KHSAA softball season is underway. Meet top Louisville-area high school teams and players
With a 75-1 record and two state championships over the past two seasons, the Ballard High School softball team certainly will have a target on its back in 2024.
Coach Alan Jones isn’t one to shy away from grand expectations but knows the Bruins may hit some roadblocks this season after losing six starters to graduation.
“Are we going to lose some? Sure we are,” Jones said. “But our goal is to get ready for May. We’re experienced when it comes to the Seventh Region Tournament, and that means a lot.”
The Bruins are off to a 4-0 start this season and returned four starters from last year’s squad that beat Henderson County, 12-4, in the state final.
Senior Mikayla Milby, a University of Louisville signee, is the leader and should be in the running for Miss Softball and Gatorade Kentucky Player of the Year honors, Jones said.
Milby hit .434 with nine home runs, 36 RBIs and 24 stolen bases last season. She’s moved from shortstop to center field this season.
“She’s already made some great catches out there and has a cannon for an arm,” Jones said.
Three other seniors return as starters: second baseman Kierstyn Smith (Volunteer State commit), third baseman Lillian Koch (Georgetown College) and catcher Kady Dennis (Georgetown College).
Abby Guinn (University of the Cumberlands) has taken over at shortstop after transferring from Male.
“She’s one of the best shortstops I’ve ever seen in my life,” Jones said.
The key will be in the pitching circle, where senior Rylee Carter (Pikeville) takes over after the graduation of Kentucky Miss Softball Brooke Gray.
Carter is off to a 4-0 start with a 1.85 ERA, striking out 39 batters in 22 ⅔ innings.
“Her pitches are moving great, and she has great speed,” Jones said. “She really took ownership and worked hard in the offseason. I’m really impressed with her.”
Louisville schools have won the past four state championships, with Male (2019) and Butler (2021) preceding Ballard’s back-to-back titles. The 2020 season was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Here’s a look at other Louisville-area teams. (Note: Several schools did not respond to requests for information.)
Sixth Region
Beth Haven (11-6-1 record in 2023) suffered a major blow when junior catcher Aubrie Davis (.684, 10 home runs) suffered a torn ACL during a basketball game in February. She’s out for the season. Freshmen Haylee Goodman and Kenzley French are expected to have big seasons.
Butler (19-10) was the Sixth Region runner-up last year and has a new coach in Sarah Dotson. The Bearettes will lean on a quartet of seniors: pitcher/first baseman Alysa Malone, outfielder Natalie Frye (John Logan College), middle infielder Nina Camara and infielder Chloe Fint. Malone was 17-9 with a 1.98 ERA last season and also led the team in batting average (.395) and RBIs (24).
Fairdale (17-16) has a trio of senior leaders in catcher Lana Maupin (Midway), center fielder Gracie Smithson (Kentucky Christian) and outfielder Adrionna Vogedes (Kentucky Christian). Senior pitcher/third baseman Dailey Hicks, senior second baseman Katie Kaufman and junior shortstop Emma Krebs also return. Krebs led the team in batting average (.533) last season, and Hicks batted .505 with a team-high 48 RBIs.
Fern Creek (15-15) is hopeful senior pitcher Ally Richardson (Bellarmine) will return soon from an injury. “She will be a force in the circle and at the plate when she returns,” coach Eric Bowles said. Junior third baseman Skylar Brown and junior catcher Bailey Weihe are expected to have big seasons.
Holy Cross (15-13) was a regional semifinalist last year and has a new coach in Chris Druckenmiller. Senior pitcher Casey Cirillo (Indiana Wesleyan) is the leader. Sophomore catcher/third baseman Piersan Shrader returns, and Druckenmiller is excited about a trio of freshmen in Alyssa Priddy, Addie McVey and Taylor Fint.
Jeffersontown (10-15) will look to improve behind senior infielder Mya Newell (.387, 14 RBIs) and a trio of juniors — catcher Shayla Bockelman and outfielders Ava Meuschke and Jaylynn Jaggers. Seventh graders Ema England and Lucy Strobel are expected to contribute right away.
Mercy (27-7) is the defending Sixth Region champion and returns senior catcher Peyton Arnold (.413, 20 RBIs, Bellarmine), senior pitcher Maya Merrill (13-4, 2.55 ERA, Cedarville) and junior shortstop Ava Reinhart (.408, 20 stolen bases). Other leaders will include sophomore second baseman Haley Rupe, sophomore first baseman Madison DeGrella and freshman center fielder Allie Streble.
North Bullitt (11-16) is rebuilding after reaching the regional semifinals last year. Catcher Alia Pearce (Midway) is the only senior on the roster. Junior pitcher/infielder Gabby Coy and sophomore pitcher/infielder Amree Hammons are expected to have big seasons.
Pleasure Ridge Park (13-20) will be led by senior catcher/shortstop Riley Beckmann (Spalding). She led the Panthers in batting average (.500), RBIs (38), doubles (14) and stolen bases (11) last year. Other key players are senior pitcher/center fielder Loreli Strange, junior second baseman Save Strange and freshman shortstop Kendra Lee.
Western (0-11) will look to improve behind junior shortstop Aniyah Sullivan.
Whitefield Academy (11-6) has a new head coach in Kevin Wallitsch. He has a young squad led by a trio of sophomores — pitcher Kylie McRoberts (11-6, 1.04 ERA), first baseman Isabella Nord and left fielder Sophia Nord. Three freshmen also should contribute — right fielder Natalie Ross, shortstop McKenna Sims and second baseman Calista Wallitsch.
Seventh Region
Assumption (19-11) has a new coach in Suzanne Witten Cates, who was Kentucky’s Miss Softball winner as a senior at Butler in 2000. Outfielder Rylee Sandifer (Centre) is the senior leader. The junior class is loaded, led by pitcher/shortstop Lauren Satterly (Western Kentucky), infielder Lauren Campisano, first baseman Tia Ice and outfielder Maleya Giddens. Satterly batted .510 with 15 home runs last season. “We have above-average speed and the ability to hit for power in slots 1-9,” Cates said.
Atherton (11-19) looks to have improved pitching behind senior Paige Heselschwerdt and freshman Charlee Heselschwerdt. Sophomore outfielder Crissy Reese and freshman catcher/shortstop Izzy Cummins are expected to have big seasons.
Christian Academy (14-13-1) will have six new starters but returns senior second baseman Sam Durston (Indiana Wesleyan). Other key players will be senior catcher/first baseman Sarah Cate Thompson, senior pitcher/outfielder Ava Bindner, sophomore infielder Grace Norton and seventh-grade shortstop Allie Carter.
Eastern (28-12) was the regional runner-up last year and returns senior pitcher Hallie Roberts (Lindsey Wilson). She was 25-8 with a 0.88 ERA last year and struck out 361 batters in 262 ⅔ innings. Senior third baseman Kaitlyn Chitwood (.448, five home runs, 37 RBIs) and sophomore outfielder Edie Kretzer (.360, 25 RBIs) also return.
Male (17-11) should contend behind a trio of pitchers — junior Hannah Wright and sophomores Shelby James and Kelsey Davis. Seniors Madison Newton (Coker University) and Madison Reed (Campbellsville) and junior outfielder Jayla Manning lead the offense. Manning hit a team-best .463 last year, and Reed had a team-high 37 RBIs.
Manual (26-7) was a regional semifinalist last year and has a new coach in Mark Avetisian. Senior pitcher Emelia Clemons (19-7, 1.35 ERA, Coastal Georgia) is recovering from a knee injury but is expected to return by the end of the season. She also led the Crimsons at the plate last year (.458, eight home runs, 35 RBIs). “We could be a dangerous team by tournament time,” Avetisian said. Junior pitcher/first baseman Hailey Kincaid also is a threat in the circle (5-0, 1.43 ERA) and at the plate (.359, 29 RBIs).
Portland Christian (16-9) has a new coach in Tim Heid, who will lean on sophomore catcher Ava Gish (.523, 31 RBIs). Senior first baseman Reagan Mulvey, junior second baseman Raya Heid, sophomore pitcher Eva Hidrogo and sophomore left fielder Elisa Hidrogo are other key players. Eva Hidrogo hit .386 with 21 RBIs last year and also served as the No. 1 pitcher.
Sacred Heart (11-17) returns its top two pitchers from last year in senior Brooke Harrod and junior Lindsey Franz and has added freshman Sadie Hayes to the staff. Junior shortstop Isabella Boyd led the Valkyries in hitting (.469), stolen bases (14) and triples (seven) last season and ranked second in RBIs (17). Outfielder Emeline Brown and catcher Brigid McConville are top juniors.
Seneca (6-16) returns six players from last season, led by senior pitcher Jazzlyn O’Daniel (.432), sophomore infielder Haley Sparks and sophomore center fielder Nya Patton.
Shawnee (1-8) is rebuilding under first-year coach Jessica Mudd. Leaders include senior third baseman Nevaeh Brown, senior pitcher/infielder Kayla Wyatt and eighth-grade infielder Sara Vazquez.
Eighth Region
Collins (13-18) has just one senior on the roster and will feature a freshman pitcher in Bella Williams. Other leaders include junior shortstop Brooke Peterman, junior outfielder Betsy England, junior second baseman Rayley Clark and eighth-grade catcher Harper Poole. Peterman hit .352 with 20 RBIs last year.
North Oldham (18-16) returns eight starters from last season, led by senior catcher Brooke Bennett (.480, 43 RBIs, Longwood). Sophomores Kori Johnson, Kadie Bosemer and Jessalyn Travis and freshmen Campbell White, Avery Becker and Alex Wagner also return. Bosemer and Travis lead the pitching staff.
Oldham County (21-16) was the regional runner-up last year and has reached five straight regional finals, winning three of them. The Colonels returned two pitchers from last season in senior Katie LaDow and junior Jozie Lashley (Western Kentucky). Lashley also batted .419 with 12 home runs and 37 RBIs. Senior right fielder Kaitlyn Bradbury (Brescia), senior second baseman/center fielder Breckyn Hamm (Walsh) and sophomore infielder Aubrey Batts are other key players.
Shelby County (10-18) is rebuilding behind eighth-grade pitcher/second baseman Kaylee Cox, freshman shortstop/center fielder Madison Clark and junior infielder Caitlin McDavid. Cox had a team-best .500 batting average last year.
South Oldham (12-11) has a new coach in Mike Schrecker, who will lean on junior third baseman Anna Huber. Other top players include junior pitcher Kaylee Fitzner, sophomore center fielder Addi Schrecker, freshman shortstop Grace Turner and eighth-grade pitcher/outfielder Ella Wells. Fitzner batted .435 with a team-high 22 RBIs last year.
Spencer County (5-20) will look to improve behind senior outfielder Kaelin Stewart (.280, 11 RBIs) and junior infielder Haylee Piercy (.309, 18 RBIs).
More high school sports: Meet top Louisville-area high school baseball teams and players
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Follow on X @kyhighs.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA softball rankings 2024: Louisville high school team, player info
