Kentucky High School Baseball: Unforgettable Pitching Feats and Records
- kentuckysportsmemo
- Sep 15
- 3 min read
About the Guest(s):
Bill Shekels is a former high school baseball pitcher who achieved notable performance during his senior year at Bardstown High School. In a 1972 regional tournament game, he pitched an impressive 16 innings, a potential unrecorded pitching record for most innings in a single high school baseball game. Post-high school, Shekels continued his baseball career at Western Kentucky University.
John Kirby is another accomplished high school pitcher who attended Estill County High School. Kirby achieved the rare feat of throwing two perfect games in his high school career, one in 2001 and another in 2002. After high school, he played college and minor league baseball and has since retired from the sport.
Dean Kiekhefer, a former Oldham County High School player, also delivered two perfect games in May 2006. His career advanced to minor and major league levels, playing briefly for the St. Louis Cardinals and Oakland Athletics. Currently, Kiekhefer is the assistant pitching coach for the St. Louis Cardinals.
Episode Summary:
In this intriguing episode of "Kentucky Sports Memories," hosted by Gary Fogle, listeners are taken through the remarkable stories of high school baseball legends who made history in Kentucky. Through interviews and recounts, the episode explores the journey of pitchers who have achieved feats largely unheard of in the high school sports domain. Gary Fogle opens with a discussion on the Kentucky High School Athletics Association's pitching records, highlighting Bill Shekels’ historical 16-inning game performance despite the lack of an official record.
Delve into the fascinating narrative of John Kirby from Estill County High School, who managed to throw not one, but two perfect games across consecutive high school seasons. Kirby reflects on the experiences of those games, emphasizing the vital role of team dynamics and his unique approach to performance under pressure. The episode intricately captures his later life after baseball, shedding light on how his high school achievements are remembered within his family.
Further enriching the episode, the narrative extends to include Dean Kiekhefer's success in achieving two perfect games during a single month in 2006. The discussion encompasses Kiekhefer's progression from high school to the major leagues, and his current role as an assistant pitching coach. Through these compelling stories, Gary Fogle provides deep insights into the experiences of these athletes, preserving their stories within the realm of Kentucky sports heritage.
Key Takeaways:
Bill Shekels pitched an astounding 16 innings in one game during his senior year at Bardstown High School, which could be a historic high school baseball record.
John Kirby achieved two perfect games in his high school career at Estill County, an exceptionally rare accomplishment in high school baseball.
Dean Kiekhefer also threw two perfect games in the same month during his high school career, later advancing to play in MLB and becoming a coach.
The episode underscores the importance of talent scouts and unforeseen opportunities that can arise from high school sports.
Reflections from these athletes highlight changes in modern high school sports regulations, such as pitch counts and inning limits, that differ from past practices.
Notable Quotes:
"It's a lasting memory because after I got out of college and got in the business world, and then kind of got back in the school system, I realized that the kids don't do that kind of stuff anymore." — Bill Shekels
"It's just one of those games where you know you're on and nothing's getting in your way." — John Kirby
"Try to do the best you can because you never know who might be watching." — Bill Shekels
"It doesn't matter what I tell her, she ain't gonna believe me." — John Kirby
"I ain't coming out... It's your game to win or lose." — Bill Shekels
Resources:
Kentucky High School Athletics Association: KHSAA Website
Discover the incredible stories of these high school baseball legends by tuning into this episode. For more engaging content and the preservation of sports history, join us again on "Kentucky Sports Memories" with Gary Fogle.
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