Kentucky

How we got here: A top-five Kentucky Baseball team

Published

2 years ago

April 15, 2024

How we got here: A top-five Kentucky Baseball team

Kentucky Baseball rose for the fourth consecutive week in D1Baseball’s Top 25 Rankings, landing at No. 3 in the country Monday morning. It is Kentucky’s second highest ranking ever, as the Cats were ranked No. 1 twice during the Gary Henderson era (2009-2016).

Just four weeks ago (March 18), the Cats sat at 17-3 (3-0) and were unranked. They had just lost a home series the weekend prior to Kennesaw State, and were outscored 23-3 in the first two games.

Since then, Kentucky has lost just twice. They are 30-5 (14-1) ahead of their in-state showdown with Louisville on Tuesday and sit alone atop the Southeastern Conference.

The Bat Cats swept their third consecutive conference series over the weekend, overcoming a seven-run deficit on Sunday to improve to 14-1 in conference play, which is a program record. Sunday’s win also marked Kentucky’s 10th straight SEC win, which is also a program record.

How did we get here, especially as fast as the rise has happened? Here’s how.

SEC Dominance

The Bat Cats aren’t just succeeding in conference play, they are dominating conference play.

Through Kentucky’s first 15 SEC games, the Bat Cats are outscoring opponents 142-57 and didn’t trail in eight consecutive conference games from March 29-April 12.

Offense and pitching are operating at full strength, as Wildcat batters are hitting .319 against SEC pitching and have notched 10-plus hits in 10 of its 15 conference games. The Wildcat pitching staff also boasts a 3.20 ERA in 135 innings against the nation’s premier hitters.

Along with stellar hitting/pitching, the Cats have emerged as true road warriors. Kentucky has won eight of its nine road conference games, including sweeps of Ole Miss and Auburn. They trailed in just two of their nine road contests (a 2-1 loss to Missouri and their seven-run comeback 13-8 win over Auburn).

Kentucky’s run through the conference has been highlighted by several special performances, one of which earned left-hander Dominic Niman SEC Pitcher of the Week honors.

Niman pitched a complete game shutout in Kentucky’s 7-0 win over then No. 13 ranked Alabama on April 6, the first of his career at any level.

We’ll have to wait and see if this dominance continues this weekend as the No. 3 ranked Cats face their toughest opponent yet in No. 4 Tennessee at Kentucky Proud Park.

Taking care of business in midweek games

Kentucky is taking care of business in midweek non-conference games for the second consecutive season.

The Cats are 7-1, with their lone loss coming on the road at Samford, the best team in the Southern Conference. They are 17-2 in such games since the beginning of the 2023 season and are outscoring teams 66-30 this season.

Winning these games goes a long way in determining a team’s RPI, which is used in determining which school gets to host in the NCAA Tournament. They currently sit at No. 4 in the RPI rankings.

As of April 3, Kentucky was projected to host its second consecutive Lexington Regional as the No. 11 national seed in D1Baseball’s Midseason Field of 64 Projections. They have certainly improved from that mark since then, and are in prime position to finish as a top-eight seed.

If the Cats can finish as a top-eight seed, they could end up hosting a Lexington Super Regional for the first time in program history. Also, unless Kentucky completely implodes on the back half of the SEC schedule, Nick Mingione’s team is in prime position to make back-to-back NCAA Tournaments for the first time in school history.

Much-needed emergence from transfers/returners

Nick Mingione knew what he had in returning players such as second baseman Émilien Pitre, catcher Devin Burkes, outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt, shortstop Grant Smith, and right-handed pitcher Mason Moore. In order to take that next step however, a few of the returners/transfers would have to take steps forward to replace the lost production from 2023’s Lexington Regional team. That they’ve done with flying colors.

Transfer Nick Lopez has been the biggest surprise to this point in the season, as he leads the Cats in batting average (.392), hits (49), and doubles (14). Lopez, who was thought to have been a utility piece entering the season, has blossomed into one of the best transfers in the country. His 14 doubles are second most in the entire SEC.

First baseman Ryan Nicholson, who transferred from Cincinnati over the offseason, has been on an absolute tear at the plate and seems to be producing at a rate Mingione expected when he recruited him. Nicholson has belted six home runs over the last five games (including two multi-home run games), bringing his season total to a team-leading 10 longballs. He got off to a bit of a slow start to begin the season, but he’s been one of the hottest hitters in the conference as of late.

Even right-handed pitcher Trey Pooser, who transferred from Charleston and began the season in the bullpen, has performed very well in his new role as the Friday starter. In five SEC starts, Pooser is 2-0 with a 3.65 ERA in 22 2/3 innings pitched.

Returning players from last season such as outfielders James McCoy and Nolan McCarthy and left-handed pitcher Jackson Nove are also performing at a higher level than they were in 2023. It seems as if things are clicking on all cylinders for the Cats as of now.

What’s next for No. 3 Kentucky?

The Bat Cats will be back in action on Tuesday, as they head to Louisville (20-13, 6-7) for the Battle of the Bluegrass. First pitch is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. EST. The game will be streamed on ACC Network.

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Kentucky

Kentucky Lottery Cash Ball, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for June 25, 2026

Published

3 hours ago

June 26, 2026

Press Room

Kentucky Lottery Cash Ball, Pick 3 Evening winning numbers for June 25, 2026

The Kentucky Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Here’s a look at Thursday, June 25, 2026 winning numbers for each game.

Cash Ball

02-08-24-32, Cash Ball: 09

Check Cash Ball payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 3

Evening: 6-3-0

Midday: 9-6-0

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Pick 4

Evening: 5-7-6-0

Midday: 5-2-6-6

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Millionaire for Life

03-13-14-34-45, Bonus: 01

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Courier Journal digital producer. You can send feedback using this form.

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Kentucky

Takeaways from Kentucky’s home and away SEC schedule for next season

Published

13 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

Takeaways from Kentucky’s home and away SEC schedule for next season

On Thursday, Kentucky’s home and away SEC opponents for the 2026-27 season were revealed and on top of learning the three opponents who they will play twice, there are some very intriguing matchups. In conference play, Kentucky will face six teams who are among the top 25 in many preseason rankings.

In SEC play, Kentucky will play Tennessee, Vandy and Ole Miss all both home and away. The home matchups include Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas A&M and Vandy. As for the road tilts, the Wildcats will face Florida, Georgia, Mississippi State, Missouri, Ole Miss, Oklahoma, Texas, Tennessee and Vandy. Let’s take a look at some interesting developments from the schedule release.

Jan 24, 2026; Lexington, Kentucky, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope claps after a possession during the second half against the Mississippi Rebels at Rupp Arena at Central Bank Center. Mandatory Credit: Jordan Prather-Imagn Images | Jordan Prather-Imagn Images

John Calipari returns to Rupp Arena (again)

In Calipari’s first year with Arkansas, he got the best of Kentucky when he came into Rupp Arena and left with a 10-point victory, a game where you could really feel the tension all game long in the building from Kentucky fans, which translated onto the court with the players. Last season, it was Kentucky who shocked everyone when they stole one on the road against a top 20 Arkansas team after a rough up-and-down season up to that point. Now, the two will face off again as Kentucky will look to get the win in Rupp and make sure Calipari doesn’t get two in a row in the building. It’ll be another highly-anticipated showdown.

Jan 31, 2026; Fayetteville, Arkansas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope shakes hands with Arkansas Razorbacks head coach John Calipari prior to the game at Bud Walton Arena. Kentucky won 85-77. Mandatory Credit: Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images | Nelson Chenault-Imagn Images

Kentucky hits the road at Texas

This is shaping up to be a major challenge for Kentucky next season and may even end up being one of the biggest games of the season. Texas is seen by many as a clear top 10 team, with some even having them within the top five and when you combine that with the fact that the game is on the road, the Wildcats will have their hands full. The Wildcats fell to the longhorns in the 2024-25 season, and it’ll be a much stiffer challenge this time.

Feb 15, 2025; Austin, Texas, USA; Kentucky Wildcats head coach Mark Pope argues with an official during the second half against the Texas Longhorns at Moody Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Wachter-Imagn Images | Scott Wachter-Imagn Images

Which game could be a trap?

We don’t have the game-by-game dates yet, so it’s hard to say with a lot of confidence, but opponent-wise, Georgia could really give Kentucky fits. In Pope’s first year, his team struggled handling the physicality of the Bulldogs and now, they’ve retained one of their best guards for another year and have added physicality through the portal. Mike White’s teams love to make opponents uncomfortable and they could do that once again down in Athens. Another sneaky team to watch is Oklahoma, who will have very good guard play. Kentucky will face both teams on the road.

Overall, it’s a pretty fair SEC schedule for a Kentucky team who has the capability of a return to being atop the conference once again. Mark Pope has such a system-fit squad and he can do some damage in the SEC.

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Kentucky

Can you set off fireworks in Kentucky? See laws ahead of Fourth of July

Published

24 hours ago

June 25, 2026

Press Room

Can you set off fireworks in Kentucky? See laws ahead of Fourth of July

Kentucky state law permits fireworks use unless prohibited by local ordinances.
In Louisville and Jefferson County, larger display fireworks are illegal, but smaller items like sparklers are allowed.
Certain fireworks are banned in Louisville if their labels include words like “explosive,” “rocket,” or “firecracker.”
Safety officials advise keeping water nearby, not relighting “dud” fireworks, and never allowing children to ignite them.

Fourth of July is almost here, and Kentuckians are getting ready to light up the sky.

Before you plan your fireworks celebrations, it’s important to know what is and isn’t allowed under Kentucky law. Here’s what to know about fireworks laws and safety tips in the Bluegrass State ahead of Independence Day.

Can you set off fireworks in Kentucky?

Yes. As long as you live in a place where local ordinances don’t prohibit it, according to the Kentucky State Fire Marshal’s website.

Are fireworks legal in Louisville?

In Louisville or Jefferson County, larger display fireworks are not legal due to a local law. Some consumer products that don’t leave the ground, such as sparklers, are allowed.

If the cautionary label on the firework has the words “explosive,” “emits flaming pellets,” “flaming balls,” “firecracker,” “report” or “rocket,” it is automatically a no-go, according to the Louisville-Jefferson County Code of Ordinances.

But, smaller ones like sparklers, cylindrical or cone fountains, wheels and ground spinners are legal. Still, don’t let the size fool you − they can burn up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Learn more: Check out these 4th of July events taking place across Kentucky

How to use fireworks safely

The state fire marshal suggests following the following advice when using fireworks:

Use fireworks outdoors.
Obey local laws.
Keep a bucket of water or a working water hose nearby.
Use fireworks as intended and avoid altering them or combining them.
Never relight “dud” fireworks. Wait 20 minutes and then soak it in a bucket of water.
Spectators should keep a safe distance from the person lighting the firework (the individual lighting it should wear safety glasses).
Alcohol and fireworks do not mix. Have a “designated adult operator.”
Do not use homemade fireworks or illegal explosives.
Report illegal explosives to the fire or police department in your community.
Never allow children to play with or ignite fireworks.
Read and follow all instructions on the label.