After a two-year stent away from the Bell County baseball team, Scott Chaney has returned to lead the Bobcats on the diamond this season. After a 2018 season in which Bell finished with their first winning record in four years, Chaney hopes to continue the trend this season.

Bell County went 14-13 last year and ended their season by falling to Middlesboro in the 52nd District tournament last May. The Bobcats open the season against the Corbin Redhounds on the road on March 18.

“I’m looking forward to this season,” said Chaney. “We have a much more competitive schedule this season, and I’m looking forward to seeing how we handle it. We’ve got eight seniors this season and three juniors, so we have experience on the field.

“I think our upperclassmen will step up a lot this season and lead the way for us. We’ve been working hard on hitting and defense. We’re not exactly where we want to be yet, but we will get there. We are blessed enough to have a turf football field, so that really saved us a lot in terms of practice this year. With all the rain and everything, I’m thankful we had a place to practice. I’m really looking forward to this year.”

The Bell County Bobcats:

– Freshman, Bryson Baker

– Junior, JM Baker

– Sophomore, Keaton Baker

– Senior, Ethan Brock

– Sophomore, Marcus Chaney

– Sophomore, Hayden Clark

– Junior, Hunter Clark

– Senior, Issac Collett

– Senior, DJ Estes

– Sophomore, Josh Helton

– Freshman, Jaden Hensley

– Freshman, Cole Hoskins

– Senior, Kainen Johnson

– Sophomore, Alex Mayes

– Senior, Jacob Messer

– Senior, Thomas Saylor

– Junior, Jacob Smith

– Senior, Cameron Wilder

– Senior, Antonio Zachary

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The Lady Cats will have a new face in the dugout this season in first-year head coach Alex Barnett. After a 2018 campaign in which they went 10-15, the Lady Cats are hoping to rally around their upperclassmen to help guide the young team.

The Lady Cats’ ended their season with a loss to Harlan County in the 52nd District tournament against Harlan County last year. The Lady Cats open their season against the Lady Pioneers from Thomas Walker in Ewing, Va. on March 18 at 6 p.m. at home.

The Bell County Lady Cats:

– Sophomore, Baylee Allen

– Freshman, Elizabeth Black

– Senior, Sarah Brooks

– 8th Grade, Gracie Calloway

– Senior, Maleah Douglas

– Junior, Kyla Duffield

– Senior, MaKenzie Griffin

– 8th Grade, Madison Hoskins

– Junior, Amber Lawson

– 7th Grade, Mackenzie Miller

– 8th Junior, Jordan Muncy

– Junior, Madison Napier

– Freshman, Makenzie Napier

– Sophomore, Raegan Robbins

– Freshman, Kayleigh Saylor

– Junior, Mary-Kate Smith

– Sophomore, Velda Smith

– Freshman, Adriene Strouth

– Freshman, Camille Thomas

– Junior, Cassidy Thomas