Season preview: Lexington high school baseball is a tough out for anyone
Kentucky’s high school baseball season got underway last Monday and Lexington’s teams have just 10 weeks to prepare for the postseason that begins May 23.
Six of Lexington’s nine teams are ranked in the Prep Baseball Report preseason top 25.
Here’s a look at the Lexington baseball landscape in order of their preseason ranking or order of finish last season, noting some of each team’s top returning players and newcomers highlighted by their coaches.
Stats are from last season. Statewide rankings according to PrepBaseballReport.com in conjunction with the Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association.
FREDERICK DOUGLASS
Last season: 28-9. 42nd District runner-up.
Preseason rank: 4.
This season’s start: 2-0.
Big hitters: Ty Bryant INF, Jr. (.351 AVG, 29 R, 22 RBI 1 HR, 21 SB); Leighton Harris LHP/1B, So. (.420 AVG, 21 R, 25, RBI, 2 HR); Thomas Howard, RHP/1B, Jr. (.314 AVG, 12 R, 11 RBI); RJ Parks, C/INF, Jr. (.338 AVG, 7 R, 24 RBI, 3 HR); Cameron Dunn, INF, Jr. (.299 AVG, 21 R, 11 RBI, 1 HR, 13 SB). Gavin Faulkner, LHP/1B, Sr. (.345 AVG, 12 R, 7 RBI, 10 SB)
On the bump: Howard, RHP (8-1, 54 IP, 2.46 ERA, 86 Ks); Faulkner LHP (4-1, 46.2 IP, 1.95 ERA, 77 Ks); Braxton Burse, RHP, Jr. (5-1, 33.2 IP, 1.25 ERA, 37 Ks).
College commits: Bryant (UK football); Faulkner (Eastern Kentucky); Harris (Kentucky); Howard (Louisville).
Notes: The Broncos have multiple two- and three-sport standouts. Howard also plays football and basketball; Bryant is one of the top football prospects in the state. Harris also plays basketball.
Coach Eddie Brooks says: “We should be pitching heavy. The biggest difference is that we are a year older.”
LEXINGTON CHRISTIAN
Last season: 20-8. 43rd District runner-up.
Preseason rank: 7.
This season’s start: 1-2-1.
Big hitters: Cole Ginter, OF, Sr. (.452 AVG, 25 R, 27 RBI, 11 SB); Hayden Collins, 3B/RHP, Sr. (.352, 21 R, 13 RBI, 1 HR); Matthew Maggard INF, Sr. (.333 AVG, 19 R, 15 RBI, 1 HR); Grayson Collins, OF, Sr. (.313 AVG, 16 R, 14 RBI).
On the bump: Elijah Hammond, RHP, Sr. (3-2, 35 IP, 3.60 ERA, 55 Ks); H. Collins, RHP (3-2, 33.1 IP, 2.52 ERA, 43 Ks); Chance McGaughey, LHP, Sr. (4-1, 22.1 IP, 1.88 ERA, 38 Ks).
Notes: Assistant coach Bill Powell was a longtime head coach at Middlesboro and is a Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association Hall of Famer; Assistant coach Matt Ginter, a Winchester native, is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who came up with the Chicago White Sox.
College commitments: Hammond (North Central College); H. Collins (Southwest Tennessee); Maggard (Centre College); Ginter (Kentucky Wesleyan); Terrique Hicks (Eastern Kentucky).
Coach Wynn Harris says: “We are excited about the upcoming year. There is a really good core of returning players. We also have a couple of underclassmen that we think can have a big impact. Our pitching should be pretty good, and hopefully the thing we hang our hat on.”
LAFAYETTE
Last season: 34-8. 11th Region champion, 43rd District champion.
Preseason rank: 10.
This season’s start: 2-1.
Big hitters: Ben Prather, INF/P, Sr. (.382 AVG, 30 R, 35 RBI, 1 HR); Mason Pittman, INF/P, Sr. (.300 AVG, 27 RBI, 2 HR); Carter Owens, OF/P, Sr. (.337 AVG, 21 RBI, 3 HR).
On the bump: Jared Eisiminger, RHP, Jr. (4-1, 29.2 IP, 2.60 ERA, 38 Ks); Burkley Bounds, RHP, So. (2-0,18.2 IP, 1.12 ERA, 20 Ks); Prather, RHP (0-2, 12.2 IP, 4.97 ERA, 10 Ks).
Notes: Senior RHP Andrew Fulz returns to the lineup after missing last season with a back injury. The Generals graduated their top three pitchers and a lot of offensive production.
College commitments: Owen Jenkins, C/3B, Fr. (Louisville); Prather (Kentucky Wesleyan); Owens (Asbury).
Coach Chris Langston says: “We are excited about our young arms and the seniors that had experience on the mound last season. Will need some young players to step up defensively and fill some holes in the batting order.”
HENRY CLAY
Last season: 22-15. Fourth in 42nd District.
Preseason rank: 13.
This season’s start: 0-2.
Big hitters: Joey Howard, 1B/RHP, Jr. (.316 AVG, 20 R, 25 RBI, 4 HR); Kasen Parks, INF/RHP, Jr. (.278 AVG, 24 R, 10 RBI, 1 HR, 12 SB); Tyler Banks, OF, Sr. (.281 AVG, 24 R, 19 RBI, 4 HR, 9 SB).
On the bump: Howard, RHP (4-3, 31 IP, 3.61 ERA, 39 Ks); Cade Schneider, RHP, Sr. (4-1, 28.2 IP, 3.42 ERA, 42 Ks); Chardy Tierney, INF/RHP, So. (3-0, 26 IP, 2.69 ERA, 27 Ks); Isaac Rone, INF/RHP, So. (1-2, 23.1 IP, 3.90 ERA, 22 Ks); Blake VanHorn, LHP/OF, Jr. (2-0, 15.1 IP, 0.46 ERA, 20 Ks); Giancarlo Gonzalez, LHP/OF, So. (1-1, 12.1 IP, 2.27 ERA, 8 Ks).
Notes: Banks and Schneider are the teams only seniors. Schneider pitches in the low 90s this offseason, according to his coach.
College commitments: Schneider (Wabash Valley).
Coach Jordan Tarrence says: “We have a deep roster this year with a ton of guys fighting for playing time and spots. This year should provide lots of competition. Hopefully, this will help us maximize our abilities and potential.”
SAYRE
Last season: 17-12. 42nd District champions.
Preseason rank: 19.
This season’s start: 1-2.
Big hitters: Raymond Saatman, OF/RHP, Jr. (.393 AVG, 25 R, 24 RBI, 1 HR); Grady Johnson SS/RHP Jr. (.356 AVG, 13 R, 20 RBI, 1 HR); Charlie Slabaugh, 1B/LHP/OF (.370 AVG, 39 R, 12 RBI); Graham Johnson C/RHP, Jr. (.333 AVG, 16 R, 24 RBI).
On the bump: Saatman, RHP (5-5, 1 SV, 59 IP, 2.37 ERA, 90 Ks); Addison Stockham, LHP, Jr. (4-3, 46.1 IP, 4.53 ERA, 58 Ks); Owen Murphy, RHP, fr. (4-3, 35.2 IP, 6.67 ERA, 35 Ks).
College commitments: Saatman (Kentucky).
Notes: Saatman, Stockham, Grady Johnson and Graham Johnson have all started fro the Spartans since eighth grade. They helped deliver the school’s first district title last season.
Coach Kevin Clary says: “We understand that last year is over and we need to keep grinding to build on the success we had last year. I feel like the major difference for us this year is the physicality of our team. They have worked really hard in the weight room this fall and winter and it should pay huge dividends for us.”
TATES CREEK
Last season: 13-19. Third in the 43rd District.
Preseason rank: 22.
This season’s start: 3-0.
Big hitters: Austin Potts, INF, Sr. (.260 AVG, 23 R, 11 RBI, 1 HR, 7 SB); Isaac Tencza, C/INF, Jr. (.243 AVG, 4 R, 21 RBI, 1 HR); Jacob McDonald, INF/RHP, Sr. (.242 AVG, 15 R, 11 RBI, 11 SB).
On the bump: Dunham, RHP (3-0, 17.2 IP, 0.79 ERA, 23 Ks); David Castleberry, RHP, Sr. (2-2, 38.2 IP, 1.63 ERA, 31 Ks).
College commitments: Castleberry (Kentucky Wesleyan); Braxton Brinegar, RHP, Jr. (Xavier).
Notes: The Commodores played their entire 2021 season on the road due to construction of the new Tates Creek High School set to open this fall. Its new facilities include Dom Fucci Field House and a completely rebuilt Cole-Poynter Field.
Coach Larry Poynter says: “We are led by a strong group of seniors and juniors that are hungry to play at the standard of our program and excited to see talented young guys step up.”
PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
Last season: 14-18. Fourth in 43rd District.
This season’s start: 4-0.
Big hitters: Hunter Williams, INF, Jr. (.311 AVG, 9 R, 7 RBI); Scott Kendrick OF/RHP, Jr. (.269 AVG, 2 R, 7 RBI).
On the bump: Luke Parrigin, RHP, Sr. (4-1, 1 SV, 40.2 IP, 5.85 ERA, 29 Ks); Cam Ringler, RHP, Jr. (4-5, 1 SV, 31 IP, 6.77 ERA, 38 Ks).
Notes: Bulldogs lost 10 seniors off last year’s squad, including much of its offensive production.
Coach Steve Deaton says: “The leadership and team chemistry will help this team with confidence and a drive to compete and play at a very high level. Scott Kendrick and Nick Griffith … are natural born leaders with a tremendous work ethic.”
LEXINGTON CATHOLIC
Last season: 14-14. Fifth in 43rd District.
This season’s start: 0-1
Big hitters: Griffin Cameron, OF, Jr. (.405 AVG, 23 R, 20 RBI, 8 SB); Max DeGraff, SS, Jr. (.277 AVG, 16 R, 14 RBI); Baylor Woodall, INF, Sr. (.227 AVG, 19 R, 10 RBI, 1 HR); Ty Hamm, 3B, Sr. (.351 AVG, 9 R, 10 RBI).
On the bump: Matthew Poe, LHP/OF, Sr. (1-2. 21.2 IP, 2.26 ERA, 24 Ks); Griffin Gaunce, LHP, Sr. (1-0, 3 IP, 2.33 ERA, 6 Ks).
College commitments: Cameron (Kentucky).
Notes: New head coach Scott Downs is a former University of Kentucky pitcher who had a 14-year major league career with seven teams, most notably the Toronto Blue Jays. He was the state’s high school Mr. Baseball out of 1994 state champion Pleasure Ridge Park, where he was an assistant coach for five seasons before joining the Knights.
Coach Scott Downs says: “We’re looking forward to seeing our team compete and enjoy the season now that we’ve put in all the hard work to get here. … Baylor Woodall is special for his leadership. Griffin Cameron is a five-tool athlete with everything he needs to help us be successful.”
BRYAN STATION
Last season: 8-15. Fifth in 42nd District.
This season’s start: 0-1
Big hitters: Matthew Pennington, RHP/3B, Sr. (.283 AVG, 8 R, 5 RBI); Layne Jones, SS, Sr. (.345 AVG, 11 R, 12 RBI); Quinten Webster, C/OF, So. (.271 AVG, 10 R, 12, RBI); Trenton Cutwright, OF, So. (.208, 16 R, 5 RBI, 1 HR, 11 BB, 15 SB).
On the bump: Pennington, RHP (3-4, 32 IP, 4.16 ERD, 38 Ks); Blake Curtis, RHP/3B, Sr. (1-4, 30.2 IP, 3.20 ERA, 24 Ks); TShaun Bridgeforth, RHP, Sr. (2-1, 2 SV, 24.3 IP, 29, Ks); Wyatt Brooks, RHP/INF, So. (1-1, 12.2 IP, 1.66 ERA, 8 Ks).
College commitments: Jones (Union College).
Notes: Pennington is returning as a fifth-year senior and has college offers. Cutwright is a three-sport star as a starting football quarterback and a starting basketball guard.
Coach Justin Royal says: “We have had a year to grow and mature. ‘Young’ players will lose that title this year and will now play with a certain degree of expectation as opposed to being young and learning. Last year taught some really good lessons as well as gave a great opportunity to develop confidence and positive momentum into this year.”
