[The Guru]

OK. I have laid off this thread for about as long as I could!! LOL!!
Personally, I think Paintsville might be getting overlooked a little this year by some. Sure they lost Grimm. He was their top pitcher and second best hitter. Yep...they lost Vanhoose, a solid SS with a good bat. Humprey, a VG outfielder and a very good 2 spot hitter. And Utility player Ison. But they return a solid bunch as well. Corey Adams has been a top hitter since his Soph. year and starting catcher since his freshman year. Butcher and Cyrus have been everyday starters since their Soph year. Rice and Vialpando were starters last year and Lyons started quite a few games last year even when he wasn't pitching. Brown was in the lineup every day last year as well. Each and every one of these players contributed greatly last year as they were the bulk of every stat on the team. They return nearly all their pitching and with the help of hard nosed Shey Spencer, Zach Jackson and several very talented freshmen, they will field a solid defense to back up their pitghing staff. They have about five pitchers that will be able to give solid outings of 5-7 innings and 3-4 pitchers that will be able to come into any game and give an inning or 2. We have not had a serious power threat in several years and I look for us to manufacter more runs this year than in past years. These kids have been overshadowed their whole lives and are very humble. But they are very hungry as well. I look for them to be more focused than any team Paintsville has fielded in several years. They have beefed up their schedule greatly this year so they might take some lumps along the way but will definately be battle tested.
Good Luck Tigers!!!! Have a great 2009!