[CrosbyField]

Do we have any Fifth Region Fans? It's March and so its time to get full-force into baseball. How's this for pre-season picks:

1. MARION COUNTY - Although I'm partial to my boys at the Hardin County schools, I've got to say that Marion is the team to beat again this year. Anyone who saw this team play at the end of last year and knows what they have coming back really can't argue with that. The Wiser kid is only a Junior and really is a stud at the plate. Arguably the Thomas kid will be the best pitcher in the region this year and I'll bet the Mattingly kid at second base hit over .500 the last month of the season. Don't know what they will do to replace their catcher who was really good last year.

2. ELIZABETHTOWN - The Panthers suffered a surprising early exit at the Regional last year. The good news is they were pretty young. Jackson Webb is probably the best catcher in the Region, and one of the best hitters as a Junior. The Becherer kid had a really good year last year and returns. They've got several decent arms returning as seniors this year. Elizabethtown and Marion likely will have two interesting matchups in the last weeks of the season, one already scheduled in the last week of regular play at E-town then, possibly, in the Regional Finals.

3. CENTRAL HARDIN - Really young last year and season and Regional play showed that. Good news is they return as much of the core of their team from last year as anyone in the Region. Bibb, Heideman and Peters were probably their best hitters last year and are all back. The Bland kid makes them as good as anyone in the Region when he's on the mound. Not sure how deep their staff is after that, though.

4. NORTH HARDIN - If the Trojans could pitch Manley every game they'd be Regional favorites. Unfortunately they can't. The right-hander will throw in the low and mid-80s and is clearly one of the Region's best pitchers. Unfortunately, after him I'm not sure what else they've got on the mound. They return almost everyone from last year and that should help. But, outside of Collin and Thomas kids from plate, the other returnees weren't exactly impressive. Still, a very dangerous team. Too bad they play in the same District with E-town and Central.

5. NEXT TIER: Larue County (too bad the Boley kid won't return on the mound), Washington County (will be interesting to see what kind of season the Graves kid has) and Campbellsville (I really like the young Kearney kid).

There you have it. Play ball.