It is hard to believe I shot my first UK sporting event almost five years ago. Here’s a look back at the first six months of 2014 through photos. I hope the New Year brings you as much joy watching UK athletics as I have had covering them.
Check out the second half of 2014 here
*Click on links to view full gallery.
2014 got off to a quick start with two UK Hoops games, two men’s basketball games and a stop to see Lafayette’s Jackson Davis (now a Butler Bulldog) become the first player in school history to score 2000 points.
Julius Randle scores in the SEC opener vs. Mississippi State:
Jackson Davis-Generals’ all-time leading scorer:
January also took me to West Jessamine High School to witness Jarrod Polson’s jersey retirement ceremony. It was a proud moment for Jarrod, his family and the entire community.
February began with a UK Hoops win over LSU:
A 7-1 win for UK Baseball over Wright State in the home opener was up next. Kyle Barrett hit his first career home run to send the month out with a bang.
A.J. Reed pitched 6 shutout innings & continued his 11 game hitting streak in UK Baseball’s 8-2 win over EMU to welcome in the month of March. There wasn’t much better for me in 2014 than a sunny day at the Cliff watching Reed dominate on his historic run.
This was my second year covering the Boys’ 11th Region Tournament. This year’s event was held in Frankfort. Tournament MVP Trent Gilbert scored 24 points and 9 rebounds to lead the Scott Co. Cardinals to a 70-64 win over Henry Clay.
March brought Madness, but also memories for UK Hoops and men’s basketball as we said goodbye to some beloved Cats.
A 55-48 win over Alabama from the Cats and a 24-1 rout of Ball St. by UK Baseball completed the month’s UK games for me.
13 Wildcats worked out for NFL scouts on UK Football’s Pro Day:
UK Hoops invited fans in at Memorial Coliseum to watch the Cats named a number three seed on the NCAA Selection Show.
Covering my first Boys’ Sweet Sixteen from Rupp was a whirlwind. Covington Catholic beat Scott Co. 59-51 to capture the state title and cap off a thrilling week of high school basketball.
I didn’t have the opportunity to travel to any of the basketball tournaments last year, but I was there when fans welcomed the Cats home at Blugrass Airport following their Elite Eight win and for the special season celebration at Rupp Arena.
Kentucky fans lined the streets as the team bus passed by.
Coach Orlando Antigua took a moment to soak up the sights and sounds of Rupp Arena and the BBN one last time.
Spring brought football practices and the inevitable quarterback battle. A huge crowd turned out at Commonwealth Stadium for tailgating under a perfect blue sky and enjoyed an entertaining Spring Game.
The 4th-largest crowd in school history packed Cliff Hagan Stadium to watch the Cats defeat the Cards on a gorgeous night for baseball.
Kentucky concluded the home season in May in dramatic fashion, with an RBI walk-off single by Ka’ai Tom.
UK Softball advanced to the Women’s College World Series for the first time in school history. The Cats won the NCAA Lexington Regional with victories over JMU and DePaul at John Cropp Stadium. Fans were treated to an in-the-park home run by speedy Sylver Samuel.
UK Baseball started off the June schedule, falling 4-1 to the rival Cardinals in a soggy and heated NCAA Regional Final. Kentucky notched wins over Kent State (A.J. Reed’s last appearance on the mound) and Kansas (freshman Zack Brown picked up his first career win) to advance to the final.
Freshman Logan Salow threw just 25 innings all season, but went six strong innings against the Cardinals. Salow gave up five hits and one run with four K’s in the gutsy performance.
Indiana picked up the 104-94 win over the Kentucky All-Stars.
Eric Bledsoe, Terrence Jones and Nerlens Noel made it back to Lexington to host a three-day youth basketball camp called Camp One. Jones FaceTimed fellow Houston teammate James Harden so he could say hello to some lucky kids.
It was a busy, but exciting 6 months! Thanks for checking out my posts and for all of your kind comments on my photos this past year.
