By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

It's that time of year in Kentucky. 

Memorial Day weekend has high school baseball players, coaches, and parents across the state on the edge of their seats with anticipation of the 16 Regional Tournaments set to begin tomorrow. 

Here at Prep Baseball Report, we are feeling the anticipation, too.

Thus, we take a look game by game, region by region at how we see things playing out over the next four days.  

Let the debating begin.

1^st Region (at Brooks Stadium)
1^st Round – St. Mary over Paducah Tilghman, Murray over Fulton City, Ballard Memorial over Hickman Co, Lone Oak over Calloway Co

Semi-Finals – Murray over St. Mary, Lone Oak over Ballard Memorial

Championship – Lone Oak over Murray

Best 1^st round game – St. Mary vs. Paducah Tilghman – With junior RHP Nick Eggemeyer on the mound, St. Mary is primed to pull off the upset in a low scoring contest.

Analysis  – Top to bottom, Lone Oak has the most talented team in the region with a deep and experienced squad.  Seniors Sam Goode, Seth English, Zack Roethemeyer, and Drew Schmitt have provided the leadership to go along with some very good younger players.  The top half of the bracket is tough with St. Mary, Paducah Tilghman, and Murray battling to get to the finals.

2nd Region (at Elmer Kelley Park)
1st Round – Union Co over Christian Co, Caldwell Co over Crittenden Co, Trigg Co over Madisonville-North Hopkins, Henderson Co over Hopkinsville

Semi-Finals – Caldwell Co over Union Co, Henderson Co over Trigg Co

Championship – Henderson Co over Caldwell Co

Best 1^st round game – Christian Co vs. Union Co – The records say Christian Co wins this one, but we like Union Co to pull the upset.

Analysis – Henderson Co has the deepest pitching in the region with Sam Higgs, Marty Coursey, Daniel Steiner, and Colton Jones.  Kaleb Duckworth is a force at the plate with 10 home runs on the season. 

3^rd Region (at Butler County)
1^st Round – Daviess Co over Edmonson Co, Meade Co over Muhlenberg Co, Grayson Co over Ohio Co, Apollo over Hancock Co

Semi-Finals – Daviess Co over Meade Co, Apollo over Grayson Co

Championship – Apollo over Daviess Co

Best 1^st round game – Muhlenberg Co vs Meade Co – The two did not play during the regular season but are evenly matched squads in what should be a very close first round match-up.

Analysis – Apollo has an experienced squad with Tanner Edge, Zach Ranburger, and Dustin Vincent leading the way and a good mix of young players with one of the top freshmen in the state in Jakob Shuler.  Daviess Co counters with Kyle Schneider, Walker Owens, and a host of talented young players that should make for a very hotly contested championship game.

4^th Region (at WKU)
1st round – Logan Co over Metcalfe Co, Glasgow over South Warren, Russell Co over Franklin-Simpson, Greenwood over Allen Co-Scottsville

Semi-Finals – Logan Co over Glasgow, Russell Co over Greenwood

Championship – Russell Co over Logan Co

Best 1^st round game – Glasgow vs. South Warren

Analysis – The top two teams will likely square off in the semi-finals in Russell Co and Greenwood.  Russell County’s pitching staff of Tyler Robertson, Garret Stephens, Alex Turner, and Lucas Williams carries them through to the championship.

5^th Region (at North Hardin)
1^st round – Central Hardin over Larue County, Taylor Co over Bethlehem, Nelson Co over Campbellsville, Green Co over North Hardin

Semi-Finals – Central Hardin over Taylor Co, Green Co over Nelson Co

Championship – Central Hardin over Green Co

Best 1^st round game – Bethlehem vs. Taylor Co – Taylor Co won the regular season match-up by a 9-3 margin.  Bethlehem pitcher Jimmy Keating is very capable of paying back Taylor Co for the loss earlier in the season.

Analysis – Green Co RHP Brennen Milby will not be available to pitch by the time Green Co gets to Central Hardin in the championship.  Central Hardin is too deep and talented to not advance out of the region with Drew Harrington, Josh Krupinski, and Troy Squires leading the way.

6^th Region (at Eastern, St. Xavier, and University of Louisville)
1^st round – North Bullitt over Jeffersontown, Butler over Fairdale, PRP over Bullitt Central, Bullitt East over DeSales.

Semi-Finals – North Bullitt over Butler, PRP over Bullitt East

Championship – PRP over North Bullitt

Best 1^st round game – Butler vs Fairdale

Analysis – Look for North Bullitt to come out of the top half of the bracket with the pitching of Josh Exton and Jacob Kelly.  The bottom half of the bracket is set for a semi-final clash between PRP and Bullitt East.  PRP won the regular season match-up and should win this one as well.  The pitching depth of PRP (Johnson, Olliges, Laughlin) will carry them to the championship.

7^th Region (at Southern, PRP, and University of Louisville)
1^st round – Trinity over Eastern, St. Xavier over Central, Male over Atherton, DuPont Manual over CAL

Semi-Finals – St. Xavier over Trinity, Male over DuPont Manual

Championship – St. Xavier over Male

Best 1^st round game – DuPont Manual vs CAL – CAL won the regular season contest in mid-April, but Manual has been playing good baseball of late, and CAL will be hurt by sophomore Louisville commit Riley Thompson out with a non-baseball related injury.

Analysis – After a two week bout with some arm soreness, Male gets their top two on the mound back in Crabtree and Gatz, not a moment too soon as they will likely face Manual, a dangerous offensive squad, in the semi-finals.  St. Xavier’s pitching took a hit with sophomore Grant Wessling out, but they still have plenty in Melchoir, Britt, Lasley, and company.  Austin Clemons has hit everything in sight this spring.  We like St. Xavier to advance out of the region.

8^th Region (at South Oldham)
1^st round – Simon Kenton over Gallatin Co, Collins over South Oldham, Spencer Co over Owen Co, North Oldham over Walton Verona

Semi-Finals – Collins over Simon Kenton, North Oldham over Spencer Co

Championship – North Oldham over Collins

Best 1^st round game – Collins vs South Oldham – South Oldham defeated Collins 5-4 just two weeks ago, but they are likely to see Collins ace Austin Perry in this match-up. 

Analysis – The top half of the bracket is tough with Collins, South Oldham, and Simon Kenton.  The favorite, Collins, is in for a dog fight to advance out of the top half and get to the finals.  The potential second round match-up with Simon Kenton is a dangerous game.  North Oldham appears to have the road paved to the finals, and after the top half of the bracket fights it out, something tells us North Oldham will be standing at the end with Heady, Kellogg, and Millem leading the way.

9^th Region (at Florence Freedom)
1^st round – Newport Central Catholic over Dixie Heights, Beechwood over Boone Co, Ryle over Covington Catholic, Highlands over St, Henry

Semi-Finals – Beechwood over Newport Central Catholic, Ryle over Highlands

Championship – Ryle over Beechwood

Best 1^st round game – Flip a coin, seriously.  Four 1^st round games, all of which could go either way.  If we have to pick one – Covington Catholic vs Ryle, they split the season series and this is as much a toss- up game as any first round game in any region.

Analysis – I stared at the bracket for an hour and got nowhere.  If ever there was a region up for grabs, this is it.  Ryle is our choice to advance, with a senior laden squad that has been the most consistent team in the region this spring. In a region that is lacking dominant pitching, we are going with the best offensive team to win it with Baumann, Forbes, Mason, Plvan, and company.  Keep an eye on Beechwood.  They are loaded with young talent with three freshman in their starting lineup, and we look for them to make a run to the finals.

10^th Region (at Scott)
1^st round – Harrison Co over Bracken Co, Montgomery Co over Scott, Campbell Co over Nicholas Co, Bourbon Co over Mason Co.

Semi-Finals – Harrison Co over Montgomery Co, Bourbon Co over Campbell Co

Championship – Harrison Co over Bourbon Co

Best 1^st round game – Montgomery Co vs Scott – The Indians get Scott on their home field, never an easy task come tourney time.

Analysis – Harrison Co should be able to get to the semi-finals without throwing seniors Brandon Kendall or Jordan Martin.  That sets Harrison Co up well to advance out of the region.

11^th Region (at Madison Central)
1^st round – Bryan Station over Madison Southern, Tates Creek over Franklin Co, Woodford Co over Lafayette, Madison Central over Scott Co.

Semi-Finals – Tates Creek over Bryan Station, Woodford Co over Madison Central

Championship – Tates Creek over Woodford Co

Best 1^st round game – Woodford Co vs Lafayette – With a likely pitching match-up of Hollon vs Dunn, runs will be at a premium in this game.  

Analysis – Tates Creek brings its talented roster and 16 game winning streak into the tournament, and sits in a very good spot in the top half of the bracket.  The bottom half of the bracket is loaded with Woodford, Lafayette, Madison Central , and Scott Co.  We expect Woodford Co to advance out of the bottom half to the finals, but they will likely have to throw Hollon and Parrett to do so.  Advantage Tates Creek to advance out of the region.

12^th Region (at Rockcastle Co)
1^st round – Mercer Co over Boyle Co, Somerset over Wayne Co, West Jessamine over Danville, Southwestern over Pulaski Co

Semi-Finals – Mercer Co over Somerset, West Jessamine over Southwestern

Championship – Mercer Co over West Jessamine

Best 1^st round game – Like the 9^th, another region with four very competitive 1^st round games.  We’ll go with Boyle Co vs Mercer Co in what should be a very good game.  It will be interesting to see the pitching match-up for this game.  Does Miniard or Whittle throw for the Rebels?

Analysis – This region is wide open.  Mercer Co and West Jessamine have played very tough schedules which should bode well for them to get to the finals.  That being said, this is a very balanced region, and both teams have a tough road to get there.  The two teams played 3 times during the regular season with West Jessamine winning 2 of the 3 games.

13^th Region (at Knox Central)
1^st round – Harlan Co over Clay Co, South Laurel over Pineville, North Laurel over Corbin, Knox Central over Middlesboro.

Semi-Finals – South Laurel over Harlan Co, North Laurel over Knox Central

Championship – South Laurel over North Laurel

Best 1^st round game – Knox Central vs. Middlesboro – Knox Central won the regular season match-up 5-4.  These two teams are evenly matched, so expect a similar type game.

Analysis – North Laurel faces a Corbin team who has played them very tough twice this season and will likely face pitcher Kevin Goins for a third time.  South Laurel has gotten Daniel Neal back on the mound which bodes well for them to advance.  We see a South vs North final in what will undoubtedly be a battle, with South moving on to represent the 13^th region in Lexington.

14^th Region (at Knott County Central)
1^st round – Letcher Co Central over Perry Co Central, Breathitt Co over Estill Co, Knott Co Central over Jackson City, Hazard over Powell Co

Semi-Finals – Letcher Co Central over Breathitt Co, Hazard over Jackson City

Championship – Hazard over Letcher Co Central.

Best 1^st round game – Hazard vs Powell Co – Likely pitching match-up of Hatmaker vs Whitaker makes this a very interesting 1^st round game. 

Analysis – Hazard fell off slightly toward the end of the season, but they have experience and the best depth in the region with Johnson, Olinger, Whitaker, Wells, and company, and should advance out of the region with a trip to Lexington.

15^th Region
1^st round – Johnson Central over Belfry, Prestonburg over Johnson Central, Pikeville over Lawrence Co, Allen Central over Phelps.

Semi-Finals – Johnson Central over Prestonburg, Pikeville over Allen Central

Championship – Johnson Central over Pikeville

Best 1^st round game – Pikeville vs. Lawrence Co – Lawrence Co has had the better season, but we think Pikeville LHP Jacob Hamilton will be a tough first round match-up for Lawrence Co.

Analysis – Johnson Central is the class of the region and should prevail, but a semi-final match-up with Prestonburg looms large.  Johnson Central knocked off Prestonburg in a one-run game earlier in the season.  Pikeville may surprise some with a run to the finals, but doesn’t have enough to get past Johnson Central to move on.

16^th Region (at Ashland Blazer)
1^st round – Ashland Blazer over Lewis Co, Rowan Co over East Carter, Bath Co over Boyd Co, Greenup Co over Morgan Co

Semi-Finals – Ashland Blazer over Rowan Co, Greenup Co over Bath Co

Championship – Greenup Co over Ashland Blazer

Best 1^st round game – Ashland Blazer vs. Lewis Co – The likely pitching matchup of Ashland senior LHP Logan Salow and Lewis Co junior Sammy Holder should be one of the more intriguing match-ups of the tournament.

Analysis – In what is a very balanced region, Greenup Co and Ashland Blazer should advance to the finals.  Greenup Co defeated Ashland twice during the regular season, and we see them making it number 3 and representing the 16^th Region in Lexington.