Virginia ...
Some of the buzz at the girls' Sweet 16 is that Calloway County star Averee Fields, who will announce her college basketball plans on Monday, has given West Virginia a verbal commitment.
West Virginia is currently 28-5 and finished second in the Big East Conference and reached the conference tournament's championship game, falling to top-ranked Connecticut in the final.
Fields was being courted by several other Big East schools, including Louisville, Marquette, Villanova and Seton Hall.
West Virginia is currently 28-5 and finished second in the Big East Conference and reached the conference tournament's championship game, falling to top-ranked Connecticut in the final.
Fields was being courted by several other Big East schools, including Louisville, Marquette, Villanova and Seton Hall.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Fields to commit to ... Murray State?
Lost in the hubbub surrounding Saturday night's dramatic girls' First Region final between Murray and Calloway County was the revelation that Calloway star Averee Fields, one of the state's top juniors, will announce her college choice on March 15.
The kicker is that the announcement and ceremony will be in the Murray Room at Murray State University's Regional Special Events Center, fueling speculation that Fields may spurn interest from bigger schools to stay at home and attend Murray State.
I asked Murray coach Rob Cross, who has been recruiting Fields hard for a couple of years, what he knew about it and got only a little smile as a reply. Really, the fact that the announcement will be made on campus makes you wonder.
Fields has had several Big East schools (Villanova, West Virginia, Seton Hall, Louisville and Marquette) check out her game in recent weeks, as have others such as Michigan, Western Kentucky, Tennessee State and Tennessee-Martin.
The kicker is that the announcement and ceremony will be in the Murray Room at Murray State University's Regional Special Events Center, fueling speculation that Fields may spurn interest from bigger schools to stay at home and attend Murray State.
I asked Murray coach Rob Cross, who has been recruiting Fields hard for a couple of years, what he knew about it and got only a little smile as a reply. Really, the fact that the announcement will be made on campus makes you wonder.
Fields has had several Big East schools (Villanova, West Virginia, Seton Hall, Louisville and Marquette) check out her game in recent weeks, as have others such as Michigan, Western Kentucky, Tennessee State and Tennessee-Martin.
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