2025 High School Team Previews: #11 Taylor County

March 7, 2025
Carter Floyd | Jamie Tessoff
KY Social Media Director | KY Scouting Director

We are less than TWO WEEKS from opening day for the 2025 KHSAA season! The Prep Baseball KY staff has been hard at work ranking the top 25 teams in the Bluegrass State. We are now individually previewing our top ranked teams as part of our Power 25 countdown. Our next preview belongs to #11 ranked Taylor County High School!

TAYLOR COUNTY: CARDINALS

2024 Recap:

Record: 29-6-1 (home: 15-0, away: 8-3-1, neutral: 6-3)

1st overall in Region 5
1st overall in District 20

Postseason finish: Region 5 semifinalists

Offensive stats: 290 H, 205 R, 86 XBH, .311 AVG

Pitching stats: 245.2 IP, 157 H, 67 ER, 348 K, 1.91 ERA

Head Coach Remarks:

"Taylor Co is returning 6 starters from a squad that went 29-6 last season, led by 2025 Luke Hayes, a Morehead St. commit and 2026 Cole McLean, a Tennessee commit. Hayes comes in as the #2 RBI man from last year’s team, hitting .298 and will be expected to be a large presence in the middle of the order. Hayes will also see significant time on the mound, showcasing a mid to upper 80s FB. McLean will come in as the ace of the staff. The lefty will be in the upper 80s with his FB while also throwing 2 off speed that he can land for strikes. McLean will be another middle of the order bat that returns as the #2 HR and #3 RBI man for the Cards. Other returners looking to make an impact will be 2025 Gabe Cole (.413 avg) and 2025 Layken Lyons (.314 avg). Both had nagging injuries last season and should return healthy. 2026 Grayson Kearney and 2025 Austin Garrett are two more names to watch as both are poised for big seasons. One of two major newcomers to the Cards will be 2028 Reace Vaughn, one of the top prospects in the 2028 class. Reace will see his time in MIF as well as pitching for the Cards and should be a significant bat offensively. 2028 Kaysen Thompson is another new face for the Cards and should contribute both defensively and offensively. Expectations are high for the 2025 season as the Cards compete in a well balanced 20th District and should be a team high on the list to make a run at the Region 5 championship." - HC Brandon Gupton

State Director's Input:

"The Cards suffered heavy losses to graduation and a couple of transfers, but there is still plenty of talent in Campbellsville for Head Coach Brandon Gupton to work with. Player of The Year candidate and former Team Kentucky Future Games praticipant Luke Hayes (Morehead State) returns and will be counted heavily on both sides of the ball. One of the top Southpaws in the country returns for his junior campaign in Cole McLean. The “Cole Train” is now working in the upper 80’s comfortably, ripping off vicious sliders in the 2500 RPM range, and a Bugs Bunny changeup that will certainly buckle some knees this Spring. Senior OF/LHP Gabe Cole brings back his .413 AVG and will have to contribute big innings for the Cards. Senior Layken Lyons returns and will be a team leader as well. Two of the top young players in the Commonwealth will get a chance to shine as well. One of them is two time Junior Future Games participant Reece Vaughn, who possesses elite bat to ball skills with smooth actions defensively as well. Another 2028 our staff is high on is Kaysen Thompson, who most likely will fill a utility role as he will try to force his way into the lineup. Taylor County will once again be in the mix for a deep postseason run if the stars align and the young players can slow the game down early in the Spring." - Jamie Tessoff

Top Newcomers:

Top Returning Players:

2025 Luke Hayes - C/RHP (Morehead State University)
- .298 AVG, 31 H, 23 R, 24 RBI, 7 XBH, 16 BB, 13 SB
- 2-0, 18.1 IP, 8 ER, 32 K, 3.05 ERA
2026 Cole McLean - LHP/OF (University of Tennessee)
- .275 AVG, 28 H, 20 R, 20 RBI, 12 XBH, 4 HR, 9 BB
- 7-2, 42.1 IP, 11 ER, 71 K, 3 SV, 1.82 ERA
2025 Gabe Cole - OF/LHP
- .413 AVG, 31 H, 26 R, 16 RBI, 7 XBH, 15 BB
2025 Layken Lyons - UTL
- .314 AVG, 27 H, 14 R, 8 RBI, 14 BB
2026 Grayson Kearney - MIF
2025 Austin Garrett - UTL
- .220 AVG, 20 H, 15 R, 17 RBI, 11 XBH, 12 BB