When it comes to baseball and softball Region champions this year the names are familiar.  For most of them, they have been there before... including last season.

13th Region

Baseball - Winning at South Laurel is nothing new.  The Cardinals even have a plaque in the baseball office that states "Tradition Never Graduates".  It's their second Region title in four years.  The only big surprise here is the scores that they won by.  It's not often that a team wins the Region with three mercy rule games.

Softball - North Laurel has been the class of softball in the Mountains for the past several years.  They won a state title in 2001 and now have won 3 straight Region titles.  The Lady Jags head to the state tournament as the 4th ranked team in the state.  Megan Taylor has been excellent on the mound and the defense behind her has been outstanding.

14th Region

Baseball - You can call Estill County a bit of a surprise here, but they are a repeat champion.  The Engineers were picked third in our coaches poll.  They held off Hazard in the Championship game after posting a big win over Perry Central earlier in the day.  Beating the top 2 rated teams in the Region in one day is no easy task.

Softball - The Lady Engineers have owned the 14th Region since moving to the Region a few years ago.  Estill County has never lost a 14th Region Softball Tournament game.  They got a scare from a young Perry Central team in the Semi-finals, but advanced once again.

15th Region

Baseball - Lawrence County was the favorite (by only 1 point in our voting system) to win the Region.  But the way they did it was impressive.  The Bulldogs posted 3 shutout wins in the Region.  It's a record that can never be topped, only equalled.

Softball - Johnson Central is a little bit of a surprise here.  They were second in the coaches vote, but Lawrence County was the clear number 1 here.  The Lady Eagles also had lost all 3 to the Lady Bulldogs in the season.  They make the trip to Owensboro to face Pleasure Ridge Park in the first round.

We wish all the winners the best of luck and we look forward to a champion from the Mountains.  You can't blame for some wishful thinking can you?

- Archer