By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

The Hazard Bulldogs completed their 2012 season with a 27-13 record under head coach John Meehan, winning the 54^th District Championship.  In the 14^th Region Tournament, Hazard won their first round game before bowing out in the semi-finals with a loss to Estill County.

The Bulldogs are a deep and experienced squad, returning 9 starters and 6 pitchers, and if they can avoid the injury bug that has plagued them the last few years, appear to be primed for a run to represent the 14^th Region in Lexington at the State Tournament in June.

A trio of unsigned seniors will lead the way for the Bulldogs in 2013 in Evan Whitaker, Austin Johnson, and Jordan Olinger.  Whitaker, a 6-foot-5, 210-pound RHP/3B is coming off of a junior campaign in which he had a 10-2 record on the mound with 2 saves and a 1.88 ERA.  At the plate, he hit .431 with 6 HR.  Johnson, a 5-foot-11, 161-pound SS/RHP, finished as runner-up for player of the year in the 14^th Region last season.  His junior season included an 8-2 record on the mound with a 3.36 ERA and a .504 batting average with 5 triples, 3 HR, and a whopping 50 stolen bases.  Olinger has good range in CF and power at the plate, hitting .323 with 9 doubles, 8 HR and 44 RBI.  Whitaker, Johnson, and Olinger are ranked No. 57, 66, and 77 respectively in the Class of 2013 player rankings.

Look for other key contributions to come from senior OF Nathan Stupart, junior C/RHP Jacob Roll who missed half of the 2012 season with a broken hand, junior 2B JT Haynes, junior OF Josh Meehan (.330, 1HR, 37 RBI), freshman LHP/1B Griffin Wells (4-3, 2.49 ERA, 55 K’s, 43 IP), and 8^th grader Kameron Conley who logged 49 IP with 46 K’s and 2 saves last season as a 7^th grader.

With the mix of senior leadership and young players with a lot of varsity experience, the expectations are high in Hazard this spring.  The Bulldogs open their season tomorrow with a 5:45 PM contest at Harlan County.