Owensboro Catholic Sports Warehouse Tournament
It's probably the strongest in-state tournament of the regular season (with the possible exception of the Ballard Invitational), so I'm doing an in-depth preview for the tournament. I'm also planning to head up to Owensboro to watch the action on Saturday, so I'm pretty excited about this tournament as well. Thanks to Owensboro Catholic's assistant coach Ray Zuberer for supplying the tournament information.
Pools
#1: #3 Henderson County, #11 Ballard, #12 Allen County-Scottsville, Daviess County BLUE FIELD
#2: #1 Owensboro Catholic, #9 Male, Hopkins County Central, Heath RED FIELD
#3: #6 Christian County, #16 Mercy, #19 Butler, Apollo BROWN FIELD
#4: #2 Greenwood, #21 Union County, Sacred Heart, Muhlenberg North GREEN FIELD
Instant Analysis: Pool #1 is undoubtedly the strongest pool with three of the twelve best teams in the state per my weekly poll. Pools #2 and #3 are both solid, but Pool #4 should be a breeze for #2 Greenwood.
Pool Play Schedule
F 5:00
Daviess County vs. #3 Henderson County
#1 Owensboro Catholic vs. Hopkins County Central
Apollo vs. #19 Butler
#2 Greenwood vs. #21 Union County
F 6:45
#11 Ballard vs. #12 Allen County-Scottsville
#9 Male vs. Heath
#16 Mercy vs. #6 Christian County
#21 Union County vs. Sacred Heart
F 8:30
#3 Henderson County vs. #12 Allen County-Scottsville
#1 Owensboro Catholic vs. Heath
#19 Butler vs. #6 Christian County
Muhlenberg North vs. Sacred Heart
Instant Analysis: How about ACS's Friday night doubleheader? Ballard and Henderson County will pose an incredible test, but with the test comes an opportunity to make a big statement with two wins. Best game of the night? Besides ACS vs. Henderson County (hopefully an Ogles v. Whitmer pitching duel), watch Owensboro Catholic's opening game with Hopkins County Central. The Storm look to defeat both Catholic and Henderson County in the same week.
S 9:00
Daviess County vs. #11 Ballard
Hopkins County Central vs. #9 Male
Apollo vs. #16 Mercy
Sacred Heart vs. #2 Greenwood
S 10:45
#3 Henderson County vs. #11 Ballard
#1 Owensboro Catholic vs. #9 Male
#19 Butler vs. #16 Mercy
Muhlenberg North vs. #21 Union County
S 12:30
Daviess County vs. #12 Allen County-Scottsville
Hopkins County Central vs. Heath
Apollo vs. #6 Christian County
#2 Greenwood vs. Muhlenberg North
Instant Analysis: The three best games of the morning will occur during the 10:45 frame, with three games featuring a ranked duel. In essence, we'll be watching Louisville vs. Western Kentucky, as Henderson County and Owensboro Catholic battle Ballard and Male, respectively. Butler vs. Mercy will be a possible preview of regional champions from the Louisville area.
Tournament Play Schedule
S 2:15 Pool #1 vs. Pool #2
One Seeds RED FIELD
Two Seeds GREEN FIELD
Three Seeds BROWN FIELD
Four Seeds BLUE FIELD
S 4:00 Pool #3 vs. Pool #4
One Seeds RED FIELD
Two Seeds GREEN FIELD
Three Seeds BROWN FIELD
Four Seeds BLUE FIELD
S 5:45 Consolation Games (Loser of 2:15 vs. Loser of 4:00)
One Seeds RED FIELD
Two Seeds GREEN FIELD
Three Seeds BROWN FIELD
Four Seeds BLUE FIELD
S 7:30 Championship Games (Winner of 2:15 vs. Winner of 4:00)
One Seeds RED FIELD
Two Seeds GREEN FIELD
Three Seeds BROWN FIELD
Four Seeds BLUE FIELD
Tournament Analysis: This tournament should be a great indication of who can compete on the state level and who may not have what it takes this year. The teams that play well this weekend will likely make noise in Jeffersontown on the second weekend in June. But who will win this weekend? Common sense says the pick is Owensboro Catholic. The Aces are on home turf and the same turf that they captured last year's state championship. They are also the #1 team in the state. But to make my decision on a winner, I'm seeing a team that will likely not be tested in pool play, and thus won't have to burn their big arms on Friday night and Saturday morning. That team is Greenwood. The #2 team in the state has been rolling lately, and with an easy pool (Union County could challenge though), the Gators will be fresh on Saturday night and will defeat Owensboro Catholic in a thrilling championship game. However, a tournament championship here will only increase the immense pressure on Coach Penny Reece and the rest of the Gators to return to the state tournament for the first time since 2003.
Pick to win: #2 Greenwood
Darkhorse(s): #12 Allen County-Scottsville, #19 Butler, #21 Union County, Hopkins County Central
Good luck to all teams this weekend, and let's hope the only person who really loses is the weatherman, who is predicting ominous weather for Owensboro this weekend.
Pools
#1: #3 Henderson County, #11 Ballard, #12 Allen County-Scottsville, Daviess County BLUE FIELD
#2: #1 Owensboro Catholic, #9 Male, Hopkins County Central, Heath RED FIELD
#3: #6 Christian County, #16 Mercy, #19 Butler, Apollo BROWN FIELD
#4: #2 Greenwood, #21 Union County, Sacred Heart, Muhlenberg North GREEN FIELD
Instant Analysis: Pool #1 is undoubtedly the strongest pool with three of the twelve best teams in the state per my weekly poll. Pools #2 and #3 are both solid, but Pool #4 should be a breeze for #2 Greenwood.
Pool Play Schedule
F 5:00
Daviess County vs. #3 Henderson County
#1 Owensboro Catholic vs. Hopkins County Central
Apollo vs. #19 Butler
#2 Greenwood vs. #21 Union County
F 6:45
#11 Ballard vs. #12 Allen County-Scottsville
#9 Male vs. Heath
#16 Mercy vs. #6 Christian County
#21 Union County vs. Sacred Heart
F 8:30
#3 Henderson County vs. #12 Allen County-Scottsville
#1 Owensboro Catholic vs. Heath
#19 Butler vs. #6 Christian County
Muhlenberg North vs. Sacred Heart
Instant Analysis: How about ACS's Friday night doubleheader? Ballard and Henderson County will pose an incredible test, but with the test comes an opportunity to make a big statement with two wins. Best game of the night? Besides ACS vs. Henderson County (hopefully an Ogles v. Whitmer pitching duel), watch Owensboro Catholic's opening game with Hopkins County Central. The Storm look to defeat both Catholic and Henderson County in the same week.
S 9:00
Daviess County vs. #11 Ballard
Hopkins County Central vs. #9 Male
Apollo vs. #16 Mercy
Sacred Heart vs. #2 Greenwood
S 10:45
#3 Henderson County vs. #11 Ballard
#1 Owensboro Catholic vs. #9 Male
#19 Butler vs. #16 Mercy
Muhlenberg North vs. #21 Union County
S 12:30
Daviess County vs. #12 Allen County-Scottsville
Hopkins County Central vs. Heath
Apollo vs. #6 Christian County
#2 Greenwood vs. Muhlenberg North
Instant Analysis: The three best games of the morning will occur during the 10:45 frame, with three games featuring a ranked duel. In essence, we'll be watching Louisville vs. Western Kentucky, as Henderson County and Owensboro Catholic battle Ballard and Male, respectively. Butler vs. Mercy will be a possible preview of regional champions from the Louisville area.
Tournament Play Schedule
S 2:15 Pool #1 vs. Pool #2
One Seeds RED FIELD
Two Seeds GREEN FIELD
Three Seeds BROWN FIELD
Four Seeds BLUE FIELD
S 4:00 Pool #3 vs. Pool #4
One Seeds RED FIELD
Two Seeds GREEN FIELD
Three Seeds BROWN FIELD
Four Seeds BLUE FIELD
S 5:45 Consolation Games (Loser of 2:15 vs. Loser of 4:00)
One Seeds RED FIELD
Two Seeds GREEN FIELD
Three Seeds BROWN FIELD
Four Seeds BLUE FIELD
S 7:30 Championship Games (Winner of 2:15 vs. Winner of 4:00)
One Seeds RED FIELD
Two Seeds GREEN FIELD
Three Seeds BROWN FIELD
Four Seeds BLUE FIELD
Tournament Analysis: This tournament should be a great indication of who can compete on the state level and who may not have what it takes this year. The teams that play well this weekend will likely make noise in Jeffersontown on the second weekend in June. But who will win this weekend? Common sense says the pick is Owensboro Catholic. The Aces are on home turf and the same turf that they captured last year's state championship. They are also the #1 team in the state. But to make my decision on a winner, I'm seeing a team that will likely not be tested in pool play, and thus won't have to burn their big arms on Friday night and Saturday morning. That team is Greenwood. The #2 team in the state has been rolling lately, and with an easy pool (Union County could challenge though), the Gators will be fresh on Saturday night and will defeat Owensboro Catholic in a thrilling championship game. However, a tournament championship here will only increase the immense pressure on Coach Penny Reece and the rest of the Gators to return to the state tournament for the first time since 2003.
Pick to win: #2 Greenwood
Darkhorse(s): #12 Allen County-Scottsville, #19 Butler, #21 Union County, Hopkins County Central
Good luck to all teams this weekend, and let's hope the only person who really loses is the weatherman, who is predicting ominous weather for Owensboro this weekend.
posted by Ben Osborne at
12:26 PM
2 Comments:
The tournament to watch in eastern KY. this weekend is the Lowe's Sporting Goods Classic in London.
POOL 1 North Laurel, Assumption, Russell IN, Rockcastle Co., Dixie Heights
POOL 2 South Laurel, Manual, Larue Co.,Estill Co.,Shelby Valley
By
Anonymous, at 3:59 PM
Great post Ben...this tournament is sure to be a great one with some outstanding competition. I won't be able to make it to the games but I'm sure dad will keep me posted...
By
Anonymous, at 7:07 PM
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