By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

The 2014 season has been anything but predictable, and this should make for a very interesting week of baseball in the Rawlings/KHSAA State Baseball Tournament.  Hazard and McCracken County kick things off tomorrow with a first round game at 11:00 AM at Whitaker Bank Ballpark with three more first round games to follow.  Here is a look at the four games that get things started tomorrow.

Game 1 – Hazard vs. McCracken County, 11:00 AM

How they got here:  Hazard defeated Estill County 11-1 in 14^th Region Final.  McCracken County defeated St. Mary 4-0 in 1^st Region Final.

Hazard Top Offensive Players:  Griffin Wells (.407, 6 doubles, 1 triple, 37 RBI), Cole Ratliff (.398, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 35 RBI, Ryan Smith (.372, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 34 RBI), JT Haynes (.352, 6 doubles, 1 triple, 18 RBI).

Hazard Top Pitchers:  Griffin Wells (5-2, 2.15 ERA), Ryan Smith (6-5, 2.84 ERA, Cody Cumbow (4-2, 1.43 ERA).

McCracken County Top Offensive Players:  Junior Ryan Garner (.368, 9 doubles, 34 RBI), Junior Cole Womack (.336, 10 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HR, 42 RBI), Senior Nathan Williams (.324, 9 doubles, 1 triple, 26 RBI), Senior Austin Mourad (.308, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 2 HR, 22 RBI), Junior Daniel Seitzinger (.320, 7 doubles, 22 RBI).

McCracken County Top Pitchers:  Josh Scheer (8-3, 1.18 ERA), Preston Frommeyer (7-2, 1.26 ERA), Cole Womack (6-2, 1.07 ERA)

Likely Pitching Matchup:  Sophomore LHP Griffin Wells (Hazard) vs. Junior RHP Josh Scheer (McCracken County).  Wells will undoubtedly take the mound for Hazard.  He has been their number 1 all season and in 52 innings pitched has allowed 41 hits while racking up 82 strikeouts.  We expect McCracken County to start Scheer, whose fastball will reach the 85-87 mph range, but they certainly have other options in Frommeyer and Womack. 

Outlook:  This game matches up the youth of Hazard against the depth and experience of McCracken County.  Wells has the ability to keep Hazard in the game, but McCracken’s deep roster and experience may be too much for the young Bulldogs to handle.

Game 2 – South Warren vs. Daviess County, 1:30 PM

How they got here:  South Warren defeated Russell County 4-1 in 4^th Region Final.  Daviess County defeated Grayson County 3-1 in 3^rd Region Final.

South Warren Top Offensive Players:  Ryder Litten (.342, 2 doubles, 1 triple, 13 RBI), Dylan Taylor (.365, 2 doubles, 7 RBI), Kieffer Baxter (.316, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 14 RBI), Jacob Lewis (.272, 10 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 18 RBI), Ty Pitts (.277, 9 doubles, 2 triples, 18 RBI).

South Warren Top Pitchers:  Cameron Shryock (9-2, 2.58 ERA), Jacob Smiley (6-2, 2.20 ERA), Wes King (4-5, 2.10 ERA)

Daviess County Top Offensive Players:  Nelson Dant (.385, 4 doubles, 2 triples, 9 RBI), Jack Schneider (.320, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 15 RBI), Jed Arend (.317, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 18 RBI), Zach Burton (.305, 1 HR, 11 RBI), Noah Pike (.282, 8 doubles, 1 HR, 14 RBI).

Daviess County Top Pitchers:  Stewart Currie (7-2, 0.89 ERA), Zach Burton (4-5, 1.02 ERA), Andrew Hayden (3-3, 1.83 ERA), Jack Schneider (2-2, 2.63 ERA)

Likely Pitching Matchup:  Junior RHP Cameron Shryock (South Warren) vs. Sophomore RHP Stewart Currie (Daviess County).  Shryock, who is committed to Kentucky, has worked 65 innings this spring allowing 59 hits while striking out 74.  His fastball will reach into the high 80’s.  The 6-foot-6 Currie has pitched well all spring with a fastball that has sat 84-86 mph.

Outlook:  Expect this to be a tight, low scoring game with the team that executes late in the game and makes the least mistakes moving on to the second round.

Game 3 – Simon Kenton vs. Southwestern, 6:00 PM

How they got here:  Simon Kenton defeated Anderson County 3-1 in 8^th Region Final.  Southwestern defeated Somerset 5-3 in 12^th Region final.

Simon Kenton Top Offensive Players:  Travis Bryson (.407, 11 RBI), Price Burge (.363, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 13 RBI), Sean Lawrence (.333, 8 doubles, 2 triples, 1 HR, 27 RBI), Grant Wassom (.323, 12 doubles, 2 triples, 21 RBI), Michael Mundy (.319, 5 doubles, 23 RBI).

Simon Kenton Top Pitchers:  Sean Lawrence (8-1, 1.11 ERA), Tristen Marcum (6-3, 1.48 ERA)

Southwestern Top Offensive Players:  Trevor Howard  (.456, 16 doubles, 9 HR, 44 RBI), Lucas Turpin (.376, 3 doubles, 1 triple, 25 RBI), Zach Profitt (.343, 15 doubles, 1 HR, 26 RBI), Chris Lynch (.307, 6 doubles, 2 triples, 1 HR, 26 RBI), Jacob Burchett (.365, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 2 HR, 31 RBI)

Southwestern Top Pitchers:  Vincent Boils (7-2, 1.13 ERA), Brandon Pruitt (7-1, 2.33 ERA), Wyatt Burton (4-4, 0.78 ERA), Trevor Howard (4-3, 2.64 ERA)

Likely Pitching Matchup:  Both teams played their regional championship games a day later (Thursday)than scheduled due to rain so it will be interesting to see if the starters from those games come back on  one day short rest.  If so, junior RHP Sean Lawrence will get the ball for Simon Kenton.  Look for either sophomore RHP Vincent Boils or sophomore RHP Brandon Pruitt to start for Southwestern.

Outlook:  Southwestern has put up some impressive offensive numbers while Lawrence dominated the 8^th Region tournament on the mound for Simon Kenton.  Whoever wins that battle likely comes out on top in this game.

Game 4 – South Laurel vs Scott, 8:30 PM

How they got here:  South Laurel defeated Corbin 4-1 in the 13^th Region Final.  Scott defeated Bourbon County 8-4 in the 10^th Region Final.

Top South Laurel Offensive Players:  Daniel Neal (.487, 13 doubles, 2 triples, 7 HR, 37 RBI), Taylor Morris (.368, 4 doubles, 1 triple, 20 RBI), Trey Martin (.390, 10 doubles, 1 triple, 12 RBI), Zach Allen (.387, 7 doubles, 22 RBI), Joe Gaines (.321, 7 doubles, 2 triples, 8 RBI), Braden Miller (.304, 8 doubles, 2 HR, 21 RBI).

Top South Laurel Pitchers:  Daniel Neal (5-3, 0.75 ERA), Braden Miller (6-2, 2.14 ERA), Trey Martin (5-1, 1.50 ERA)

Top Scott Offensive Players:  Reed Spata, Nick Brinkman, Josh Castleman, Blake Gay, Cameron Kinney.

Top Scott Pitchers:  Nick Brinkman, Andrew Trame, Jake Ohmer, CJ Seay.

Likely Pitching Matchup:  Both teams played their regional championship games a day later than scheduled (Thurs).  That may have an effect in pitching this game.  Expect Daniel Neal or Braden Miller to get the ball for South Laurel, and Nick Brinkman or Josh Castleman for Scott.

Outlook:  These are two fairly evenly matched teams though Scott doesn’t have a pitcher with the velocity of South Laurel’s Neal.  Expect this game to go down to the wire in close contest.