By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

As we prepare for our 2014 high school season coverage, we are going to take a quick glance at teams from across the state.

Team: Bethlehem
District: 19th
Region: 5th
Head Coach: Roger Robinson
2013 Overall Record: 29-11
2013 Region Record: 18-5
Returning Starters: 8
Returning Pitchers: All

TOP PLAYERS (2013 stats in parenthesis)

Jimmi Keating, RHP, 2014 (11-4, 1.36 ERA, 100 K's)
Conner Ballard, OF/RHP, 2014 (.333, 27 R, 28 RBI, 25 SB, 8-2 on mound)
Blake Brangers, C, 2014 (.357, 36 RBI)
Jake Yates, 2B, 2015 (.372, 37 R, 36 SB)
John Riney, 3B, 2014 (.350, 21 RBI)
Zach Smith, OF, 2014 (.356)
Thomas Osborne, SS, (.300)
Chance Bodine, C, 2015

YOUNG UP AND COMERS

Austin Monin, 2017
DJ Mattingly, 2017
Jameson Hinkebein, 2017

OUTLOOK:

The Eagles return nearly their entire roster from a team that got hot in mid-April last year by winning 15 of their last 19 games.  Senior Jimmi Keating returns to lead the pitching staff from last season's 19th District Championship squad that advanced to the 5th Region Semi-Finals.  Senior Conner Ballard returns his 8 wins on the mound, and along with junior Jake Yates, will create plenty of RBI opportunities for senior Blake Brangers in the middle of the lineup.  Expectations are high in Eagle country as they will be an experienced and deep team and will pose a serious threat in the 5th this spring.

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COACHES PRE-SEASON QUESTIONNAIRE

We appreciate the strong response so far from high school coaches across the state assisting with our pre-season coverage.  If you have not already done so you can fill out our coaches pre-season questionnaire online by clicking here.