CORBIN — By Tim Branstetter / Staff Writer
It’s easy to look at the Corbin Redhounds and notice their senior class.
You have Isaac Wilson, Madison Johnson, Aaron Manns and Luke Stewart. But if you dig a little deeper, you will find key role players in Travis Smith and Matthew Taylor.
While Taylor has provided a solid defensive effort this season, Smith has made some clutch shots that helped the Redhounds stay alive in the postseason.
Taylor has became the lock down defender that Corbin coach Tony Pietrowski was looking for early in the season.
“Last summer, I saw that he could help us a lot,” he admitted. “He has turned into our defensive stopper. He can shut down the other team’s best scorer. He also has the ability to knock down shots.”
Taylor knew he had the opportunity to play a bigger role this season and he worked hard to achieve that. He feels his main job is to just not mess up.
“I knew someone would get a chance to step up this season,” Taylor said. “I’m just glad I could do that. Coach beat it in our brains all year that several players could step up and play a big role.”
Smith has also stepped up this season while still providing plenty of jokes for his teammates to laugh at. But he knows when it’s time to get serious.
“I feel like I always have to bring out my jokes and make people laugh,” he said. “I get serious around game time though. I have to get focused and ready to play.”
Smith feels he has been fortunate to play on a team with so much success.
“I got lucky last year and went to Rupp Arena,” he said. “I got lucky again this year and I am going back to Rupp during my sophomore year. I’m just lucky to be a part of this team. I just try to step in and play my role. I’m not much of a scorer, but I can when I need to.”
Pietrowski feels Smith has stepped up, but admitted his best years are still ahead of him.
“His willingness to pass the ball has made us a better team,” he said. “I think in the next two years we will see just how good this kid is.
“After losing so much talent last year to graduation, we had a lot of unanswered questions,” Pietrowski added. “We needed to define new roles and find the players that were willing to play those roles. The growth that Travis Smith, Matt Taylor, Luke Stewart, Taylor Jones, and Brody Freeman made throughout the season was special. That group made it hard on teams to key in on our big three.”
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Related Photos
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Corbin’s Travis Smith made some crucial free throws and shots during the Redhounds’ run to this year’s 13th Region championship. Corbin defeated North Laurel, 65-42. File photo
Discussion
Knowing their role
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Cards stand ground
It took a team effort, but South Laurel was able to make the big play late to defeat Harlan County, 5-4, and advance to the semifinals of the 13th Region Baseball Tournament.
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Moving on
It wasn’t easy, but North Laurel managed to sneak by Corbin, 2-1, during the first round of the 13th Region Baseball Tournament Monday.
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Lady Cards slip past Clay County
James Burns’ South Laurel Lady Cardinals continued a recurring theme in the first round of the 13th Region Fastpitch Tournament — scoring runs with two outs and nobody on.
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Bell eliminates Knox Central
Bell County built a comfortable 3-0 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning against Knox Central in first round action of the 13th Region Fastpitch Tournament Monday, but still needed a leaping catch by centerfielder Alisha Russell to seal the deal on the Lady Bobcats’ win over the Lady Panthers.
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Errors lead to Barbourville’s 15-0 loss to Harlan County
A crucial error in the second inning led to five unearned runs for Harlan County, as the Lady Black Bears cruised to an easy 15-0 win over Barbourville in four innings Monday during first round action of the 13th Region Fastpitch Tournament.
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Knox Central puts up fight before losing to Middlesboro, 6-2
Middlesboro’s Nick Capps took care of business and managed to hold off Knox Central, 6-2, to advance to the second round of the 13th Region Baseball Tournament Monday.
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North runs win streak to 19 games
The North Laurel Lady Jaguars were clicking on all cylinders Monday during first round action of the 13th Region Fastpitch Tournament as they defeated Corbin in five innings, 12-0.
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Tigers drop 10-2 decision
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Corbin and North Laurel High Schools’ first round match-ups in both the 13th Region Baseball Tournament and 13th Region Fastpitch Tournament will highlight Monday’s first round action.
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Fantastic Finish
Brandon Hillard’s Knox Central Panthers almost pulled off a shocker before falling to rival Barbourville, 7-6, in the finals of the 51st District title game Thursday.
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