2020 Preseason
1. Montgomery County (28-7) – The defending 10th Region champs start the 2020 campaign atop the preseason list. With three players among the 1016sports’ “Terrific 26 to Watch” and 17 total returnees, coach Chris Varney’s Indians look to build upon last year’s success. The team’s top three batters and top two pitchers are back. Five players on this season’s squad who had at least 50 at bats hit above .300 last spring. The 2019 Indians were 15th in the state in batting average at .340. That squad also ranked in the state’s top 25 in hits (22nd with 318), doubles (tied for 18th with 64) and triples (tied for 22nd with 11). Offensively, Varney’s club relies upon smallball. The team is full of contact hitters with speed. However, Montgomery County’s greatest strength is in its pitching staff, which will be led by senior Seth Adams (8-3 record, 1.96 ERA, 72 strikeouts and 23 walks), who will also play third base when he is not on the mound. Adams finished second in Kentucky last year in saves with six and 13th in innings pitched with 68 (in 18 appearances). At the plate, Adams hit .326 with 19 RBI in 92 at bats. He also was 11-of-12 in his stolen-base attempts. The other key returnee on the mound is senior pitcher/center fielder/first baseman Tyler Jacobs (7-2, 1.41 ERA, 61 strikeouts and 27 walks in 59.2 innings). Varney will need to find a third starter to replace the graduated Luke Fuller. Junior Spencer Donathan may be an option. In 21.2 innings last year, he boasted a 3-0 record and a 1.62 ERA. Junior first baseman/pitcher Payton Carroll also saw spot duty on the mound in 2019. Jacobs topped last year’s squad at the plate with a .485 batting average. The lefty also finished with 24 RBI and a team-best 22 stolen bases (on 23 attempts). Junior shortstop Brandon Dyer was second on last season’s club with a .360 batting average. He added 12 extra base hits, 22 RBI and 16 stolen bases. Another junior, the left-handed Devin Johnson, served as the designated hitter last spring and finished with a .350 batting average and a team-high 33 RBI. The Indians’ other key returnees include senior catcher/outfielder/pitcher Jakob Sponcil, junior left fielder Trevor Igo (.375 batting average), sophomore catcher Nick Huff (.282 batting average) and sophomore second baseman Davis Johnson. Montgomery graduated five players off the 2019 squad, including Fuller, twins Jay and Ty Eads, and Braxton Hunley, each of whom played a major role. Varney will look to his experienced players to carry the load as only one newcomer is on the preseason roster. Besides developing power hitters, the Indians’ greatest challenge this season will be to find replacements for their 2019 graduates. Several other clubs will push Montgomery for the top spot, headlined by defending 16th Region champ Rowan County, as well as perennial contenders Raceland, Campbell County, Bourbon County, Boyd County and Harrison County.
2. Rowan County (39-4)
3. Raceland (30-8)
4. Campbell County (21-17)
5. Bourbon County (20-14)
6. Boyd County (25-8)
7. Harrison County (30-9)
8. West Carter (23-14)
9. Nicholas County (23-13)
10. Ashland Blazer (23-11)
Also considered (in order): Lewis County (14-18), Scott (14-16), Bishop Brossart (19-17), George Rogers Clark (13-13), Russell (15-17), Bath County (20-18), Mason County (12-16), East Carter (12-17), Robertson County (9-12).
Just missed: Greenup County (10-22), Fairview (17-16), Bracken County (20-11), Calvary Christian (16-12), Fleming County (7-21), Pendleton County (13-18).
2019 FINAL
1. Rowan County (39-4)
2. Montgomery County (28-7)
3. Boyd County (25-8)
4. Campbell County (21-17)
5. Ashland Blazer (23-11)
6. Raceland (30-8)
7. Scott (14-16)
8. Harrison County (30-9)
9. Bourbon County (20-14)
10. Bishop Brossart (19-17)
Also considered (in order):Nicholas County (23-13),George Rogers Clark (13-13), Russell (15-17), West Carter (23-14), Lewis County (14-18), Greenup County (10-22), East Carter (12-17), Bath County (20-18),Mason County (12-16), Fairview (17-16), Bracken County (20-11).
1. Montgomery County (28-7) – The defending 10th Region champs start the 2020 campaign atop the preseason list. With three players among the 1016sports’ “Terrific 26 to Watch” and 17 total returnees, coach Chris Varney’s Indians look to build upon last year’s success. The team’s top three batters and top two pitchers are back. Five players on this season’s squad who had at least 50 at bats hit above .300 last spring. The 2019 Indians were 15th in the state in batting average at .340. That squad also ranked in the state’s top 25 in hits (22nd with 318), doubles (tied for 18th with 64) and triples (tied for 22nd with 11). Offensively, Varney’s club relies upon smallball. The team is full of contact hitters with speed. However, Montgomery County’s greatest strength is in its pitching staff, which will be led by senior Seth Adams (8-3 record, 1.96 ERA, 72 strikeouts and 23 walks), who will also play third base when he is not on the mound. Adams finished second in Kentucky last year in saves with six and 13th in innings pitched with 68 (in 18 appearances). At the plate, Adams hit .326 with 19 RBI in 92 at bats. He also was 11-of-12 in his stolen-base attempts. The other key returnee on the mound is senior pitcher/center fielder/first baseman Tyler Jacobs (7-2, 1.41 ERA, 61 strikeouts and 27 walks in 59.2 innings). Varney will need to find a third starter to replace the graduated Luke Fuller. Junior Spencer Donathan may be an option. In 21.2 innings last year, he boasted a 3-0 record and a 1.62 ERA. Junior first baseman/pitcher Payton Carroll also saw spot duty on the mound in 2019. Jacobs topped last year’s squad at the plate with a .485 batting average. The lefty also finished with 24 RBI and a team-best 22 stolen bases (on 23 attempts). Junior shortstop Brandon Dyer was second on last season’s club with a .360 batting average. He added 12 extra base hits, 22 RBI and 16 stolen bases. Another junior, the left-handed Devin Johnson, served as the designated hitter last spring and finished with a .350 batting average and a team-high 33 RBI. The Indians’ other key returnees include senior catcher/outfielder/pitcher Jakob Sponcil, junior left fielder Trevor Igo (.375 batting average), sophomore catcher Nick Huff (.282 batting average) and sophomore second baseman Davis Johnson. Montgomery graduated five players off the 2019 squad, including Fuller, twins Jay and Ty Eads, and Braxton Hunley, each of whom played a major role. Varney will look to his experienced players to carry the load as only one newcomer is on the preseason roster. Besides developing power hitters, the Indians’ greatest challenge this season will be to find replacements for their 2019 graduates. Several other clubs will push Montgomery for the top spot, headlined by defending 16th Region champ Rowan County, as well as perennial contenders Raceland, Campbell County, Bourbon County, Boyd County and Harrison County.
2. Rowan County (39-4)
3. Raceland (30-8)
4. Campbell County (21-17)
5. Bourbon County (20-14)
6. Boyd County (25-8)
7. Harrison County (30-9)
8. West Carter (23-14)
9. Nicholas County (23-13)
10. Ashland Blazer (23-11)
Also considered (in order): Lewis County (14-18), Scott (14-16), Bishop Brossart (19-17), George Rogers Clark (13-13), Russell (15-17), Bath County (20-18), Mason County (12-16), East Carter (12-17), Robertson County (9-12).
Just missed: Greenup County (10-22), Fairview (17-16), Bracken County (20-11), Calvary Christian (16-12), Fleming County (7-21), Pendleton County (13-18).
2019 FINAL
1. Rowan County (39-4)
2. Montgomery County (28-7)
3. Boyd County (25-8)
4. Campbell County (21-17)
5. Ashland Blazer (23-11)
6. Raceland (30-8)
7. Scott (14-16)
8. Harrison County (30-9)
9. Bourbon County (20-14)
10. Bishop Brossart (19-17)
Also considered (in order):Nicholas County (23-13),George Rogers Clark (13-13), Russell (15-17), West Carter (23-14), Lewis County (14-18), Greenup County (10-22), East Carter (12-17), Bath County (20-18),Mason County (12-16), Fairview (17-16), Bracken County (20-11).