State Tournament Week: Wednesday

Alright, enough looking back...let's look ahead to this weekend...

The Favorites
--Henderson County (region 2, 28-11-1)
Things looked bad for the Colonels. A loss to Union County at district matched them up with Christian County at region, but these Colonels persevered and marched to a regional championship. This team finished third at state last season, and with the state's most dominant pitcher in Stacy Whitmer, the Colonels will have a good shot at improving their state finish. Offense is a question, but nine runs scored against Hopkins Central in the regional finale looks promising.

--Owensboro Catholic (region 3, 28-11-1)
After being upset in their own tournament and then stunned in the 9th District Tournament, it seemed that this might be the year that the Aces failed to make the state tournament. Not so fast my friends, as Catholic survived Edmonson County at region and then waltzed to the title. With Megan Aull leading the way, Catholic features an amazingly efficient offensive attack. However, do the Aces have enough pitching to go all the way?

--Greenwood (region 4, 32-6-1)
The Gators return to state for the first time since 2003, fresh off their breakthrough regional championship win over Allen County-Scottsville. Greenwood features two of the state's best arms in Brittany York and Rachel Riley, along with likely the state's best batting lineup. On paper, the Gators look perfect. At the 4th region tournament, the Gators looked perfect. Will "perfect" follow them to Jeffersontown?

--Mercy (region 7, 27-10)
For a Louisville team, the Jaguars aren't really getting a lot of press. But perhaps this weekend will be the weekend when everyone is paying attention to Josh Bloomer's squad. Mercy turned the 7th region into their own personal playground in the postseason, stomping Male, Manual and Ballard by a combined 20-4. Their road to state was as tough as any of the favorites listed here; the Jaguars will be hard to stop if they continue their good play.

VERY Good Chance To Win
--Reidland (region 1, 33-6)
Three of their five postseason runs have come by one run, so while they haven't been dominant like a Mercy or Greenwood, the Greyhounds have learned how to win close games, which is just as an important skill. Reidland's pitching duo of Lane and King rival some of the state's best pitching duos, so pitching shouldn't be a problem for the Greyhounds. However, will there be enough offense to provide insurance runs in tight spots?

--North Hardin (region 5, 28-6)
The Trojans were the talk of Kentucky softball after blowing through the field at the Ballard Tournament in April, but 5th region champ has slid back into the shadows ever since. However, senior Jennifer Young has been one of the state's best pitchers all season, and if North Hardin could dominate the way they did in April, I'd say they still could do the same in June.

--Ryle (region 9, 33-6)
Ryle is the state's biggest mystery. While Whitmer and York and Young get tossed around as state's best pitcher, a Raider sophomore might best them all. Kristen Allen has dominated northern Kentucky this season, and the young pitcher has state tournament experience from a year ago. Ryle has beaten South Laurel, Christian County and Allen County-Scottsville this season, but in the state tournament format, will pitching depth be a problem?

--South Laurel (region 13, 29-9)
The Cardinals might seem like a long shot in this category, but South returns to state for the third consecutive year, this time in the 13th region. They've beaten North Laurel twice, including the regional semifinals, so the Cardinals know how to win in pressure situations. A tough draw might doom them, but this weekend, I assure you, will be full of surprises.

Cinderella, anyone?
--Butler (region 6, 26-9)
Watch out for the Bears here. Perhaps the most underrated team in the state this season, the 6th region champ has defeated Henderson County, North Laurel and Union County. The Bears didn't allow one run in either their district or regional tournaments; in fact, they haven't been scored upon since May 19. Don't expect that streak to continue, but don't be surprised to see the Bears going deep into the state tournament.

--Woodford County (region 11, 19-14)
I recall one comment earlier this year saying that Woodford County deserved to be ranked even though they won't win their region. Well here the Yellow Jackets are, led by one of the state's best young pitchers in Kristen Perry and full of confidence. Woodford County was great early and now appear great late; can the Yellow Jackets sting the best teams at state?

--Estill County (region 14, 24-14)
Haven't we been here before? Last season, the Engineers choo-chooed (I love this verb!) to a fourth place finish at state, stunning everyone in the process. What's to say they can't do it again? They've beaten Manual and Woodford County, and a few more wins this weekend wouldn't be all that surprising.

--Russell (region 16, 28-12)
If experience means anything, then the Red Devils should be sitting pretty: this is Russell's sixth consecutive trip to the state tournament. Last year, they collected two wins and came within a run of upsetting Allen County-Scottsville on Saturday morning. This season, Russell has wins over both the Laurels. Estill County taught us that all Eastern Kentucky teams are not irrelevant at the state level. Could the Red Devils continue this lesson?

Best of the Rest
--Oldham County (region 8, 27-9)
Oldham County came out of the wide open 8th region, but it'll be a tall order for them to make any mark at state outside their first round game against Pulaski County. However, they beat PRP and lost to Manual in 10 innings.

--George Rogers Clark (region 10, 29-11)
The Cardinals took advantage of Estill County's flight from the 10th region by winning the regional championship. Now, GRC gets the enjoyable task of taking on the Greenwood Gators in the first round of the state tournament.

--Pulaski County (region 12, 27-12)
While Danville and Southwestern were predominant favorites in the 12th region, Pulaski County came out of nowhere to take the regional title. Early this season, they fell to North Laurel only by a run, but South Laurel punished them a couple of weeks ago by a 16-3 count.

--Shelby Valley (region 15, 25-11)
This team, at first glance, has an impressive resume. They own wins over Danville, Manual and Larue County. They have the state's all-time leader in wins in Cortney Bentley. However, history works against the Valley here, as the 15th region has only collected three wins at state since fast pitch was born in 1995.

I guess I'll make some predictions tomorrow...