POLLS SHED LITTLE LIGHT ON TOP DOGS (June 13, 2003)

Lexington Herald-Leader (KY)
June 13, 2003
Section: Sports
Edition: Final
Page: D6
Memo:NOTEBOOK

POLLS SHED LITTLE LIGHT ON TOP DOGS
FINAL RANKINGS NEGLECTED TO LIST 21 REGION CHAMPIONS
Mike Fields, Herald-Leader Staff Writer

Twenty-one reasons not to put much faith in high school rankings: 11 baseball teams and 10 fast-pitch softball teams that didn’t appear in the last polls of the season wound up as region champs.

The five rated baseball teams still alive: No. 1 Paul Dunbar, No. 6 LaRue County, No. 10 Boone County, No. 17 Rockcastle County and No. 25 Male.
The six rated fast-pitch teams still swinging: No. 2 Owensboro Catholic, No. 3 Greenwood, No. 6 Middlesboro, No. 8 North Laurel, No. 12 Mercy and No. 23 Russell.

* When Owensboro, Hopkinsville and Jeffersontown tried a few weeks ago to bid for the right to host the fast-pitch state tournament, it was an indication just how far girls’ sports have come in 25 years. Lexington’s high schools played their first season of slow-pitch softball in 1978. At the time only five schools in the state (Bryan Station, Henry Clay, Lafayette, Tates Creek and Woodford County) played softball in the spring. A dozen or so Northern Kentucky schools played in the fall. This item appeared in the Lexington Herald in May 1978: “The KHSAA is waiting to see whether (softball) catches on in the rest of the state before sanctioning the sport or scheduling a state tournament.”

The KHSAA got the message, and it has cities clamoring to put on fast-pitch softball’s big show.

* Doubling the number of teams in the state baseball tournament (from four to eight) is a great idea and should bring record crowds to Applebee’s Park next week. But the format, which includes two first-round games Wednesday night and two more Thursday night, might make for an uneven playing field. Teams that play Wednesday could have an edge under the rules that limit the innings a pitcher can work. Pitchers who go three to five innings must rest one day. If they go six innings they must rest two days. That means teams that play Wednesday would have a better chance to get their ace on the mound for more than one game. It might hurt attendance a little bit, but a format that had all four first-round games in one day would be more equitable. Tickets to the state tournament at Applebee’s Park are $6 (advance), $7 (at the gate) and $10 (premium seating).

* Looking through the statistics for the 16 teams in the state fast-pitch tournament at Hopkinsville this weekend, Amanda Chadwell of Middlesboro appears to be the toughest player to fan. In 142 at-bats this season, she’s struck out just once. Batting leadoff, she has a .470 average, with 55 runs.

* Owensboro Catholic has something no other team in the fast-pitch tournament has — a pair of aces. Elizabeth Church is 15-1, with a 0.19 ERA and 119 K’s in 109 innings. Megan Jolly is 16-2, with a 0.52 ERA and 224 K’s in 122 innings.

* Jim Perrin, one of the winningest softball coaches in the state, is calling it quits after 20 years at Christian County. He had an overall record of 633-147, highlighted by eight region titles. Christian County was rated No. 1 this season, but was upset in the 2nd Region tournament. In 33 years at the school, Perrin coached several other sports, including wrestling for 19 years. His Colonels won the 1988 state wrestling title.

* Bart Rison, who guided Montgomery County’s boys to their first Sweet Sixteen basketball tournament in 1995, has the Lady Indians’ fast-pitch team in their first state tournament. “I’m happy for the girls,” Rison said, “because they do all the right things off the field, too.” A trio of three-year starters has led Montgomery County to a 30-7 record — shortstop Lisa Gessford, second baseman Amanda Stull and first baseman Dierdre Thomas.

* Dean Fookes, who was never able to win a region title in seven years as Dixie Heights’ baseball coach or in 10 years as boys’ basketball coach, finally got over the hump in his eighth year in fast-pitch. He guided the Lady Colonels to the 9th Region crown. His wife, Nell Fookes, has won four region titles as girls’ basketball coach at Boone County.

* Anna Bevins pitched Belfry to its first regional softball title. She shut down Shelby Valley 1-0 in the semifinals, and Pikeville 3-1 in the finals. Bevins is also a 1,000-point scorer in basketball and is a standout in volleyball.

* 8th Region baseball champion Anderson County has shown great survival instincts in the playoffs. Their five post-season wins have all been close — three by one run, and two in extra innings. L.W. Barnes’ team won all three of its regional games in its last at-bat.

* Warren Central’s long-time baseball coach Rick Alfonso stepped down a month into the season, but his Dragons didn’t let his departure affect them. They won the 4th Region title under interim coach Shane Humphrey. “It’s been a very difficult season personally for me and some of the guys,” Humphrey told he Bowling Green Daily News. “So to win this is so special.”

* Eastern’s David Slovak had a big junior year on the mound. His seven wins included decisions over Male and St. Xavier, and he gave up only three earned runs in 63 innings. His 0.33 ERA is one of the top five all-time in state history.

* Lafayette product Brad Erwin wrapped up a productive career at UNC-Charlotte. After being nagged by injuries as a junior, he came back this year to hit .321 with six homers and 27 RBI. He had a career batting average of .314. His 46 doubles were ninth on the school’s all-time list, and his 28 homers were eighth.

* Kentucky’s basketball all-stars take on Indiana Saturday night in Owensboro. Barring a couple of upsets, the Hoosiers will continue their domination. Indiana’s boys have won eight of the last nine games in the summer series. Indiana’s girls have taken 17 of the last 20. There’s always next year. Kentucky’s 2004 senior class has some blue-chip talent — Rajon Rondo and Chris Lofton among the boys, and Sarah Elliott, Crystal Kelly and Jade Perry among the girls.

* Kentucky’s football all-stars report to UK this weekend to start practice for next Friday night’s showdown with Tennessee in Commonwealth Stadium. It will be interesting to see how Male Coach Bob Redman splits quarterback chores between his own star, Michael Bush, who is headed to Louisville, and North Hardin’s Andre Woodson, a UK signee. Tickets to the all-star game at $10. Kickoff is 6 p.m.

* Jim Brown, a Somerset graduate who has assisted in the girls’ basketball program for 14 years, is the Lady Briar Jumpers’ new head coach. He succeeds Judi Mason, who left to become coach at Boyle County.

* The top senior-to-be boys’ basketball players in the 12th Region will play in an all-star game that will honor Gene Lowe, who died recently. Lowe ran a sporting goods business that sponsored high school events across the state for more than 40 years. The game will be at Pulaski County on Tuesday at 7 p.m.

* To clarify a note last week, Brian Hall, an assistant at Johnson Central the last 10 years, is the new boys’ basketball coach at Breathitt County.

* North Hardin girls’ basketball coach Renata Kuchowicz is leaving the Lady Trojans to become coach at LaRue County.

* Dan Ridder resigned as Dayton football coach with a record of 64-107 in 17 years.

* Fairview’s new football coach is Chad Tackett, 27. He will take over for Bill Musick, who doubled as principal and coach the last two years. Tackett was an assistant at Fairview last season.

* Guys aren’t necessarily faster than girls. California high school phenom Allyson Felix ran the 200-meter dash in 22.11 this spring. That’s better than the 22.27 clocked by Steven Gannon of East Jessamine and Carl Sains of Paducah Tilghman, the fastest 200 sprinters at the Kentucky state meet this year.

* India Chiles of Ballard has been named Gatorade’s fast-pitch softball player of the year in Kentucky. She batted over .500 this season, and has a 3.8 GPA.

Mike Fields covers high school sports for the Herald-Leader. This article contains his opinions and observations. Reach him at (859) 231-3337, 1-800-950-6397, Ext. 3337 or mfields@herald-leader.com.

by MARK CORNELISON STAFF FILE PHOTO – While Indiana’s boys have won eight of the last nine Kentucky-Indiana all-star games, Kentucky fans may have to wait until 2004 to see a win when blue-chip talents like Sweet Sixteen Most Valuable Player Chris Lofton take the court.