The Lafayette High School softball team ended last season ranked No. 4 in Kentucky, but the Generals failed to advance to the state tournament.
In fact, for two straight seasons, a highly rated Lafayette team has suffered disappointment in the region tournament.
But this year's Lafayette team, with all but one starter returning, including ace Cassidy Taylor, begins the season ranked No. 6 in the state and would like to be the team making the journey to state this time around.
The Generals will have plenty of competition as softball swings into high gear, with defending region champ No. 11 Scott County still in the mix along with others like No. 18 Franklin County, No. 23 Lexington Catholic as well as teams like Henry Clay and Paul Laurence Dunbar, who also received votes in the coaches' pre-season poll.
No team from Lexington has won the 11th Region softball tournament since 2005 when Dunbar did it. Could this be the year?
Bryan Station
Coach: Brad White
Last year: 13-16 (lost to Franklin County in first round of region tournament)
Top players: Suzanne Hall (jr., p/of); Megan Hoovler (jr., ss); Dallas Smith (jr., of); Allison Hill (sr., 2b); Candice Johnson (sr., 1b); Breeawna Hayes (sr., 3b)
Outlook: Station made its second straight trip to the region tournament last year and has a key group of experienced returnees like Hall (.368 batting average) to help the Defenders make it three in a row. Hoovler has great speed at leadoff. Suzanne Hall and her sister Rebecca will do a bulk of the pitching, but the Defenders are still waiting for a catcher to emerge to round out the battery, which will be key to their success this season. Bryan Station has a lot of young talent that White hopes will take off come tournament time.
DEFENDERS' SCHEDULE
Thurs.—at Lafayette, 7:30;
April 1—at Berea, 5:30 and Madison Southern, 8:30; 12—Scott Co., 6; 13—Lafayette, 7:30; 14—at Garrard Co., 6; 15—Lexington Catholic, 5:30 and Nelson Co., 8:30; 20—at Western Hills, 6; 22—Frankfort, 5:30 and Harrison Co., 8:30; 26—Model, 5:30; 28—Henry Clay, 7:30; 29—Pendleton Co., 5:30 and Madison Southern, 8:30;
May 3—at Paris, 5:30; 4—Lexington Christian, 5:30; 5—Tates Creek, 7:30; 6—Mason Co. and Williamstown, 8:30; 10—at Henry Clay, 7:30; 11—at Paul Dunbar, 5:30; 12—Garrard Co., 6; 16—at Sayre, 6; 17—at Scott Co., 6; 19—at Woodford Co., 5:30; 20—Frankfort, 7.
Henry Clay
Coach: Chris Hould
Last year: 16-15 (lost to Bryan Station in the first round of district tournament)
Top players: Hannah Simpson (sr., c/inf); Jordan Rawlins (sr., inf); Sarah Mathis (jr., p/inf); Shandra Williams (jr., p/inf); Riley Stokes (so., of/inf); Brittany Sears (so., inf/c); MacKenzee Claus (so., of); Beth Ann Hamilton (eighth-grade, inf/p/of)
Outlook: The Devils have a new coach, a newly renovated field and a new attitude as they enter this season. Hould, a former assistant coach at Lafayette, believes this team could turn a few heads by the end of the season if it stays patient and focuses on getting better both as individuals and as a team. Hould would like to see them "come together as a team by holding each other accountable." Mathis, one of seven starters back, returns to the mound this season for the Devils, and she will get help from Hamilton and Williams. Williams will be a go-to player on offense, as will Simpson and Hamilton and Stokes, who are all consistent at the plate, their coach said.
DEVILS' SCHEDULE
April 8—at Science Hill Topper Tournament, TBA; 12—Sayre, 7:30; 14—Lafayette, 7:30; 19—at Scott Co., 6; 22-23—Kentucky 5 Star Classic at North Laurel, TBA; 25—Paul Dunbar, 7:30; 27—at Tates Creek, 7:30; 28—at Bryan Station, 7:30; 29—Lexington Catholic, 7:30.
May 3—Scott Co., 7:30; 6-7—Sports Warehouse Catholic Classic at Owensboro Catholic, TBA; 10—Bryan Station, 7:30; 12—at Paul Dunbar, 7; 16—at Woodford Co., 5:30; 17—at Lafayette, 6; 19—West Jessamine, 7:30; 21—at Daviess Co., noon and at Greenwood, 2.
Lafayette
Coach: Dana Taylor
Last year: 35-5 (lost to Scott County in the region tournament semifinals)
Top players: Alyssa Oakley (sr., 1b); Lauren Mitchell (sr., ss); Cassidy Taylor (sr., p/3b); Brittany Sims (jr., 2b); Alexis Hull (eighth-grade, c)
Outlook: All but one starter returns for the Generals, who are looking like a potential state tournament team and are ranked No. 6 in the coaches' pre-season poll. Lafayette has both pitchers back in Taylor (0.86 earned-run average) and Emily Kincaid. Oakley, who had eight home runs last season and batted .538, returns to lead a group of strong hitters, including Mitchell's .500 average and seven homers and Taylor (.403). Coach Taylor said the Generals have ramped up their schedule in order to avoid a post-season letdown. The keys to the season, she said, are being able to manufacture runs in close games and play solid defense. The latter should come more easily with the entire infield returning.
GENERALS' SCHEDULE
Thurs.— Bryan Station, 7:30;
April 12—Lexington Catholic, 7:30; 13—at Bryan Station, 7:30; 14—at Henry Clay, 7:30; 19—at Paul Dunbar, TBA; 20—Tates Creek, 7:30; 22-23—at Tennessee tournament, TBA; 26—at Lexington Christian, 5:30; 27—at Lexington Catholic, 5:30;
May 3—Paul Dunbar, 7:30; 4—at Tates Creek, TBA; 6-7—Lowe's Classic at North Laurel, TBA; 10—South Laurel, 7:30; 17—Henry Clay, 6; 18—at Ballard, 7; 19—North Laurel, 6; 20—at Mercy, 6; 21—at Owensboro Catholic round robin, TBA
Lexington Catholic
Coach: Bob Griggs
Last year: 20-16 (lost to Lafayette in the first round of district tournament)
Top players: Lindsay Griggs (sr., cf); Jill Maronde (jr., ss); Beth Mueller (sr., rf)
Outlook: Griggs returns a good mix of experience (starting three seniors and three juniors) with youthful energy from several young, but talented players. Some top offensive fire power returns in Griggs (.397, 46 hits), Maronde (.433, 42 hits, 26 RBI) and Mueller (.303, 23 RBI). This year's version of the Knights are enthusiastic, especially about new turf on their field and a new batting cage. Being sound fundamentally and being able to make routine defensive plays will be big keys. Catholic will be without a veteran pitcher, but the coach said there are five pitchers who will fill out the rotation, including sophomore Molly Dawson as well as Ellen Mitchell and Ashley Baker. Beth Roth, first baseman, also will see some action on the mound. Getting the younger players seasoned could make the Knights dangerous come post-season.
KNIGHTS' SCHEDULE
April 3-8—at Florida Beach Bash, TBA; 12—at Lafayette, 7:30; 13—Paul Dunbar, 5:30; 15—Bryan Station, 5:30 and Nelson Co., 7; 16—Thunder Round Robin at Manual, TBA; 19—at Tates Creek, 7; 20—at Lexington Christian, 5; 26—Scott Co., 6; 27—Lafayette, 5:30; 29—at Henry Clay, 7:30; 30—East Jessamine, noon;
May 3—Tates Creek, 5:30; 4—at Paul Dunbar, 5:30; 6-7—Lady Knights Tournament, TBA; 10—at Franklin Co., 5:30; 12—Madison Southern, 5:30; 17—Nicholas Co., 5:30; 19—Harrison Co., 5:30; 21—Allen Co.-Scottsville, 10 a.m. and Lawrence Co., 11:45.
Lexington Christian
Coach: Gina Covington
Last year: 6-20 (lost to Lafayette in the first round of district tournament)
Top players: Briana Dawson (jr., 1b); Mary Morey (so., of); Briana Shell (fr., p/inf/of)
Outlook: With a new coach and just three high school players on the team, the Eagles are in the midst of a rebuilding season, but Covington is optimistic. "Obviously our goals are different than some other teams, but hopefully, the foundation is being laid and the program is going to get stronger over the next several years," she said. Covington likes the team's spirit and willingness to go out and compete the best that it can. LCA starts seventh-grader Jordan Woeste on the mound and has been competitive at the jayvee level, but it is continuing to build.
EAGLES' SCHEDULE
Thurs.—Burgin, 5:30.
April 2—Somerset, 7; 11—at Lincoln Co., 6; 13—Tates Creek, 5; 18—at Paris, 5:30; 20—Lexington Catholic, 5; 21—Menifee Co., 6; 26—Lafayette, 5:30; 27—at Paul Dunbar, 5:30.
May 2—at Nicholas Co., 5:30; 4—at Bryan Station, 5:30; 9—at Tates Creek, 5:30; 13—Lincoln Co., 6; 16—at Menifee Co., 5:30.
Paul Dunbar
Coach: Mike Wainscott
Last year: 22-15 (lost to Madison Central in the first round of region tournament)
Top players: Bailey Skaggs (fr., ss); Maggie Shell (sr., 3b/1b); Kristy Leininger (sr., of)
Outlook: Wainscott uses the phrase "painfully young" to describe this year's version of the Bulldogs, with 13 of his 20 players on the roster being freshmen or younger. The good news, though, is that several of those youngsters helped guide Dunbar to 22 wins last season and are becoming more seasoned by the game. In that mix are freshmen pitchers Kaylie Zander and Gentry Arnold as well as eighth-grader Shelby Shanks. Each of them got better as the season went on and will be key for the Bulldogs as their younger hitters develop. Look for important senior leadership from Shell and Leininger (a .443 hitter last season). Skaggs (.385) also is back and will be a key on both offense and defense.
BULLDOGS' SCHEDULE
April 12—at Tates Creek, 5:30; 13—at Lexington Catholic, 5:30; 15-16—Capital City Showcase at Franklin Co., TBA; 19—Lafayette, TBA; 20—Harrison Co., 5:45; 21—at Madison Southern, 6; 25—at Henry Clay, 7:30; 26—Tates Creek, 5:30; 27—Lexington Christian, 5:30; 29—Holmes, TBA; 30-vs. Collins, North Bullitt, TBA.
May 3—at Lafayette, 7:30; 4—Lexington Catholic, 5:30; 10—at Mercer Co., 5:30; 11—Bryan Station, 5:30; 12—Henry Clay, 7; 13—Bulldog Classic, TBA; 19—vs. North Laurel, TBA; 21—South Laurel, noon and Clark Co., 4.
Sayre
Coach: Dawn Chenault
Last year: 4-12 (lost to Scott Co. in first round of district tournament)
Top players: Lucy Lorton (so., c); Mary Booth (jr., p); Jesse Klus (seventh grade, inf)
Outlook: Chenault, the Spartans' new head coach, calls this Sayre's "foundation building year" after it graduated six seniors. The Spartans are young and inexperienced at nearly every position and they will have to get better as the season progresses. The coach hopes the team will be able to handle the pressure they will face in games this season. She likes the commitment the players have made to building a new Sayre softball tradition. "They key for Sayre this year will be to build that foundation as strong as possible and improve every day," she said. Having experienced players like Booth and Lorton as the battery could help stabilize things as the team develops young talent.
SPARTANS' SCHEDULE
April 11—Portland Christian, 5:30; 12—at Henry Clay, 7:30; 15—Bardstown, 6; 16—St. Patrick, 11 a.m.; 18—Scott Co., 6; 19—at Eminence, 5:30; 21—Nicholas Co., 5:30; 25—at Paris, 6; 28—at Burgin, 5:30; 29—Collegiate, 5:30.
May 3—at Portland Christian, 5:30; 5—at Bardstown, 6; 13—at Menifee Co., 5:30; 16—Bryan Station, 6; 19—at Collegiate, 5:30.
Tates Creek
Coach: Nick Sutherland
Last year: 4-31 (lost to Paul Dunbar in the first round of district tournament)
Top players: Megan Banahan (sr., 3b); Carleigh Adams (jr., c); Finley Yuttayong (so., p); Mary Carter Downing (seventh-grade, ss); Alex Adams (sr., rf)
Outlook: After being an assistant last season, Sutherland takes over as the head coach this season and returns a group that is believing in itself and trying to change the attitude around Commodores' softball. The keys this season will be to play sound fundamental ball and avoid beating themselves with on-the-field errors. Compared to previous Creek teams, Sutherland said this one is seeing the ball better and will get more runners on base. So far Adams has been a solid hitter, but the coach expects several players will step up. Finley is the team's go-to pitcher with two backups and she has shown a greater maturity on the mound, he said.
COMMODORES' SCHEDULE
Thurs.—West Jessamine, 5:30;
April 12—at Paul Dunbar, 5:30; 13—at Lexington Christian, 5; 15-16—Commodores Classic, TBA; 19—Lexington Catholic, 7; 20—at Lafayette, 7:30; 21—Frankfort, 5:30; 26—at Paul Dunbar, 5:30; 27—Henry Clay, 7:30; 30—at South Oldham, 1.
May 3—at Lexington Catholic, 5:30; 4—Lafayette, TBA; 5—at Bryan Station, TBA; 6—at Bath Co. and Morgan Co., TBA; 9—Lexington Christian, 5:30; 13—Woodford Co., 6; 17—Lincoln Co., 6; 18—at Franklin Co., 5:30; 19—at Western Hills, 6; 21—Rowan Co. and Williamstown, TBA.
