13th region showdown

Can anyone dislodge the Rock? As in the Rockcastle County Rockets. The 13th region favorites will begin defense of their back to back 13th region championships Monday at Corbin High School.
The Rockets better be bright eyed and bushy tail as they meet the upset minded Whitley County Colonels of coach John Smith at 11 a.m. The two teams met once this season with Whitley County blowing a slim lead and losing that game 5-4. “We gave away that game,” said Smith.
The Colonels took a lead in the game but couldn’t hold off the Rockets who blasted Whitley County in the regional semifinals last year, 12-1.
Smith hopes to see his team get some revenge from that game. He will start either Adam Adkins or Derek Shelley on the mound and try to hold ace, Jeremy Taylor for a later opponent.
Smith said he was happy with the draw. “It’s anybody’s tournament and I would rather play them now.” said Smith.
“I think the tournament is wide open,” he said. Whitley County has been to the 13th region tournament four of the last six years and last year got past Cumberland 5-1 in the first-round before losing to Rockcastle.
However, Rockcastle County and Middlesboro have owned the 13th region the last six years. Rockcastle County has won four titles (2004, 2003, 2001, 2000) while Middlesboro took the championship in 2002 and 1999.
It’s the very same teams that entered the 2004 regional tournament that saw Rockcastle beat Middlesboro 9-3 in the championship game.
Corbin enters its seventh straight regional tournament. The Redhounds were runners-up in 2003, 2002, 2001. The Redhounds will take on Clay County in the first-round. Corbin beat Harlan in the first-round last year before losing to Middlesboro 8-6 in the semifinals.
Corbin beat the Tigers earlier this season in Corbin, 6-1. Should they get past Clay County they would play the winner of Bell County-Harlan. The Bobcats are 21-8 while Harlan comes in 18-11. Corbin has beaten both teams this season.

13th Region
at Corbin

Monday: Rockcastle (21-12) vs. Whitley County (21-11) at 11 a.m; Cumberland (9-11) vs. Middlesboro (15-12), 1:30 p.m.
Corbin (24-9) vs. Clay County (19-12) 4 p.m., Bell County (21-8) vs. Harlan (18-11) 6:30.

admission $4