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April 21, 2019, JJ Baker – Bluegrass Sports Nation Baseball Columnist
Father Time stops for no one! It’s hard to believe that we have completed 5 weeks of the 2019 high school baseball season. Standing back and looking at the Region, it seems as though right now it is totally up for grabs. The one team that is still unscathed in the 14th is the Perry County Central Commodores after taking down the Hazard Bulldogs at Hazard, 5-2 behind the arm of senior Ryan Couch. There is a lot of season left to play, but some favorites are starting to emerge and some sleepers are waiting in the wings. It is very hard to rank the 14th right now, so in no particular order, are what seems to be the teams poised to take the regional title.
Breathitt County has been up and down this season. There have been some games they should have won that they have let slide. There has also been some games that they were “suppose” to lose and they won. What the Bobcats are brewing in Jackson, week in and week out, is a team that is going to be a scary draw for whomever has them on their side of the bracket in May.
The defending 14th Regional Champions, the Hazard Bulldogs, have hit a rough patch since their spring break trip. Since April 3rd, the Bulldogs are only .500, with loses that include their first in-region defeat to their cross-town rival, the Perry Central Commodores. The Bulldogs have six upperclassmen that have won the straight regional titles, so John Meehan’s squad will definitely find their rhythm and identity in the following weeks.
After taking over in 2017, Coach Chris Amburgey has been trying to navigate the waters of the 14th Region. In what may be Coach Amburgey’s best team to date, the Knott County Central Patriots are grinding out the season and finding their way. They will be one of the upper tier teams to come out of the 2019 season, going into post season play.
The Perry County Central Commodores were hit hard by graduation and Coach Bobby Dixon is trying to find the right combinations to make his team, once again, successful. PCC has been battle tested this season, playing a very challenging schedule and still being four games over .500. As always, this team will be dangerous entering post season play.
Like the Commodores, the Powell County Pirates were hit hard by graduation, losing five seniors (three of which were pitchers). Like Breathitt County, it has been a roller coaster of a season so far for the Pirates. The Pirates have some impressive wins in the Region and are above .500 and seem to be on a roll after this past week. Powell County will make some noise during district and regional games.
There are two other teams that need mentioned also. These two teams are teetering on the edge of breaking through this season. The Estill County Engineers are arguably one of the youngest teams in the region with the biggest upside. The Engineers will make it on to the Region and have a legitimate shot of sending someone home early. The same can be said about the Letcher County Central Cougars. The Cougars lost several to graduation last year, but are winning some games, and moreover scoring a lot runs this season. LCC has plated 257 runs so far this season. If the cards fall right for the Cougars, they could be a team that knocks a favorite off by the end of the season.
Bluegrass Sports Nation would like to give a shout out to Leslie County Eagle player Ethan Wolfe.
In Leslie’s game against Perry Central on Monday, Wolfe had his first career home run. Wolfe is a 16 year old sophomore for the Eagles and according to Coach Matt Asher, he is “one of the most social and uplifting players on the team, regardless of sport and is dedicated to practicing. As an individual born with Downs Syndrome, there have and will always be obstacles to arise in his life, however, with the support and love from his family, friend and the bonds of his coaches, peers, and our small communities in the rural Eastern part of the state, Ethan will succeed in life and have the largest cheering section and support group to push him beyond accomplishing his dreams.” Wolfe is a three sport athlete, playing football, basketball, and now baseball. His goal for the future includes being an assistant P.E. teacher and to assist coaches in sports that will allow him to dedicate his time. Again, Congratulations to Ethan Wolfe.
Check back next week as we will review the 6th week of the 14th Region sponsored by Appalachian Regional Health Care!
Week 5, 14th Regional Scoreboard:
53 District (Cordia, Knott Central, Letcher Central)
Cordia (0-7):
Cordia-1, Knott- 16 (3 inn)
Cordia- 1, Knott- 19 (3 inn)
Knott County Central (10-6):
Cordia-1, Knott- 16 (3 inn)
Cordia- 1, Knott- 19 (3 inn)
Breathitt- 0, Knott- 10 (5 inn)
Knott-7, Powell-8
Letcher County Central (LCC) (8-7):
Harlan Co.- 5, LCC-12
LCC-1, Pike Central- 3
LCC-1, PCC-11 (6 inn)
54 District (Buckhorn, Hazard, Leslie, Perry Central)
Buckhorn (3-12):
Buckhorn- 7, OBI- 5
Leslie-21, Buckhorn- 3
Hazard (12-4):
Hazard-2, Barbourville- 1
PCC-5, Hazard-2
Hazard- 3, Williamsburg- 8
Leslie County (5-9):
PCC- 9, Leslie-2
Leslie-21, Buckhorn- 3
Leslie- 0, Floyd Central-12 (5 inn)
Perry County Central (PCC) (12-8):
PCC -9, Leslie-2
PCC-5, Hazard-2
Leslie-1, PCC-11 (5 inn)
PCC- 3, Paintsville- 16 (5 inn)
55 District (Breathitt, Jackson City, Wolfe)
Breathitt County (11-10)
Breathitt- 0, Knott- 10 (6 inn)
Wolfe-3, Breathitt- 13 (6 inn)
Jackson City (3-4):
No Games this past week
Wolfe (6-8):
Wolfe-4, Lee-8
Wolfe-3, Breathitt-13 (6 inn)
Owsley- 4, Wolfe-11
56 District (Estill, Lee, Owsley, Powell)
Estill (10-6):
Menifee- 0, Estill-15 (4 inn)
Estill- 1, Powell- 4
Morgan-3, Estill-13 (6 inn)
Lee (5-6):
Wolfe- 4, Lee- 8
Lee- 2, Powell- 18 (3 inn)
Owsley (4-6):
Owsley- 4, Wolfe- 11
Powell (10-9):
Estill-1, Powell- 4
Lee- 2, Powell- 18 (3 inn)
Knott- 7, Powell- 8
Check BluegrassSportsNation.com every Monday for a recap of the 14th region brought to you by Appalachian Regional Healthcare!
