NKY softball teams still outside state top 25
For the fourth week in a row, Northern Kentucky was shut out of the top 25 in the Kentucky Softball Coaches Association statewide poll, released Tuesday. Notre Dame Academy, 10-1 and ranked No. 1 in the Enquirer Northern Kentucky coaches' poll, collected the most votes among area teams in the state rankings with 51, 28th-most among those receiving votes.
For the fourth straight week, the state's top three remained unchanged. McCracken County is No. 1, followed by Greenwood at No. 2 and Owensboro Catholic at No. 3. Among Eighth, Ninth and 10th Region competitors, Anderson County from the Eighth Region is ranked highest at No. 21. Regional rival Oldham County is No. 24.
"We don't worry about rankings," said Notre Dame coach Joe Stephenson, who's guided the Pandas to 26 consecutive wins against Ninth Region opponents. They have won eight straight games overall since their only loss, which came against a team from Tennessee at the Gordonsville Tournament in Cookeville, Tenn. "We're just trying to get better as a team, and we have some tough games coming up that will help us."
The Pandas play three teams this weekend at a round-robin tournament at Boyle County that are ranked ahead of them by the KSCA. They are scheduled to play Allen County-Scottsville (7-8), just ahead of Notre Dame with 66 votes, No. 18 Boyle County (11-8) and No. 16 Louisville Sacred Heart (13-3). "We view it as a great opportunity to see some great state-level pitching outside of our region," Stephenson said. "We hope to do well."
NDA plays at Highlands Wednesday at 5 p.m. in a game featuring some powerful hitters. Bluebirds sophomore catcher and corner infielder Shelby Graybill is one of the area's premier mashers. The Pandas have four players who have drilled fence-clearing home runs, including Kennedy Baugh, Laura Finke, Abby Jones and Kelsey Michael. Michael, the Pandas' No. 8 hitter, and Finke are batting over .600, as is NDA ace Haylee Smith, who shares team leadership with Finke at .621. Maria Schaefer cleared the fence twice against Highlands with a pair of homers in a preseason scrimmage.
On the pitching side, Smith threw a no-hitter earlier this season. Jones pitched a perfect game Friday, her first, in a 5-0 home win over Bishop Brossart. She struck out six. Three balls left the infield, one on which Finke made a sliding catch in center field to snare a would-be single. Right fielder Amanda Meagher ranged far to her right to steal another hit behind second base. It was Jones' third shutout following a one-hitter and a three-hitter. She's 5-1 with a 0.29 ERA (one earned run in 31 innings). Smith is 5-0 with four shutouts.
EIGHTH REGION ALL "A" CLASSIC: Walton-Verona received a walk-off two-run single in the bottom of the seventh inning by Lexie Rouse, who went 2-for-4, and defeated Gallatin County 5-4 in Saturday's championship game.
The Bearcats advanced to the April 26-27 Touchstone Energy All "A" Classic state tournament at Jack Fisher Park in Owensboro. They will be in Pool B and begin play vs. Green County at 9 a.m. the first day.
Walton pitcher Hannah Thacker nailed down all three regional wins. Thacker, Julann Ginn and Emily Quatkemeyer were named all-tournament, and teammate Olivia Dezarn was MVP.
NINTH REGION ALL "A" CLASSIC: An all-tournament team was not named, but Denny Barnes, coach of champion Newport Central Catholic, would have nominated ace Haley Meyers for MVP after she struck out 35 batters while allowing seven hits during a 4-0 pitching performance. She threw a no-hitter in the tournament opener, the second of her career and second in All "A" play. She also threw a no-hitter in last year's All "A" regional opener.
10TH REGION ALL "A" CLASSIC: Bracken County earned the state berth with a 10-0 win over Nicholas County in the final. Bracken County beat Bishop Brossart 5-3 in the semifinals. Senior third baseman Allie Anstead was named all-tournament for the Mustangs. Karlie Shackelford, leading Brossart with a .481 batting average, also played well.
AROUND THE HORN: Holmes pitcher Taylor Brashear pitched her first career no-hitter Monday, striking out four, in a 15-0 win in three innings over Pendleton County. She also contributed a pair of hits.