City high school softball preview: Lexington Catholic looks loaded for another run

Lexington Catholic’s hopes to repeat as 11th Region champions last year got cut down at the plate in the region finals, but it’s spring once more and the Knights look to be one of best teams in Lexington, the region and the state again this year.

Who in the city besides LexCath will challenge for their respective district crowns? Those answers will play out as the season progresses toward May 20 when the high school softball postseason begins..

Here’s a look at the Lexington softball landscape in order of each team’s 11th Region preseason coaches’ rankings, as reported by 104thescore.com, one of the caretakers of the statewide coaches poll system. Unranked teams are listed in order of last season’s approximate finish. All quotes are from each team’s coach. Statistics are from last season.

Lexington Catholic

Last season: 22-10. 43rd District runner-up; 11th Region runner-up.

Preseason region rank: No. 1.

This year’s start: 6-0.

Big hitters: Abby Hammond, P, Jr. (.511 AVG, 30 R, 33 RBI, 12 HR, 31 BB); Ava Emmert, 3B/P, Sr. (.367 AVG, 21 R, 20 RBI, 3 HR); Lydia Kennedy, 1B/OF, Sr. (.303 AVG, 19 R, 24 RBI, 4 HR).

In the circle: Hammond, (21-9, 1.23 ERA, 282 K).

College commits: Emmert, Kentucky; Hammond, Kentucky.

Notes: Hammond earned Kentucky Gatorade Player of the Year honors in 2022 in helping lead the Knights to the state finals as a freshman. Caitlyn Kelley missed most of last season with a shoulder injury and should be a “difference-maker” in the lineup after surgery last spring.

Coach Emery Emmert says: “We are in a position to have a very good year with five returning senior starters and dominating junior Abby Hammond back in the circle. The difference for us should be our maturity. Having so many players that have been in big situations throughout the last several years should pay dividends this season.”

Lafayette

Last season: 25-5. 43rd District champion.

Preseason region rank: No. 5.

This year’s start: 1-5.

Big hitters: Jenna Wells, SS, Sr. (.432 AVG, 25 R, 23 RBI, 1 HR, 16 SB); Anna Clay Denton, 2B/SS, So. (.369 AVG, 20 R, 19 RBI, 2 HR, 15 SB); Marissa Hurst, OF, Sr. (.280 AVG, 4 R, 7 RBI).

In the circle: Rylan Music, 1B/P, Jr. (1 IP, 1K, 1 SV); Abby Winkler, 1B/P, Jr. (no 2023 stats).

College commits: Wells, Transylvania.

Notes: The Generals had six college-bound players graduate from last season’s district champs, so “2024 will be a year of opportunities for a young group of talented players.” Another major 2023 contributor, junior Kierstyn Kelley, is out for the year after suffering a knee injury during basketball season. She is one of six who play basketball and softball for Lafayette. Wells played softball last summer in “The Cup” an international event in the Netherlands.

Coach Dan Grantz says: “This team will have a lot of speed and athleticism, and although we are only returning two starters, defensively, these girls have lots of softball knowledge and experience.”

Bryan Station

Last season: 19-11. 42nd District runner-up.

Preseason region rank: No. 7.

This year’s start: 2-3.

Big hitters: Tiahna Bowman, INF, Jr. (.320 AVG, 30 R, 17 RBI, 3 HR, 21 SB); Michelle Moore, OF, Sr. (.287 AVG, 19 R, 16 RBI, 2 HR); Brooke Weathers, 1B/C, Jr. (.260 AVG, 11 R, 22 RBI); Adrienn Acure, 3B, Fr. (.306 AVG, 24 R, 13 RBI, 1 HR); Kynedi Birdsong, 1B/C, Sr. (.294 AVG, 17 R, 17 RBI, 4 HR).

In the circle: Karsyn Rockvoan, So. (16-9, 2.15 ERA, 232 K).

Notes: Five starters return, including Rockvoan, who has been the Defenders’ ace since eighth grade. Bowman has been offered by the University of Tampa.

Coach Hector Urbaneja says: “This season seems promising for our Defenders even though we lost four seniors last year. The younger girls are ready to step up to the challenge. … They are looking to turn people’s heads around and make a statement for Station Nation.”

Frederick Douglass

Last season: 11-12.

Preseason region rank: No. 8.

This year’s start: 4-2.

Big hitters: Jorden Bowman, CF, Sr. (.424 AVG, 17 R, 23 RBI, 2 HR); Jarynn Bowman, 2B, Fr. (22 R, 13 RBI, 3 HR); Aaliyah Long, 3B. Sr. (.438 AVG, 17 R, 11 RBI, 2 HR); Haley McGuire, 1B/P, Fr. (.398 AVG, 38 R, 39 RBI, 8 HR); Emma Dunn SS, Fr. (.309 AVG, 37 R, 25 RBI, 14 2B).

In the circle: Alexis Fox, So. (0-2, 8.67 ERA, 14 K, 15.1 IP); McGuire, Fr. (no 2023 stats).

Notes: First-year coach Jason McGuire takes over a program that lost its head coach at the beginning of last season and had former boys soccer coach Omar Shalash take over on an emergency basis. McGuire and assistant coach Kevin Dunn bring over their respective daughters — Haley McGuire and Emma Dunn — from Henry Clay, where they led the Blue Devils in a number of offensive categories as eighth graders last season.

Coach McGuire says: “I bring in discipline and a college atmosphere to this team. … My teams have a we-over-me mentality and we play for each other and the name on the front of the jersey. … I want 100% attitude and effort and for us to compete in every game, and I want the school’s first district title and regional title. … It’s amazing how these girls are gelling and playing for each other.”

Tates Creek

Last season: 14-16.

Preseason region rank: No. 10.

This year’s start: 2-5.

Big hitters: Tinley Easton, INF/OF, Sr. (.486 AVG, 46 R, 42 RBI, 13 HR); Madison Hill, INF, Sr. (.370 AVG, 24 R, 18 RBI, 1 HR); Alexis Bazzell, C/U, Fr. (.268 AVG, 6 R, 19 RBI).

In the circle: Alexis Sempsrott, 8th (7-10, 5.56 ERA, 51 K); Kalissa Mitchell, INF/P, Sr. (7-6, 6.59 ERA, 36 K).

College commits: Easton, Minnesota; Hill, Midway.

Notes: Easton was among the state leaders in home runs and slugging percentage last year and has been a Gophers commit since 2022. Peyton Plotts, a 2023 graduate off last season’s team, has become a standout freshman at Kentucky, where she’s hitting .385 with five home runs.

Coach Michael Thomas says: “We are very young in all areas on the field, but we have three amazing seniors and have had the rest of the team step up. They are improving every day. Our coaching staff have been working really hard to get these players ready for this coming season.”

Henry Clay

Last season: 22-12.

This year’s start: 0-7.

Big hitters: Kyndal Brewster, 2B, Jr. (.346 AVG, 20 R, 27 RBI, 5 HR); Elise Pearson, OF, 8th (.386, 24 R, 12 RBI); Abby Watts-Claunch, 1B/OF/P, Fr. (.314 AVG, 14 R, 9 RBI).

In the circle: Ella Smith, So. (21-12, 2.20 ERA, 202 K).

Notes: The Blue Devils lost a ton of offensive production to graduation and transfer after one of Henry Clay’s best seasons in years. First-year head coach Alysha Sakamure takes over a young squad that has no seniors but has Smith in the circle she’s anchored since seventh grade.

Coach Sakamura says: “I think having a fresh start will be good for the girls, and we will build off the change. A lot of people are unsure what to expect out of us and that’s the excitement of having them wonder what we will bring in the season.”

Lexington Christian

Last season: 10-13.

This year’s start: 4-2.

Big hitters: Anna Gorshak, C, Jr. (.371 AVG, 19 R, 14 RBI, 3 HR); Sabrina Sizemore, P, So. (.333 AVG, 13 R, 18 RBI, 1 HR); Mackenzie Waits, SS, So. (.232 AVG, 20 R, 10 RBI, 1 HR).

In the circle: Sizemore, P/OF, So. (8-10, 61 K, 7.17 ERA); Ella Deaton, CF/P, 8th (1-2, 10.64 ERA, 22 K, 1 SV).

Notes: The Eagles return eight starters from last season’s squad as Coach Chris Waits moves up the LCA ranks to take over a varsity group that still skews young. Sizemore begins her fourth season as the Eagles’ primary pitcher. Hadley Dunn is the team’s lone senior.

Coach Christopher Waits says: “Looking to build this season off our eight returning players and new talent. We have a full schedule and are looking forward to an amazing season.”

Paul Laurence Dunbar

Last season: 1-23.

This year’s start: 2-4.

Big hitters: Tatum Golden, C/SS, Jr. (.300 AVG, 7 R, 6 RBI); Samantha Dixon, OF, Fr. (.275 AVG, 10 R, 5 RBI); Cortney Dierson, P/U, So. (.280 AVG, 8 R, 4 RBI).

In the circle: Dierson, P/U, So. (0-12, 14.78 ERA, 38 K).

Notes: Another team playing this season without seniors, the Bulldogs struggled mightily in 2023 in one of the most difficult districts in the state. Still very young with seven seventh graders on the varsity roster, Dunbar has already doubled its 2023 win total and scored 37 runs in six games, far ahead of last year’s pace.

Coach Shelby Shanks says: “We lost a senior that led our team in offense and defense last year, but we have a lot of young talent and few returners coming back that will lead us. We have really young pitching, but our hitting at practice has been great.”

High school baseball preview: Lexington Catholic tops among four ranked city teams