Volume 3, Issue 3
36 ON DECK
March 2020 • Page 3
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ADVERTISERS INDEX: Akridge Farm Supply — p. 25
Melissa Wynn, Realtor — p. 26
Buchanon’s Design Center — p. 17
WCCK/WCBL — p. 32
Lake Barkley CrossFit- p. 32
Wilson Law Firm — p. 21
Brehm Striping — p. 16
Magistrate Bobby Cummins— p. 26
Shop-O-Rama — p. 16
Williams Veterinary Clinic — p.25
West Kentucky Sports is made possible through the sponsorship of advertisers listed at left. These businesses help provide local coverage of youth sports and positive acts by local athletes. On behalf of our readers, the staff would like to say:
THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!
Page 4 • March 2020
WRESTLING to runner-up:
Paducah Tilghman Middle School takes second in state match Staff Report The Paducah Middle School wrestling team earned a runner-up finish at the 2020 Middle School State Championships held on February 1 in Pikeville.
The team was second in state overall. Individual finishes included: Jack James (3rd), Jamie Lee (6th), Malachi Rider (1st), DJ Wilson (2nd), Jimmy Mooney (2nd), Uriah Virzi (1st) and Nick Fox (5th). The Middle School State Wrestling Championship was sponsored by Kentucky USA Wrestling and the Kentucky Folkstyle Wrestling Committee.
March 2020 • Page 5
The Lyons and Lady Lyons swept the sixth ever Akridge-Ace Hardware Shootout in the Jason White Gymnasium in February. Special events were hosted throughout the afternoon.
Page 16 • March 2020
Marshall County Marshals District 4, Region 1
Coach: Robert McDonald
2019 Record: 28-8 Opening Day: March 15 at Lyon County, 5 p.m. Marshall County had plenty of hits last season, tallying the second most runs in the First Region, but fell short in the regional tournament to Paducah Tilghman. Marshall has a good core of seniors in Ty Buchmeier, Riley Harris, Connor Johnson, Isiah Neeble, Tanner Renfrow, Dawson Smothers and Clay Sutton. Buchmeier posted a .315 with 30 runs last season, while Harris led all pitchers with a 1.38 ERA in eight starts. Harris fanned 62 batters across 873 throws. Marshall County’s schedule isn’t as aggressive as last season’s, but includes plenty of competitive teams, including Caldwell County, McCracken County, Tilghman and a slate of Missouri teams.
5 Ty Buchmeier 6Isiah Neeble | Marshall County
5Brady Ives | Marshall County
March 2020 • Page 17
Marshall County Lady Marshals District 4, Region 1
Coach: Mallory S. Newton
2019 Record: 27-14 Opening Day: March 16 at Calloway County, 5:30 p.m. Defensively, it’s hard to find a First Region team capable of competing with the Lady Marshals. Marshall County was as strong in the diamond as it was at the fence last year, allowing the fewest runs during the regular season of any team in the region. Marshall graduated only two pieces of that puzzle, which featured a core group of sophomores as Marshall County advanced as far as the state tournament. In 2020, those juniors will look for a third 5Presley Jezik6Riley Piercefield 5Cayson Conner6Charley Pursley | Marshall consecutive postseason bid. Juniors Cayson Conner, Cayson Conner, McKenzie Elkins, Savannah Hairgrove, Presley Jezik, Gabbi Lovett, Layne Pea, Riley Piercefield, Sarah Stokes and Sarenna Tomassi will join lone senior Zoie Swoope as the team’s most experienced players. Jezik (.429), Conner (.388) and Pea (.361) led Marshall County’s bats last season, joined by sophomore Charley Pursley (.369). As a team, Marshall was 12th in hitting in the state with 384, and seventh in triples (22). On the mound, Lovett placed eighth in the state for pitching saves last season with four and eighth in total innings pitched.
Page 20 • March 2020
Christian Fellowship Eagles
Christian Fellowship Lady Eagles
Coach: Matt Fletcher
Coach: Trevor Jackson
2019 Record: 1-18
2019 Record: 13-17
Opening Day: March 16 at Ballard Memorial at 5:30 p.m.
Opening Day: March 16 at Ballard Memorial, 5:30 p.m.
Despite only picking up one win last season — 12-4 in their season opener against Fulton City — the Eagles saw wins in sight through several contests last season. They were also on the wrong end of a few blowouts last season. Andrew Allen and Andrew Zabawa return as the Eagles best hitters. The Andrews combined for 27 of the team’s 61 runs, while senior Michael Bivin led the team in RBIs with 10. Pitching was the team’s biggest area of need, averaging a 13.07 among at the mound. Beau Wilson (7.82 ERA) and Andrew Allen (5.48 ERA) had solid innings for the Eagles.
Defensively, the Lady Eagles struggled to stay in games last season, giving up the most runs in the First Region (277). But offensively, the small school stood out, earning 226 runs. In all, CFS posted nine double digit wins and picked up respectable sweeps over St. Mary and Mayfield. Three of their top four hitters return for 2020: Jayden Jackson, Edie Little and Jaycie Jackson. Jaycie Jackson was also the team’s top pitcher last year, but the Lady Eagles had a major issue at depth there last year with the next three pitchers behind her averaging a 20.9 through 31 innings.
District 4, Region 1
District 4, Region 1
5Edie Little | Christian Fellowship Schools
March 2020 • Page 21
Livingston Central Cardinals District 5, Region 2
Coach: Jerrod Quertermous
2019 Record: 10-14 Opening Day: March 17 hosting Madisonville-North Hopkins at 5:45 p.m. 2019 was the first losing season for Livingston Central since 2015. The coming season could be rough for the Cardinals as they graduated their best pitched from last season (Cameron Head). Josh Wilson and Dakota Lamb were both solid options last season, averaging a 2.34 ERA across a combined 942 pitches, but Livingston’s numbers fell off steeply after the duo. Wilson and Carson Kitchens were two of the most consistent hitters returning for 2020, but as a team the Cardinals averaged just .243 at the plate.
5Tate Quertermous | Livingston Central
Livingston Central Lady Cardinals District 5, Region 2 Coach: Eric W. Wring
2019 Record: 14-11 Opening Day: March 17 hosting Christian Fellowship at 5:30 p.m. The Lady Cardinals went 14-11 in spite of not winning a Fifth District contest. And their schedule didn’t include many easy games, sweeping St. Mary by a combined 21-6, besting Hopkinsville and beating Paducah Tilghman. If Livingston can overcome their Fifth District foible, they should fare even better in 2020 with last season’s best hitter (short stop Lauren Wring) returning, along with pitcher Sydney Lasher having another offseason under her belt to improve.
5Madeline Norton | Livingston Central
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Page 24 • March 2020
Lyon County Lyons District 5, Region 1 Coach:Ricky Baker
2019 Record: 24-11 Opening Day: March 16 hosting Marshall County at 5 p.m. Despite not having a senior on the roster, it would be hard not to pick Lyon County to repeat last season’s success, which included a trip to the All ‘A’ State tournament for the program’s first time, a program setting 22-win record and their first district title since 1997. The success included an 11-0 run with a two-run win over eventual Second Region champion Hopkinsville and defeating Caldwell County 10-9. Now in his second season at the helm, head coach Ricky Baker knows his roster, which is has plenty of years ahead of it. The Lyons graduated five from last year’s team, including several pitchers. The Lyons will likely overcome some of that loss with pure athleticism. Lyon County’s numbers on the mound weren’t great last season (posting a 4.31 ERA between eight pitchers) but the Lyons overcame it by creating plays and making good decisions. Lyon also excelled at moving runners last season without relying on big hits, resulting in 216 runs with only three home runs and a triple. Sophomore Brody Williams returns as last season’s most consistent hitter, posting a .350 in 2019. Infielders Travis Yancy and Jackson Shoulders will also provide solid depth in the batting order. Yancy led the team with 10 RBIs last season, while Shoulders had seven. Three players (Shoulders, Williams and Gunnar Bingham) were named to the KHSBCA preseason watch list for good reason. Lyon will also roster eight middle schoolers as Baker looks to keep building on success.
5Brody Williams 6Gunnar Bingham | Lyon County
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March 2020 • Page 25
5Travis Yancy 6Aidan Rush | Lyon County
5Austin Long
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Page 26 • March 2020
Lyon County Lady Lyons District 5, Region 1 Coach: Jason Collins
2019 Record: 26-13 Opening Day: March 16 at Union County at 5:30 p.m. Expectations are high for the Lady Lyons in 2020 after going 9-1 and taking the Fifth District title last season, along with the Second Region All ‘A’ trophy, earning a bid in the state tournament. Lyon made their run with only two upperclassmen, then juniors Allye Culp and Nelli Walker. The duo returns for their senior campaign as part of a squad that was one the state’s top home run hitters early on. Lyon benefits from a few options on the mound, with Culp and junior Kaelyn Conger combining for 3,427 pitches, 205 strikes and combined ERA of 3.28. Junior Tori Schenk also gave Lyon a nice change up, maintaining a 3.78 ERA through 16 innings. Conger’s two saves placed her in a 10-way tie for 16th in the state. The Lady Lyons were consistent defensively with Hadlie Butler, Calista Collins, Sydney Melton, Walker and Gracen Wynn keeping the bases clear. Conger also saw time in the infield, along with Kerstin and Kyra Craft. Near the fences, Schenk, Jaiden Capello, Rachel Coursey and Wynn gave head coach Jason Collins solid options. At the plate, Calista Collins was in the state’s top 25 in nearly every batting category. For the season she compiled 15 home runs, driving in 54 runs and earning a .566 batting average. Melton had eight more shots over the fence, finishing with a .432. A year older now, Lyon stands a good chance of building on their 2019 success with all the pieces still in place.
Bobby Cummins
5Rachel Coursey | Lyon 3Calista Collins 6Sydney Melton | Lyon
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March 2020 • Page 27
3Hallie Butler 5Allye Culp | Lyon 6Gracen Wynn | Lyon
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