Finally, after what seems like an eternity, high school baseball is upon us in the Bluegrass State as scrimmages have been in full force in preparation for the March 29 regular season start. Thus, the time has come for us to release our Preseason Power 25.

In 2019, the last season played in Kentucky, 3 of the 4 teams that made the State Final Four were ranked in the top 6 in our preseason Power 25 that year.

Wednesday we released No. 21-25 in our preseason rankings.

Thursday we released No. 16-20 in our preseason rankings.

Friday we released No. 11-15 in our preseason rankings.

As we get into the season, we will update the Power 25 each Monday.

For now, here is a look at No. 6-10 in this year’s Preseason Power 25.

6. Bowling Green – A pitching staff led by senior lefty Carson Myers, a UAB recruit, junior RHP/UTL Patrick Forbes who recently committed to Louisville, and junior RHP Dawson Hall, will give the Purples the opportunity to win a lot of games this spring. All three pitch in the mid to high-80’s with sharp breaking balls that work off the fastball. Senior Maddox Burr and junior Isaiah Head should also see significant innings, giving the Purples a lot of mound depth. SS/OF Eli Burwash, a Frontier CC recruit, returns to lead an offense that will also feature big power from Forbes and Myers in the middle of the lineup. Also, look for some power from senior 1B Campbell Bush and offensive production from Burr.

7. Owensboro Catholic – Powered by one of the strongest junior classes in the state, the Aces have the potential to be the best team the 3^rd Region has produced in several years. A deep pitching staff looks to be led by Olney Central recruit Hunter Small, the only senior on the roster, and junior RHP Luke Scales, a Bellarmine commit. Both RHP’s reach the high-80’s with their fastballs, and Scales complements it with a swing-and-miss curveball. The pitching depth doesn’t stop there as juniors Sam McFarland and Luke Evans both work well into the 80’s with their fastballs, and junior Hayden Ward and senior Finley Munsey should also see significant innings. Many of the aforementioned will also lead the Aces offensive attack in Scales, McFarland, Evans, junior C Braden Mundy,  and junior OF’s John Frey and Everett Munsey. Mundy features a big arm behind the plate, and though we have yet to see it, there have been rumblings of him touching 90 mph on the mound also.

8. Somerset – If it seems like Louisville recruit Kade Grundy has been at Somerset forever, it’s because he practically has. Having played varsity baseball since middle school, the senior RHP/OF returns for one more season with his low-90’s fastball and big bat in the middle of the Briar Jumpers lineup. Somerset’s pitching depth doesn’t stop there though as senior RHP Jonathan Phipps, an Ohio University recruit, provides the staff with a big 1-2 punch. Senior LHP Hank McArthur, a Virginia Wesleyan recruit, works in the 80’s with his fastball as well. Offensively, we already mentioned Grundy, but also look for senior 1B Dakota Acey (Midway recruit), senior 2B Cam Ryan (Freed-Hardeman recruit),  senior SS Cole Reynolds (Eastern Kentucky recruit), and senior C Dylan Burton to provide some firepower for the Briar Jumpers.

9. West Jessamine – The Colts will feature plenty of pitching including two D1 arms at the top of the rotation. Senior RHP Ethan Davis, a Wofford recruit, works in the high-80’s with his fastball, and junior LHP Hayden Smith, who committed to Kentucky a few weeks ago, will bring a fastball touching the high-80’s and big curveball. Look for projectable RHP Braden Welch to log significant innings on the mound as well. The West Jessamine lineup will feature one of the top uncommitted players in the 2021 class in OF Jackson Green who is one of the top multi-sport athletes in the state. Davis should also contribute heavily to the offense as well as junior 1B/OF Riley Uhls and a pair of sophomores in OF Jacob Jones and 1B Brady Blair.

10. Henry Clay – You want pitching depth? The Blue Devils have plenty of it that starts with a pair of junior RHP’s who have made recent upticks in velocity in Cade Schneider and Joey Howard. Schneider features a high spin upper 80’s fastball to go along with one of the best breaking balls in the class, and Howard also runs his fastball into the high-80’s with a sharp slider. Senior RHP Parker Henderson, a Roane State recruit, brings a mid-80’s fastball and pitchability to the rotation, senior RHP Andrew Newsome, a Marietta College recruit, also pitches in the mid-80’s, and junior RHP Ben Taylor made a jump into the mid-80’s with a sharp, high-spin slider. Henderson, senior MIF Henry Mitcham, an Eastern Kentucky recruit, and seniors William Webb and Clay Momeyer look to pace the Henry Clay offensive attack.