Bears Baseball ready for 2012 season
With temperatures warming up across the Commonwealth, it is beginning to feel like baseball season. With an earlier start date mandated by the Kentucky High School Athletic Association, high school teams across the state are getting ready to play ball. The Bears headed to Henderson County this past weekend to take on the Colonels in their first regular season game of the year.
Butler County is under a new coaching regime for 2012, with Kevin Winn as the head coach. Assisting Coach Winn is John Sohl, a former pitcher on the WKU staff, and Jacob Martin, a former Butler County High School and University of the Cumberlands standout. Coach Winn says that he is "excited to be here" and that he is "looking forward to the 2012 season."
The same as last year, Butler County is playing a challenging schedule highlighted by teams such as Henderson County, Bowling Green, Warren Central, and Allen County. After a scrimmage against South Warren last Tuesday, the Bears spent the rest of the week preparing for a tough opener. Henderson is currently ranked number 17 in the Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association top 25 poll.
Coach Winn liked the challenge of facing a ranked opponent for the first game. "I feel like if we come out and play smart baseball, we can surprise anyone," says Winn, "We are only going to worry about the things that we can control and leave it all on the field."
This 2012 edition of the Bears looks to key returners on the mound and an experienced infield to provide a solid defense. Pitchers expected to see significant time as starters include:
Dillen White, a right handed senior, had a 5.83 ERA and a team leading 43 strike outs in 2011.
Steven White, a senior southpaw, boasted a 4.00 ERA during his 2011 campaign and only gave up 21 hits on the season.
Caleb Hunt, a sophomore lefty, led the Bears in innings pitched during 2011. Hunt led the team in ERA (2.11), innings pitched (42.17), and wins (4) last spring.
At the plate, the Bears look to improve numbers offensively for 2012. Upperclassmen will lead the top of the order and provide a spark for the rest of the line-up. Key hitters include:
Cole Tynes, a senior infielder and catcher, led the team in six different offensive categories during the 2011 campaign.
Keston Flener, a junior infielder, has shown improvement at the plate. In 2011 he led the team in three different offensive categories.
Carrington Harpe, a junior infielder, has great speed on the bases as well as patience at the plate. In 2011 Harpe was second on the team in walks (16) and stolen bases (10).
You can catch the Bears in action at their home opener against Franklin-Simpson on Monday, March 12, at the Butler County Baseball/Softball complex. For complete coverage of the Bears Baseball team, stay connected to Beech Tree News and Beech Tree Radio WLBQ. The Varsity roster and the complete 2012 Bears Varsity and JV schedule is listed below.
Roster
Number Name Grade
26 Drew Clark 8th
12 Caleb Deweese 9th
18 Elijah Flener 11th
27 Keston Flener 11th
14 Blake Graham 7th
24 Carrington Harpe 11th
28 Caleb Hunt 10th
30 Tyler Johnson 10th
1 Brandon Jones 9th
25 Clark Parker 10th
6 Eddie Phelps 8th
22 Cole Tynes 12th
13 Dillen White 12th
15 Steven White 12th
March 6: South Warren 5:00 (Scrimmage)
March 10: @ Henderson Co. 12:00, V
March 12: Franklin Simpson 6:00, V
March 15: @ Ohio Co. 5:00, V/JV
March 16: Hart County 5:15 DH, V
March 20: Russellville 5:00, V/JV
South Warren Tournament, V
March 23: Allen County 5:00 @ South Warren
March 24: South Warren 10:00 @ South Warren
Hancock County 12:30 @ South Warren
March 26: Warren Central 5:00, V/JV
March 27: @ Metcalfe 6:00, V
March 29: @ Grayson 5:00, V/JV
March 31: @ Davidson Academy (TN).
Murray KY 12:30, Davidson 3:00, V
April 2: @ Allen Co. 5:30, V
April 3: @ Russellville 5:00, V/JV
April 5: Metcalfe 5:00, V
April 9: @ Franklin Simpson 6:00, V
April 10: Henderson County 6:00, V
BG/Warren Co. Invitational Tournament, V
April 13: North Hardin 5:00 @ Greenwood HS
Greenwood 7:30 @ Greenwood HS
April 14: Bowling Green 1:30 @ Bowling Green HS
April 16: Greenwood 5:00, V/JV
April 17: @ Caverna 5:00, V/JV
April 19: @ Warren Central 5:00, V/JV
April 21: @ Logan Co. 12:00, V/JV
April 24: Edmonson 5:00, V/JV
April 26: @ Glasgow 5:30, V
April 27: Caverna 5:00, V/JV
April 30: Muhlenberg 5:30, V/JV
May 1: Whitesville Trinity 5:00, JV/V
May 5: Ohio Co. 2:00, JV/V (Senior Day)
May 7: Grayson 5:00, V/JV
May 8: @ Edmonson 5:00, V/JV
May 11: @ Whitesville Trinity 5:00, JV/V
May 14: Logan Co. 5:30, V
May 15: @ Muhlenberg Co. 5:30, V/JV
May 19: Allen Co. @ Hot Rods 11:00, V
*Home games are in bold, Tournaments are in Italics, V-Varsity only, V/JV-Varsity and JV
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