- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 434,050
- Reaction score
- 44
Lewis County’s first-year head baseball coach has been around 63rd District baseball long enough to come up with a quick response when prompted to describe the district.
“It’s the AFC North,” said Seth Wallingford, who played for the Lions in the mid-2010s and was an assistant coach from 2021-24. He is referring to the NFL division consisting of the Bengals, Browns, Steelers and Ravens. “You’ve gotta bring your A-game every day.”
Greenup County coach Steve Logan had similar thoughts.
“There’s no love lost between any teams in the district. There’s a mutual respect,” Logan said, “but let’s just say there’s not any Christmas cards being sent around.”
Russell’s Tim Rice, who’s in his 10th year as the program leader, confidently said, “Everybody knows the 63rd is the best baseball district in the region. … It’s kind of the SEC of the 16th Region.”
Logan didn’t hesitate to say who the favorite is, though.
“It’s Raceland’s to lose,” the Musketeers’ coach said.
Raceland went 30-8 and was a region semifinalist in 2024. The Rams entered this spring as three-time defending district champions.
RACELAND
Coach Marty Mills is in his ninth season at the helm. The 58-year-old joked that “a lot of guys my age find golf and pickleball, but I’m still baseball.”
“I enjoy it every day. I enjoy the practices, the preparation,” Mills said.
One aspect of coaching high school sports is keeping players pepped up and hungry. He called his players “self-motivated” after tasting quite a bit of success in recent years, including a region championship in 2023 and three consecutive district titles.
Kadin Shore and Eli Lynd — two of the Rams’ four seniors — are among the top players in the region, Mills said.
Shore had not allowed a run or given up a walk in his first seven innings pitched. He also had 10 strikeouts. At the plate, he was batting .538.
Eli Lynd is behind the dish.
Raceland was 4-2 through its first six games (through March 30) as it took a crack at The Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach.
Mills said pitching and defense are strengths of this group, which is comprised of “super kids,” he said.
Shore, Bryer Parsons, Landon Bloss, Brigham Davidson, Connor Thacker and Caden Smith are among the reliable arms who will have turns on the bump.
Mills said Raceland has an exceptionally athletic middle infield with shortstop Parker Ison and second baseman Michael Pennington. The duo can hit, too — they had 16 RBIs through the first six games.
Bloss will man the hot corner the majority of the time.
Shore and Sam Lynd are top first-base options.
Davidson is a utility guy who will see time at various positions.
Thacker is the lone returning outfielder. Gunnar Smith, Preston Coldiron, Tayler Sparks, Aidan Shaffer and Sam Lynd also figure into the outfield mix.
“They’ve done really well,” Mills said. “They work on their angles every day and are improving. I’ve been really pleased with that.”
GREENUP COUNTY
The Musketeers carried a 3-3 record into the Sunshine State, where they would spend spring break.
Logan said the bats haven’t been consistent yet, but he is optimistic. Once they do get aboard bags, this team will put pressure on opponents, he said.
“Will we lead the state in stolen bases? No,” Logan said. “But we’re very aggressive on the bases. We’ve got a little bit of team speed and little bit of offensive power.”
Although senior-less, Greenup County isn’t devoid of experience. The junior class is eight deep.
Through six contests, Gavin Roy led Greenup County in innings pitched (9.1) and in RBIs (seven).
Roy, Hunter Holbrook, Luke Boggs and Kasey Gammons are aiming to lead a pitching staff that Logan hopes will avoid some of the troubles it encountered last spring.
“We couldn’t throw strikes and we hit a lot of batters (in 2024),” Logan said.
“Our mentality on the mound needs to be like a (former player) Ryan Lambert; here it is, see it,” Logan added.
Ty Logan, Colin Alexander, Camden Underwood and Brody Howard will foot the rubber as well.
Ty Logan and Alexander will handle third-base duties. Gammon starts at shortstop. Sawyer Hatfield will log time at second base and shortstop. Roy and Alexander will man first base. Logan is capable of playing second base, too.
Boggs is behind the plate. He’s “top-shelf,” according to his coach. Alexander is a catching option.
Gage Lamarque, Holbrook, Tyler Johnson, Kyler Robinson and Howard are all outfielders.
Hatfield and Gammon are the table setters at the top of the batting order, coach Logan said. Ty Logan, Roy, Alexander and Holbrook will make up the meat of the order much of the time.
The Musketeers were district runners-up a year ago.
RUSSELL
Like Logan, the Red Devils’ coach also likes his team’s overall speed on the basepaths.
“We don’t have many base-cloggers,” Rice said. “We’ll push some extra bases on soft-gap singles, things like that. It puts a lot of pressure on defenses when guys are hard out of the box.”
Rice also points to defense as a strength.
He called Elijah Hankins and Kyle Mokas “two of the best middle infielders in the region, if not the state.”
Russell was off to a scorching 6-1 start prior to going to Myrtle Beach for spring break.
Mokas is “one of the better pitchers in the region,” Rice said. The right-hander is committed to Shawnee State University. The senior had 17 strikeouts through his first 10 innings pitched this spring.
“You always feel good about your chances with him on the mound,” Rice said.
Senior Avery Lother is a “jack of all trades,” Rice said, who can be both a starter and reliever.
Jayden Frasure, Frank Brinkman, Kane Jacobs, Jared Whitt and Jacob Tolliver had all thrown within the first few games.
Hankins is serving in the closer’s role, from where he excelled against Lawrence County — in a 6-4 win.
Joining Hankins and Mokas in the infield are Frasure and Tolliver at third base, and Hayden McGuire at first base. Gunnar Hignite will handle some infield positions as well.
McGuire is off to a nice start after missing nearly two years with an elbow injury.
Jared Whitt is the team’s primary catcher. Lokelio Ancheta is also a backstop option. Griffin Fisher, a freshman, has started behind the plate, too.
“So we’re going to roll with three catchers,” said Rice, who was a college catcher at Washington. “That’s a luxury to have.”
Grayson Kiser and Caden Criswell are everyday outfielders. Also factoring into the mix in the grass are Whitt, Ancheta, Hignite, Jacobs and Ivan McDaniels.
Russell is looking for its first region tournament appearance since 2022.
LEWIS COUNTY
The Lions started the season with just two wins in their first seven games, but Wallingford has picked out several positives in the early going.
“They never quit,” he said. “They continue to fight in tough situations.”
Wallingford is in his first season as Lewis County’s head coach. He assisted former coach Sammy Holder the last three years.
“I always wanted to coach with Sammy,” Wallingford said. “He was in my wedding this past fall. When he decided to step away, it only felt natural to try to become the head coach, but it was never my intention to be the head coach.”
Wallingford likes the chemistry of his team, which features an athletic outfield.
From left to right field, the defensive alignment will typically be Conner Plank, Braxton Egbert and Braedyn “Bob” McGlone.
Plank, the leadoff hitter, is “the straw that stirs the drink,” his coach said. “He’s the main energy guy, gets things started. When he gets on base, we score a run.”
Egbert is a standout defensive center fielder, Wallingford said, who gets “great reads off the bat and great jumps.”
McGlone “may not wow you with stats,” but he comes through in key moments, Wallingford said.
Bryson Toller will get some time in the outfield, too.
Zane Smyke and Cam Farris are “big, strong guys” who are third basemen, Wallingford said.
Shortstop Kyran Ferguson is a “marked man in the lineup,” his coach said. He was batting .400 with four steals through the first seven games.
“He’s played a lot of baseball in his life,” Wallingford said. “He’s a fantastic young man and leader. If you’re an opponent, you’ll be cognizant of where he’s at.”
Three-year starter Hunter Bivens has plenty of experience at second base and will be a “quality asset on the mound,” his coach said.
Cayden Stevenson is a utility infielder.
Brody Detillion, who “just looks like a baseball player,” is the primary first-base option. Brayden Kilbreth is a first baseman as well.
Parker Jordan is suiting up at catcher in his first year of varsity baseball.
“I’m a former catcher, so that’s my position of emphasis,” Wallingford said.
Waylon “John” Reeder is “the strong, silent type, but when he speaks, people listen,” Wallingford said. Reeder, Bivens, Smyke, Stevenson, Toller, Farris, Jordan, Detillion and Bryson Helpenstine had all pitched within the first seven contests.
Lewis County is trying to get back to the 16th Region Tournament for the first time since 2019.
Continue reading...
“It’s the AFC North,” said Seth Wallingford, who played for the Lions in the mid-2010s and was an assistant coach from 2021-24. He is referring to the NFL division consisting of the Bengals, Browns, Steelers and Ravens. “You’ve gotta bring your A-game every day.”
Greenup County coach Steve Logan had similar thoughts.
“There’s no love lost between any teams in the district. There’s a mutual respect,” Logan said, “but let’s just say there’s not any Christmas cards being sent around.”
Russell’s Tim Rice, who’s in his 10th year as the program leader, confidently said, “Everybody knows the 63rd is the best baseball district in the region. … It’s kind of the SEC of the 16th Region.”
Logan didn’t hesitate to say who the favorite is, though.
“It’s Raceland’s to lose,” the Musketeers’ coach said.
Raceland went 30-8 and was a region semifinalist in 2024. The Rams entered this spring as three-time defending district champions.
RACELAND
Coach Marty Mills is in his ninth season at the helm. The 58-year-old joked that “a lot of guys my age find golf and pickleball, but I’m still baseball.”
“I enjoy it every day. I enjoy the practices, the preparation,” Mills said.
One aspect of coaching high school sports is keeping players pepped up and hungry. He called his players “self-motivated” after tasting quite a bit of success in recent years, including a region championship in 2023 and three consecutive district titles.
Kadin Shore and Eli Lynd — two of the Rams’ four seniors — are among the top players in the region, Mills said.
Shore had not allowed a run or given up a walk in his first seven innings pitched. He also had 10 strikeouts. At the plate, he was batting .538.
Eli Lynd is behind the dish.
Raceland was 4-2 through its first six games (through March 30) as it took a crack at The Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach.
Mills said pitching and defense are strengths of this group, which is comprised of “super kids,” he said.
Shore, Bryer Parsons, Landon Bloss, Brigham Davidson, Connor Thacker and Caden Smith are among the reliable arms who will have turns on the bump.
Mills said Raceland has an exceptionally athletic middle infield with shortstop Parker Ison and second baseman Michael Pennington. The duo can hit, too — they had 16 RBIs through the first six games.
Bloss will man the hot corner the majority of the time.
Shore and Sam Lynd are top first-base options.
Davidson is a utility guy who will see time at various positions.
Thacker is the lone returning outfielder. Gunnar Smith, Preston Coldiron, Tayler Sparks, Aidan Shaffer and Sam Lynd also figure into the outfield mix.
“They’ve done really well,” Mills said. “They work on their angles every day and are improving. I’ve been really pleased with that.”
GREENUP COUNTY
The Musketeers carried a 3-3 record into the Sunshine State, where they would spend spring break.
Logan said the bats haven’t been consistent yet, but he is optimistic. Once they do get aboard bags, this team will put pressure on opponents, he said.
“Will we lead the state in stolen bases? No,” Logan said. “But we’re very aggressive on the bases. We’ve got a little bit of team speed and little bit of offensive power.”
Although senior-less, Greenup County isn’t devoid of experience. The junior class is eight deep.
Through six contests, Gavin Roy led Greenup County in innings pitched (9.1) and in RBIs (seven).
Roy, Hunter Holbrook, Luke Boggs and Kasey Gammons are aiming to lead a pitching staff that Logan hopes will avoid some of the troubles it encountered last spring.
“We couldn’t throw strikes and we hit a lot of batters (in 2024),” Logan said.
“Our mentality on the mound needs to be like a (former player) Ryan Lambert; here it is, see it,” Logan added.
Ty Logan, Colin Alexander, Camden Underwood and Brody Howard will foot the rubber as well.
Ty Logan and Alexander will handle third-base duties. Gammon starts at shortstop. Sawyer Hatfield will log time at second base and shortstop. Roy and Alexander will man first base. Logan is capable of playing second base, too.
Boggs is behind the plate. He’s “top-shelf,” according to his coach. Alexander is a catching option.
Gage Lamarque, Holbrook, Tyler Johnson, Kyler Robinson and Howard are all outfielders.
Hatfield and Gammon are the table setters at the top of the batting order, coach Logan said. Ty Logan, Roy, Alexander and Holbrook will make up the meat of the order much of the time.
The Musketeers were district runners-up a year ago.
RUSSELL
Like Logan, the Red Devils’ coach also likes his team’s overall speed on the basepaths.
“We don’t have many base-cloggers,” Rice said. “We’ll push some extra bases on soft-gap singles, things like that. It puts a lot of pressure on defenses when guys are hard out of the box.”
Rice also points to defense as a strength.
He called Elijah Hankins and Kyle Mokas “two of the best middle infielders in the region, if not the state.”
Russell was off to a scorching 6-1 start prior to going to Myrtle Beach for spring break.
Mokas is “one of the better pitchers in the region,” Rice said. The right-hander is committed to Shawnee State University. The senior had 17 strikeouts through his first 10 innings pitched this spring.
“You always feel good about your chances with him on the mound,” Rice said.
Senior Avery Lother is a “jack of all trades,” Rice said, who can be both a starter and reliever.
Jayden Frasure, Frank Brinkman, Kane Jacobs, Jared Whitt and Jacob Tolliver had all thrown within the first few games.
Hankins is serving in the closer’s role, from where he excelled against Lawrence County — in a 6-4 win.
Joining Hankins and Mokas in the infield are Frasure and Tolliver at third base, and Hayden McGuire at first base. Gunnar Hignite will handle some infield positions as well.
McGuire is off to a nice start after missing nearly two years with an elbow injury.
Jared Whitt is the team’s primary catcher. Lokelio Ancheta is also a backstop option. Griffin Fisher, a freshman, has started behind the plate, too.
“So we’re going to roll with three catchers,” said Rice, who was a college catcher at Washington. “That’s a luxury to have.”
Grayson Kiser and Caden Criswell are everyday outfielders. Also factoring into the mix in the grass are Whitt, Ancheta, Hignite, Jacobs and Ivan McDaniels.
Russell is looking for its first region tournament appearance since 2022.
LEWIS COUNTY
The Lions started the season with just two wins in their first seven games, but Wallingford has picked out several positives in the early going.
“They never quit,” he said. “They continue to fight in tough situations.”
Wallingford is in his first season as Lewis County’s head coach. He assisted former coach Sammy Holder the last three years.
“I always wanted to coach with Sammy,” Wallingford said. “He was in my wedding this past fall. When he decided to step away, it only felt natural to try to become the head coach, but it was never my intention to be the head coach.”
Wallingford likes the chemistry of his team, which features an athletic outfield.
From left to right field, the defensive alignment will typically be Conner Plank, Braxton Egbert and Braedyn “Bob” McGlone.
Plank, the leadoff hitter, is “the straw that stirs the drink,” his coach said. “He’s the main energy guy, gets things started. When he gets on base, we score a run.”
Egbert is a standout defensive center fielder, Wallingford said, who gets “great reads off the bat and great jumps.”
McGlone “may not wow you with stats,” but he comes through in key moments, Wallingford said.
Bryson Toller will get some time in the outfield, too.
Zane Smyke and Cam Farris are “big, strong guys” who are third basemen, Wallingford said.
Shortstop Kyran Ferguson is a “marked man in the lineup,” his coach said. He was batting .400 with four steals through the first seven games.
“He’s played a lot of baseball in his life,” Wallingford said. “He’s a fantastic young man and leader. If you’re an opponent, you’ll be cognizant of where he’s at.”
Three-year starter Hunter Bivens has plenty of experience at second base and will be a “quality asset on the mound,” his coach said.
Cayden Stevenson is a utility infielder.
Brody Detillion, who “just looks like a baseball player,” is the primary first-base option. Brayden Kilbreth is a first baseman as well.
Parker Jordan is suiting up at catcher in his first year of varsity baseball.
“I’m a former catcher, so that’s my position of emphasis,” Wallingford said.
Waylon “John” Reeder is “the strong, silent type, but when he speaks, people listen,” Wallingford said. Reeder, Bivens, Smyke, Stevenson, Toller, Farris, Jordan, Detillion and Bryson Helpenstine had all pitched within the first seven contests.
Lewis County is trying to get back to the 16th Region Tournament for the first time since 2019.
Continue reading...
