[BCF4L]

Duty and Ryan will be tough for Pikeville. Varney will be tough for Belfry. Lawrence will be good as they always are. Prestonsburg will compete with Allen, Luke Hall and now Johnson on the mound. I think JC will be decent but I think Paintsville will win the 57th.

Here’s how I see it playing out:

57th: Paintsville, JC
58th: Prestonsburg, Lawrence
59th: Pikeville, Shelby Valley
60th: Belfry, Pike Central

I think the 58th district championship could be a war with Pburg and Lawrence.


Top 10 Players (this is hard due to pitching vs. offense/defense):

1. Duty - Pikeville
2. Fletcher - Lawrence
3. Allen - Prestonsburg
4. Varney - Belfry
5. Stanley - Pikeville
6. Hall - Pikeville
7. Kincheloe - Paintsville
8. Lauffer - Paintsville
9. Preece - JC
10. Crum - Pike Central

Again, you almost have to have two separate rankings just because of the pitching vs. offense/defense differential.

Not sure about this order of players but you are right about needing two lists.  I’d have a list for pitchers and base the other list on the five tools of baseball. 

duty, Allen and varney pitching list.  They can hurt you in the field and don’t hit very well but can hurl it
preece is a defensive liability but has ton of power
fletcher hall and Lauffer can do it all
Stanley is mediocre in the field but has a good arm and okay speed.  
crum doesn’t deserve to be on the list.  Hicks kid is better on his team 


a lot of others could be top 10
valley has Bentley who is good in the field and can pitch but not a great hitter
horne  from paintsville
sheppherd and Montgomery from JC
johnson from pburg is legit 
burgett kid that transferred from Floyd to pike high will open some eyes and may compete for ss at his new school
Ryan from Pikeville has a case
Taylor from valley

just a few of the kids who are top ten worthy

Varney is a career .350ish hitter and very good 3rd basemen who has to play SS out of sheer necessity.

Duty can hit and is a solid 1st basemen but has had some better players play first in front of him.

Duty and Varney best when on the mound. Varney’s batting average is deceptive due to Belfrys routine weak schedules(not his fault). Duty faces top competition. I’d like to see Varney go against better team it would only make him better. Pikeville is region favorite to start season.

Varney has played with us for several summers and he can hit. He can also defend. Varney is a very well rounded player.