[JokersWild24]

Why not? Everyone knows of the successes of Paintsville from 96-98. Pikeville would not pose much a threat in 1997, but in 1998, Paintsville’s State runner-up season, Coach Dave Thomas’ Panthers would have the Tigers on the ropes and if not for a (to be fair I have never seen the play) debatable block/charge call on JR Vanhoose the Panthers might have headed to Rupp Arena instead of the Tigers. Then in 1999 Pikeville would capitalize on a successful decade by winning the 15th Region for the first time since 1974. Coach Thomas, who had already claimed regional baseball titles in 1991, 1992, and 1994 at PHS in the early 90’s, would go on to lead PHS Softball to back to back Softball Region Titles in 2017 & 2018.

Just re-read this and understood. Sorry if my last reply came off wrong. Thought you were implying that I was purposefully slighting the Panthers-- now realize that was incorrect.