[Blackcat 4 Life]

Laferty was at practice today

I've heard his father was offered a position on the Betsy Layne baseball coaching staff and I've heard his father wants him to transfer. That puts the kid in a tough spot. I hope that he doesn't. He's embraced being a Blackcat since he first enrolled and has become one of if not the most popular guy on the team. So losing him hurts in more ways than one IF he does decide to transfer.

I thought the reason he came to Prestonsburg was because his father was offered a coaching job on the baseball team. Did he ever coach, or no longer coaching? I didn't see Laferty in the line up during the regional tournament. Did he not play baseball? Regardless, if he leaves this is another kid who has been to three different schools in three years. It looks as if he isn't the problem, but it's a parent issue. He seems like a good kid and as you said, a leader on the team. If I'm the parent I let the kid make the decision due to it being his senior year, but if he leaves he is only doing what most kids do and that's being loyal to their parents. 

I have come to the realization that this could be a down year for Prestonsburg, regardless is Laferty transfers or not. The thing I like with Hager is he is starting to weed some of the problems out from last years team, and he is building his program from the bottom up. It all starts with discipline and respect and if you don't have that, you don't have anything. Weeding some of the problems out, may affect the short term success, but it's going to help build a much stronger program for the future. 

I know there has been some complaints about the assistant coaches, and I'm not thrilled to say the least, but we have to give them a chance. We've got to be positive and realistic this year, because Hager isn't going to turn us into a regional contender overnight. If he can keep all of the kids in the feeder system intact, and continue to build on a solid freshman and sophomore class, then we will start seeing the payoff as early as next year. Hail Blackcats!