Johnson Central vs. Highlands (First Round State Tournament)

**Pulp Fiction** · 06-05-2017, 01:39 PM

Friday, June 9th @ app. 8:30PM, the Golden Eagles and the Bluebirds will play for a spot in the Elite 8. The game will be played at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington.

Johnson Central:
Region 15 champions.
31-71-1 record.
Defeated Hazard (Region 14 champions) on 4/21, 1-0.
Tied 0-0 with Scott County (Region 11 champions) on 5/19. Game was called after the 5th inning due to weather.

Highlands:
Region 9 champions.
25-12 record.
Defeated Simon Kenton (Region 8 champions)3-2 on 3/25.

Common opponents:
Lexington Catholic
Double Header: JC Won 7-4 & Lost 1-2 on 3/25.
Highlands lost 1-11 in 6 innings on 4/8.

Campbell County
JC won 3-2 on 5/13.
Highlands won 1-0 on 5/2.

Elder, OH.
JC won 6-5 on 4/15.
Highlands lost 1-6 on 4/19.

**Spirit100** · 06-05-2017, 04:02 PM

Going with Highlands 1-0 on a suicide squeeze to win it!

I'd be shocked if more than 3 runs cross the dish in this one. Going to be a great pitching duel!

**Pulp Fiction** · 06-05-2017, 06:22 PM

Spirit100 Wrote:Going with Highlands 1-0 on a suicide squeeze to win it!

I'd be shocked if more than 3 runs cross the dish in this one. Going to be a great pitching duel!

Word.

Let the record show I HAVE NO inside knowledge of the JC or Highlands baseball team.

Do you use your Ace and pray for a Win in the 1st round setting up a clash in the Elite 8 vs. PRP/Franklin-Simpson OR Use your the bulk of your bull pen in the first round and save your Ace for the Elite 8 game?

Gotta win to advance, but is price of winning the first game worth what you will have to give up in the Elite 8 game?

**Bob Seger** · 06-05-2017, 07:20 PM

Cant play the second game until you win the first game...Ask Tate's Creek how that works out when you don't..

**Pulp Fiction** · 06-05-2017, 07:40 PM

Bob Seger Wrote:Cant play the second game until you win the first game...Ask Tate's Creek how that works out when you don't..

I was hoping somebody would catch that reference.

So what say you Mr. Seger? Pitch your Ace in the first game and plan on using every arm in your bull pen to win the 2nd game OR do the opposite?

**Bob Seger** · 06-05-2017, 07:49 PM

Pulp Fiction Wrote:I was hoping somebody would catch that reference.

So what say you Mr. Seger? Pitch your Ace in the first game and plan on using every arm in your bull pen to win the 2nd game OR do the opposite?

Whomever Central's ace is, is who you throw first..In the case of Central, they are very deep and if everyone else goes with the "pitch your best first" philosophy, we have a big advantage going into round 2.

WildDawg · 06-06-2017, 12:42 AM

I'd save Kelly for round 2. They're looking at the best team in the state if they beat Highlands. Kelly is Centrals only chance to beat PRP. That's not the case with Highlands. Sometimes you have to gamble. The ultimate goal is to win a state championship. What does one win do for you?

**Bob Seger** · 06-06-2017, 02:32 AM

WildDawg Wrote:I'd save Kelly for round 2. They're looking at the best team in the state if they beat Highlands. Kelly is Centrals only chance to beat PRP. That's not the case with Highlands. Sometimes you have to gamble. The ultimate goal is to win a state championship. What does one win do for you?

It gets you to your second game..That's what!!...If you don't win it you go home. Highlands is not exactly a pud...Sheesh!!

You don't Highlands will not throw their #1?...I'd bet the farm on it. From what I hear, he's a dandy.

And no Kelly is not their only chance.

WildDawg · 06-06-2017, 12:53 PM

Bob Seger Wrote:It gets you to your second game..That's what!!...If you don't win it you go home. Highlands is not exactly a pud...Sheesh!!

You don't Highlands will not throw their #1?...I'd bet the farm on it. From what I hear, he's a dandy.

And no Kelly is not their only chance.

You're right. It does get you to your 2nd game. Then they lose to PRP. I'd feel a whole lot better with my #2 facing Highlands opposed to PRP.

I'm just telling you my opinion. You don't have to agree with it. Sheesh!!!

THOMCAT · 06-06-2017, 01:33 PM

I know what I would do if I was the manager, BUT I'M NOT. Shawn Hall is the man that will make that decision and I trust his track record. Of course if they win on Friday and Saturday then all will be fine. If they don't then I am sure the wonderful people on this site will take every opportunity to point out what he did wrong. Hall has had decisions like this in the past with the Blanton brothers, Matt Fyffe and others. Central will do fine.

Peaches · 06-06-2017, 01:56 PM

Good luck eagles

Eagle84 · 06-06-2017, 02:23 PM

There is no decision to be made. We have 3 elite high school pitchers but Kelly is pitching the best at this time. He will start and we will go from there.

**Bob Seger** · 06-06-2017, 02:32 PM

WildDawg Wrote:I'd save Kelly for round 2. They're looking at the best team in the state if they beat Highlands. Kelly is Centrals only chance to beat PRP. That's not the case with Highlands. Sometimes you have to gamble. The ultimate goal is to win a state championship. What does one win do for you?

Best team in the state?...If you go by the rankings, they are ranked 3rd just in the bottom bracket alone and #5 over all.....What makes you think that a #10 ranked 31-5 Franklin-Simpson is a pushover to begin with?

**Bob Seger** · 06-06-2017, 02:34 PM

Eagle84 Wrote:There is no decision to be made. We have 3 elite high school pitchers but Kelly is pitching the best at this time. He will start and we will go from there.

That's right Eagle, you go with who has the hot arm at the time....ALWAYS!!

**Spirit100** · 06-06-2017, 02:53 PM

Pulp Fiction Wrote:Word.

Let the record show I HAVE NO inside knowledge of the JC or Highlands baseball team.

Do you use your Ace and pray for a Win in the 1st round setting up a clash in the Elite 8 vs. PRP/Franklin-Simpson OR Use your the bulk of your bull pen in the first round and save your Ace for the Elite 8 game?

Gotta win to advance, but is price of winning the first game worth what you will have to give up in the Elite 8 game?

You play to win and go with your ace. Highlands has two of them Rom and Doty. And their 3rd is pretty darn good as well. They have the pitching to take them deep. Not sure if they have the bats???

Emmit Brown · 06-06-2017, 03:07 PM

WildDawg Wrote:You're right. It does get you to your 2nd game. Then they lose to PRP. I'd feel a whole lot better with my #2 facing Highlands opposed to PRP.

I'm just telling you my opinion. You don't have to agree with it. Sheesh!!!

Actually, last season JC played and beat PRP. Freshman, now sophomore, Gabe Ferral got the win.

**Pulp Fiction** · 06-06-2017, 03:47 PM

Emmit Brown Wrote:Actually, last season JC played and beat PRP. Freshman, now sophomore, Gabe Ferral got the win.

A 10-6 Win in Vero Beach, FL.

Mister D · 06-06-2017, 07:54 PM

JC pitched their ace (Kelly) last year against Highlands and yes they won that game. But then they were pretty easily beaten by McCracken Co. now obviously that loss wasn't completely on the pitching but once Tate Meade left after 5 innings their bullpen really struggled. If I was confident Tate could pitch a complete game I would have no problem with either of the two pitching either game. I just don't think Tate can go 7 innings after coming off an injury. I am more confident with the bullpen going up against a slightly weaker Highlands team then PRP/Franklin Simpson. No matter what I think JC is going to compete hard and finish the season strong.

kai · 06-08-2017, 02:56 PM

JC struggles to score runs against other top pitchers, therefore they cannot afford to give up many runs. So win with your No. 1.

**Bob Seger** · 06-08-2017, 03:53 PM

kai Wrote:JC struggles to score runs against other top pitchers, therefore they cannot afford to give up many runs. So win with your No. 1.

But then again, everyone struggles to score runs against "top pitchers". That's why they are called "top pitchers".....lol

But you are correct, go with what brought you to the dance.

plantmanky · 06-08-2017, 04:48 PM

JC wins 5-2.