Beech Tree News Network

MORGANTOWN - The Butler County High School baseball team is preparing to take the field for its 2018 season opener. The Bears are scheduled to host Hopkins County Central for a season-opening game on Tuesday, March 20. First pitch for the Butler County-Hopkins County Central baseball game is set for 7 p.m..

Butler County is under the direction of second-year head coach Keith Butler. In 2017, Butler guided the Bears to a 12th District championship and a 17-14 overall record. Butler County fell 3-8 in nine innings to Breckinridge County in the opening round of the 2017 Third Region Baseball Tournament at Owensboro Catholic. 

A Morgantown native, Butler played for Butler County High School and Wabash Valley College before signing with the St. Louis Cardinals. He made 20 appearances for Wabash Community College, posting a 2.72 ERA with 59 strikeouts and an overall record of 6-2 in 43 innings of work on the mound. Following some stints with various teams in the Minors, Butler pitched for the Cardinals during the 2013 and 2014 Major League Baseball seasons. After making a solid transition into coaching, Butler already ranks as one of the state's top young high school baseball coaches. 

The Keith Butler-coached Bears managed to outscore opponents 175-140 during the 2017 season. Much-improved Butler County boasted the sixth-best record in the Third Region last season. 

Butler County and Hopkins County Central did not meet during the 2017 high school baseball season. The Bears are due to visit Hopkins County Central for another game in the 2018 season on April 12. 

Hopkins County Central, under the tutelage of then-head coach Chad Crick, concluded the 2017 season 10-19. The Storm lost to rival Madisonville-North Hopkins in the opening round of the 2017 Seventh District Baseball Tournament. New head coach Travis Coyle is poised to guide the Hopkins County Central baseball program into the 2018 season. Weather permitting, Hopkins County Central will have already played one game before facing Butler County. Hopkins County Central is scheduled to visit Todd County Central for a season opener on Monday, March 19.

In addition to Hopkins County Central, Butler County is slated to face Todd County Central, Hancock County, Franklin-Simpson, Edmonson County, Greenwood, Ohio County, Henderson County, Whitesville Trinity, Metcalfe County, Russellville, Grayson County and South Warren during the 2018 season. The Bears compete with Edmonson County, Whitesville Trinity and Grayson County in the 12th District.