March 23, 2018
Louisa, Ky. — After winning three consecutive 60th District Baseball titles the Lawrence Co. Bulldogs are once again on the move and hopefully this time will find a permanent home in the 58th.
2018 Lawrence Co. Bulldogs
The Dawgs opened the season by scoring 13 runs and pounding out 15 hits in a road victory over Spring Valley ( W.Va. ) on Monday night.
Lawrence Co. went 22-12 in 2017 losing 4-1 to Paintsville in the first round of the 15th Region tournament and will return everyone but graduated DH Trace Bowen and OF Blake Jordan who opted to play tennis his senior year.
The Bulldogs will lean heavy on a pitching staff led by Freshman CJ Fairchild who is still not 100% after tearing his ACL during football season, 8th Grader Bryce Blevins, Senior Kade Sword and Junior Lucas Maynard.
When the Dawgs are swinging the bats look for Senior leadoff hitter Peyton Cyrus who missed much of last season due to an injury, Senior Brad Parks, Junior Austin Roe and Sophomore Jackson Feltner to lead the way.
Senior Jarrett Fairchild will play wherever on the field needed and OF Hunter Crum both will provide depth to a lineup that should light up the scoreboard this spring.
Sophomore Tyler Maynard will provide some speed at the bottom of the lineup. Senior Dakota Shortridge will bring some pop off the bench.
The Dawgs will be the odds on favorite to win the 58th this season in their inaugural season.
Prestonsburg has been the kings of the District and went 24-10 last season but lost a bunch of seniors and Head Coach Shawn Hager took the job at Floyd Central.
Allen Central, Runner Up in the District finished 10-26 and South Floyd went 3-17 as those teams have combined to form Floyd Central.
Betsy Layne went 4-24 last season.
After being postponed the last three days the Bulldogs will open 58th District action later today with a doubleheader at Betsy Layne first pitch will be 4:15.
Weather permitting the Dawgs will host Wayne ( W.Va. ) at 11:00 am and Boyd Co. at 4:00 on Saturday.
Lawrence Co. Head Coach Travis Feltner
COACH’S COMMENTS
“… Going into a new District this season which is nothing new to us. We haven’t played Betsy Layne in about 10-12 years but we will not take them for granted. We play Prestonsburg just about every year and (New coach) Trey Stapelton will do a good job with them. Shawn Hager took over at Floyd Central and he is a veteran coach. Allen Central has been good in the past but you never know how two schools combining will work.”
“… We are excited about the new District everyone has been great to work with in the other sports so far. Everybody is excited at the beginning of the year and it should be a competitive District.”