Ah, summertime within the Ohio Valley.
Whereas many people relish the hotter temperatures, fairly a couple of of us have little tolerance for the humidity that often coincides with the 80-90 diploma temps this time of 12 months.
That additionally applies to the 1000’s of Kentucky highschool soccer gamers making ready within the warmth for the quickly approaching season.
Native groups have been sweating it out in latest days and the gamers will proceed to take action as they prepared themselves for the primary sport of the season on Friday, August 18.
*****
QUICK GLANCE AT LOCAL TEAMS—Mason County, coming off a 13-1 season in its first 12 months of competing on the Class 4A degree, shall be in search of a number of gamers to step up in the event that they hope to duplicate final 12 months’s superlative season.
Coach Joe Wynn’s Royals open on the street in Flatwoods vs. Russell, which uncharacteristically struggled final 12 months, ending 2-9. Previously a Class 3A district rival of Mason County, the Pink Devils defeated the Royals 49-13 within the final assembly between the pair in 2019.
Mason County additionally introduced a couple of days in the past that they are going to be celebrating homecoming a bit earlier that normal, internet hosting Boyd County (8-4 final 12 months) on Sept. 8.
Coach Invoice Spencer and the Fleming County Panthers, which completed 7-5 in 2022, begins its season with an enormous take a look at when the Class 3A college ventures to Lexington to face Class 6A Henry Clay. Based on the KHSAA scoreboard, this would be the first
assembly between the 2 colleges. The Blue Devils had been 3-8 final 12 months.
Lewis County coach Gene Peterson, in his second season on the Vanceburg college, will lead the Lions of their opener towards Nicholas County at house on Aug. 18. It marks the primary assembly between the 2 colleges since a 44-0 Blue Jackets win in 2020.
The Class 3A Lions went 6-5 in Peterson’s first season at Lewis County, the primary profitable season on the college since coach Josh Hughes led the 2013 Lions to a 7-4 document.
Nicholas went 7-4 a 12 months in the past, and the Class A faculty encompasses a first-year head coach, former Bracken County head man Daniel Clouse.
Bracken County shall be coached by Steven Tarter and he’s trying to lead the Class 2A Polar Bears to a different profitable marketing campaign in his first 12 months, after the workforce completed 7-3 final season.
Bracken opens with a house sport towards Pendleton County, a workforce they haven’t confronted since 2019, when the Wildcats received 57-12. Pendleton County, a Class 3A college, completed 0-10 final 12 months.
One other college starting its season on August 18 that isn’t what may very well be outlined as native is Anderson County. The 5A college does have a distinguished native connection nevertheless.
The Bearcats shall be led by former Mason County head coach David Buchanan, who’s getting into his inaugural season on the Lawrenceburg college. Buchanan was the Mercer County head coach for seven years after teaching the Royals to a 150-72 document from 1996-2014.
One of many most interesting gents I ever had the pleasure of masking is happy to be again on the sidelines after serving as Offensive and Defensive Analyst at St. Xavier final 12 months.
Coach “B” shall be main a workforce that went 2-9 a 12 months in the past. The Bearcats open the 2023 season at house vs. Rockcastle County.
*****
HENRY CHANGES PLANS—Terrell Henry, the previous multi-sport standout at Mason County and an enormous cause the Royals loved a 13-1 season final 12 months, lately introduced he’s heading to Morehead State College to proceed his soccer profession.
Henry initially deliberate to attend Georgetown School, however he has since had a change of coronary heart and plans to develop into an Eagle.
Final season at Mason County, he had 26 receptions for 666 yards and 9 touchdowns as a wideout, and Henry additionally starred on protection, arising with 9 interceptions and 44 solo tackles.
Morehead State competes within the NCAA Division Soccer Championship Subdivision (FCS) and are members of the Pioneer Soccer League. The Eagles are coached by Rob Tenyer and completed 2-9 final season with a number of robust luck defeats.
MSU will open the season on Thursday, August 31 vs. West Virginia State at house in Jayne Stadium at 6 p.m.
*****
BENGALS OPEN CAMP—For those who’re anxious to see the Cincinnati Bengals in-person earlier than the season, the two-time defending AFC North Division Champions will kick off their 2023 coaching camp on Wednesday, July 26 on the Kettering Well being Follow Fields simply west of Paycor Stadium.
The Bengals have 10 scheduled open practices and 4 further practices open completely to Season Ticket and Waitlist members. There may be bleacher seating for 1,250 followers, plus further standing room alongside the sidelines. Admission is free and no ticket is required and the NFL Clear Bag Coverage shall be in impact.
Bengals gamers will signal autographs for followers alongside the sidelines following open practices, with completely different place teams out there every day after follow.
*****
RING OF HONOR—Norman Julius Esiason.
Chad Javon Johnson.
These two names, higher recognized to Cincinnati Bengals followers as Boomer and Ochocinco, and each former gamers shall be inducted into the Bengals Ring of Honor at halftime of the primetime matchup towards the Los Angeles Rams on Monday, Sept. 25.
Esiason was named the MVP of the NFL in 1988 when the lefty quarterback led the Bengals to a Tremendous Bowl look.
Johnson is the Bengals all-time main receiver.
Each are standard personalities amongst Bengals aficionados they usually stay staunch supporters of the franchise.
*****
MLB DRAFT EXPERT RANKS REDS AT TOP—Jim Callis, a baseball author who intently follows the most effective newbie prospects for MLB.com, calls the 2023 Reds class “the most effective haul of expertise amongst all 30 golf equipment.”
In fact, it’s far too early to foretell how this class will pan out sooner or later, however it’s noteworthy that Callis had loads of
constructive issues to say in regards to the Reds’ alternatives. He was complimentary of the primary two picks, school pitchers Rhett Lowder and Ty Floyd, in addition to second spherical choice Sammy Stafura, a highschool shortstop from New York, and California highschool pitcher-first baseman Cole Schoenwetter.
Callis additionally praised the alternatives of faculty lefties Hunter Hollan and Logan Van Treeck, and added that the Reds picked “the draft’s finest defensive catcher in Lengthy Seaside State’s Connor Burns and two productive school bats in Virginia outfielder Ethan O’Donnell and Stanford first baseman Carter Graham.”
*****
REDS LOOKING FOR CONSISTENCY—After struggling a three-game sweep to the Milwaukee Brewers out of the break, the Reds managed to separate a pair with San Francisco after dropping the primary two video games of the sequence, which prolonged their shedding streak to 6.
A pair of superlative pitching performances highlighted the ultimate two video games towards the Giants, with Graham Ashcraft and Andrew Abbott giving the Reds a much-needed raise.
Ashcraft went six sturdy frames, however appeared to tire a bit within the seventh inning after giving up a house run. The bullpen got here to the rescue and three relievers (Ian Gibaut, Lucas Sims and Alexis Diaz) blanked the Giants over the ultimate three innings for the 3-2 streak-snapping win. The Reds additionally supported Ashcraft with a number of excellent defensive performs within the much-needed victory.
On Thursday afternoon, Abbott continued to point out why he’s the most effective rookie pitcher within the sport. The southpaw toyed with the Giants, turning into the primary Reds pitcher to toss eight innings
in a sport this season. He allowed only one hit, bettering his document to 5-2, whereas reducing his earned run common to 2.10.
Subsequent up for the Reds is a three-game sequence towards the Arizona Diamondbacks, which started Friday, a day after this column was written.
The 52-46 Reds stay two and a half video games behind the Brewers heading into the sequence, and the D-Backs enter GABP at 54-43, two video games behind the Dodgers within the NL West.
Whereas the Reds entertain Arizona this weekend, the Brewers are internet hosting the workforce with the most effective document in baseball, the 62-33 Atlanta Braves.
Whereas it could be useful to maneuver nearer to Milwaukee within the standings over the weekend, the Reds have a fair higher alternative to do one thing about it starting Monday night.
That’s when they are going to be searching for revenge in a three-game set at American Household Discipline. It marks the ultimate video games between the NL Central rivals this season, and if the Reds hope to succeed in the postseason, their solely actual shot is profitable the division.
The Wild Card race has a number of groups forward of Cincinnati, which signifies that catching and surpassing Milwaukee needs to be the purpose for the Reds.
The Brewers seem to have the sting in pitching and expertise once you evaluate the 2 golf equipment, particularly after dominating the Reds to this point this season by profitable eight of the ten conferences. Nonetheless, if the Reds can discover a method to take at the very least two out of three in Milwaukee, that might give a younger workforce a particular confidence enhance heading into the canine days of the season.
Not going out on a limb and declaring both workforce the NL Central champs at this level of the season, however really being in a pennant race and having an thrilling younger workforce to look at definitely beats the choice.
*****
“The human race has one actually efficient weapon, and that’s laughter.”—Mark Twain
*****
“While you’re good at one thing, you’ll inform everybody. While you’re nice at one thing, they’ll let you know.”—Corridor of Fame operating again Walter Payton