Baseball is right around the corner.
The Northern Kentucky Baseball Coaches Association have released their top 10 teams in NKY.
Reigning 9th Region champ Ryle holds the top spot while Beechwood is right behind them at No. 2. Covington Catholic is No. 3.
Following in order to round out the rest of the top 10 are: Campbell County, Highlands, Dixie Heights, Conner, Simon Kenton, Cooper and Walton-Verona.
Ryle dethroned Beechwood last season after the Tigers had won four straight 9th Region titles and advanced to the state quarterfinals before losing to state runner-up McCracken County. They return five starters, including Dylan McIntyre, who will be the ace of the pitching staff. On top of three senior starters that graduated, leading hitter AJ Curry moved back to California after one year at Ryle.
Beechwood returns the majority of their starting lineup, headlined by the battery of Tyler Fryman, Matthee Cottengim and Keagan Hutton, who both hit over .300 last season. Chase Flaherty headlines the rotation on the mound.
Covington Catholic nearly had Ryle beat in the 9th Region semis, but the Raiders rallied late for a victory. They return one of the best players in the state in Jackson Reardon, a shortstop committed to the University of Cincinnati.
Campbell County will be one of the favorites to win the 10th Region once again while Simon Kenton is coming off an 8th Region title as Troy Roberts stepped down from coaching, replaced by one his assistants, Brady Smiley.
NKBCA Preseason Coaches Poll:
- Ryle
- Beechwood
- Covington Catholic
- Campbell County
- Highlands
- Dixie Heights
- Conner
- Simon Kenton
- Cooper
- Walton-Verona