[NikonD300]

This was posted by outsidein "Eastern Ky will always be behind till coaches care and study the game. Girls are not taught the correct fundamentals on how to throw, field, hit, running bases, pitching and i could go on. There are only a few people in eastern ky that know and study the game. Very few - they don't put the time in that it takes and it starts at a young age but they can be changed in high school with the work ethic. how many play summerball??? and I mean summerball not the league at the park ball. I could go on but I won't. but you ask aboput estill , they do good in 14th because it's very weak. move into any other region they wouldn't make it. shows when they go to state. 2 and out."

The problem in the 14th Region with girls softball is that it starts the week after the girls basketball state tournament. A lot of girls play hoops. Another thing is that the Head Softball Coaches only make about 10% of what a HEAD GIRLS Basketball Coach makes. So why in the world would anyone want to work their *** off to build a program when you DONT get rewarded for it? Its probably harder coaching softball and keeping up a field as compared to playing in a gym. Everyone around here is BASKETBALL crazy. In the other parts of Kentucky, they like their softball just as good as basketball. I guarantee if the schools in the 14th shelled out as much as North Laurel or South Laurel did to their coaches that we could get some experienced coaches in this area. Letcher Central pays really well but thats about the only school in Eastern Kentucky that takes care of their coaches and respects their time and hard work. Everyone else coaches for peanuts around here and thats why nobody cares.

But Letcher Central doesn't take care of their coaches. The treat them like crap unless their last name happens to be Howard. He is probably the only coach you'll find in that school that is happy with the administration.

And as far as the pay is concerned, Places like Laurel County have an economic infrastructure that allows the schools to make more money and be able to pay coaches more. I don't think you'll ever see anything like that in places like Letcher, Perry, and Knott Counties. There is just no economic base except for the coal industry and when we hit an economic downturn like we're in right now you might as well roll up the sidewalks in these communities.

Any coach that comes to this area will probably come here for love of the game and not for the money. They'd be fool hearted to do so. That is, unless of course you name HAPPENS to be Howard.