By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

It's that time of year again.  There is nothing quite like the feel, the excitement, and the smell in the air of tournament baseball.  For those of us in Kentucky, the wait is over as a full schedule of District Tournament games kicks off all over the state this evening.  Here is a look at five of the top games on tap tonight.

#15 CAL vs #12 Ballard, 28^th District, 7:15 PM at Ballard HS
CAL took the regular season matchup with a 5-4 victory.  CAL enters the game having won 10 consecutive games while Ballard lost two of its final three. 

Our pick: CAL – As much as we like Ballard’s offense, this is a tough first-round matchup as junior Riley Thompson (Louisville commit, ranked No. 1 in 2015 class) undoubtedly takes the mound for CAL.  The Centurions advance in a low-scoring contest.

#16 Paul Laurence Dunbar vs #18 Lafayette, 43^rd District, 6:00 PM at Lafayette
The two teams split during the regular season with both teams winning on the road.  Aaron Ochsenbein (Eastern Kentucky signee, ranked No. 6 in the 2014 Class) should take the mound for PLD, while the Lafayette starter is not as cut and dry.  At 18-13, PLD hasn’t lived up to our pre-season expectations, but they are certainly capable of putting together a run in the tournament.  Lafayette, at 22-11, has played its best baseball over the last three weeks of the season and come in having won eight of nine. 

Our pick: Lafayette – Our head tells us not to bet against Ochsenbein, but the gut feeling is the team that has played the best baseball of late wins this one.  That team is Lafayette.

Boone County vs Cooper, 33^rd District, 5:00 PM at Boone County
Boone County won the regular season matchup 4-1, and this game will undoubtedly feature the pitching matchup of Trey Ganns (Northern Kentucky signee, ranked No. 27 in the 2014 Class) vs Hunter Dunn (Eastern Kentucky signee, ranked No. 17 in the 2014 class). 

Our pick: Boone County – Boone has been the more consistent team all season at 17-4.  They get this game at home, and we think they find a way to score a run or two more than Cooper in what should be a classic pitcher’s duel.

Boyle County vs. Garrard County, 45^th District, 7:30 PM at Garrard County
Boyle won both regular season matchups by scores of 7-3 and 2-1.  Micah Miniard (Western Kentucky signee, ranked No. 1 in 2014 class) takes the ball for Boyle County.  Miniard will get drafted next month, the question is how high, and does he go to Western Kentucky or straight into professional baseball.

Our pick: Boyle County – Garrard County has had a solid season at 17-8, but gets the draw no one wanted in the 45^th District as they get Miniard in the first round.  We think Boyle makes it win number three over Garrard this season but fully expect this to be a hard-fought game that comes down to the end.

#11 McCracken County vs. Paducah Tilghman, 2^nd District, 6:00 PM at St. Mary
The teams split the season series with one win apiece as each team shut out the other in their victory.  Look for another good pitching matchup as Jeremiah White (Murray State signee, ranked No. 28 in 2014 class)likely takes on Preston Frommeyer (Kentucky Wesleyan signee, ranked No. 41 in the 2014 class).

Our pick: McCracken County – In what should be a low-scoring contest, the Mustangs should be able to put a few more runs on the board late to advance to the District Championship game against St. Mary.