Season preview: Who can compete with Lafayette, Lexington Catholic among city’s top teams?
Kentucky’s high school softball season got underway last Monday, and Lexington’s teams have just 10 weeks to prepare their teams for the postseason that begins May 23.
Lexington has two top 25 teams, according to the first coaches’ poll rankings of the season. No. 5 Lafayette made the elite eight last season as 11th Region champions. No. 14 Lexington Catholic took the 43rd District title from the Generals, but lost out in the region finals.
Here’s a look at the Lexington softball landscape in order of teams’ approximate finishes last season, noting some of each team’s top returning players and newcomers highlighted by their coaches. Stats are from last season.
LAFAYETTE
Last season: 31-9. 11th Region champion. 43rd District runner-up.
This year’s start: 2-0.
Big hitters: Leah Holland UTIL/RHP, Jr. (.395 AVG, 27 R, 49 RBI, 12 HR); Madison Johnson, 3B/SS, Jr. (.372 AVG, 25 R, 38 RBI, 5 HR); Jenna Wells, INF/OF, So. (.356 AVG, 23 R, 17 RBI, 1 HR, 12 SB); Kaileigh Franklin Brooks 1B/OF/RHP, Sr. (.286 AVG, 24 R, 25 RBI, 7 HR).
In the circle: Trinity Bridges, 1B/RHP, Jr. (15-5, 1 SV, 139.1 IP, 1.26 ERA, 226 K’s); Jenna Holland (13-3, 2 SV, 89.2 IP, 1.64 ERA, 120 K’s).
Notes: Isabell Rochemont, a senior outfielder, led the team in steals last season and scored 21 runs as an important role player. This year, she’s a team captain who Coach Dan Grantz expects to be a major contributor. Seven starters return, including two of the best pitchers in the region. Lafayette will play its regular-season finale at the University of Louisville against state power Warren East in an event hosted by Manual.
College commitments: Isabel Rochemont (Asbury); Kaileigh Franklin Brooks (Spalding).
Coach Dan Grantz says: “We lost two seniors who were major contributors, so we hope to get production from our up-and-coming players and seniors Isabel Rochemont, Kaileigh Franklin Brooks and Catherine Jacobs (coming off knee injury last season).”
LEXINGTON CATHOLIC
Last season: 28-4. 11th Region runner-up. 43rd District champion.
This year’s start: 2-1.
Big hitters: Emily Lammers, C/UTIL, Sr. (.362 AVG, 37 R, 21 RBI, 1 HR); Abby Hammond, OF/RHP, Fr. (.355 AVG, 17 R, 29 RBI, 5 HR); Sara Prisinzano, INF, Sr. (.349 AVG, 16 R, 28 RBI, 2 HR); Ava Emmert 3B/RHP, So. (.328 AVG, 18 R, 24 RBI, 2 HR).
In the circle: Abby Hammond (26-4, 1 SV, 182 IP, 0.77 ERA, 235 K’s).
Notes: Hammond’s ERA of 0.77 was best in the state last year, and put her in the coaches’ preseason top 10 players. Hannah Carlisle, a major contributor last season and a starting shortstop since eighth grade, tore an ACL during basketball season and is out for the year, but hopes to continue her playing career in college.
College commitments: Emily Lammers (Centre).
Coach Emery Emmert says: “We are looking to have another good year. Our pitching staff is still very strong. Our goal is to focus on and strengthen our offense. We have a very tough regular-season schedule for that reason. With our pitching continuing to be top notch, the difference will be our bats.”
FREDERICK DOUGLASS
Last season: 17-16. 42nd District runner-up.
This year’s start: 2-2.
Big hitters: Rachael Harris, RHP, Sr. (.354 AVG, 34 R, 18 RBI, 2 HR, 16 SB); Alyssa Wade, 3B, Sr. (.313 AVG, 24 R, 18 RBI, 4 HR, 16 SB); Jules Johnson, C, Sr. (.313 AVG, 11 R, 18 RBI, 4 HR); Aailyah Long, INF, So. (.268 AVG, 17 R, 29 RBI, 4 HR).
In the circle: Rachael Harris (12-11, 2 SV, 144.2 IP, 3.58 ERA, 110 K’s), Chloe Hartlep, Fr. (4-1, 27.1 IP, 6.66 ERA, 28 K’s).
Notes: This is Coach Larry McCullough’s first season with the Broncos. The program graduated Kasia Parks (Western Kentucky) who hit .565, scored 42 runs and stole 37 bases last season.
College commitments: Rachael Harris, Jules Johnson and Alyssa Wade (Walters State).
Coach McCullough says: “It’s a privilege to coach these kids and make a difference in a kid’s life. We will be underdogs in a lot of games, but these kids won’t quit. They work hard every day and never give up. In time, look out softball world.”
TATES CREEK
Last season: 15-15. Third in 43rd District.
This year’s start: 2-1.
Big hitters: Peyton Plotts, OF, Jr. (.512 AVG, 38 R, 41 RBI, 11 HR); Tinley Easton, UTIL, So. (.495, AVG, 37 R, 24 RBI, 4 HR, 16 SB); Alyssa Henson, INF, Sr. (.295 AVG, 25 R, 21 RBI, 3 HR); Shaylin Lewis, C/INF, Sr. (.321 AVG, 23 R, 35 RBI, 7 HR); Sophie Shelton LHP/1B/OF, Sr. (.316 AVG, 4 R, 21 RBI, 4 HR).
In the circle: Sophie Shelton (13-8, 134.1 IP, 5.37 ERA, 84 K’s).
Notes: Plotts was selected as the region’s top player in the preseason, according to a survey of coaches. Easton also made that top-10 list. This year’s team has five seniors. Last year’s up-and-down season included six mercy-rule losses and eight mercy-rule wins. Both of their first two games this season were Commodores blowouts.
College commitments: Peyton Plotts (Kentucky); Shaylin Lewis (Union).
Coach Mike Thomas says: “We’ll be working hard everyday to compete at a high level of play.” On Easton: “Amazing work ethic.” On Plotts: “Gives 100 percent at all times.” On Lewis: “Works hard on and off the field.”
BRYAN STATION
Last season: 16-13. Third in 42nd District.
This year’s start: 3-2.
Big hitters: Morgan Williams RHP/OF, Jr. (.373 AVG, 28 R, 17 RBI, 1 HR, 36 SB); Allyson Decker, INF, Jr. (.393 AVG, 21 R, 21 RBI, 5 HR); Maya Meads, RHP/UTIL, Jr. (.359 AVG, 16 R, 11 RBI); Trinity Campbell OF, Jr. (.310 AVG, 26 R, 20 RBI, 2 HR, 14 SB).
In the circle: Morgan Williams (5-2, 2 SV, 45 IP, 4.20 ERA, 34 K’s); Karsyn Rockvoan, RHP, 8th.
Notes: Williams is fielding Division I offers and Rockvoan looks to be Station’s No. 1 pitcher this season, according to its coach.
Coach Hector Urbaneja says: “(This year) looks to be a promising year for the Lady Defenders. We have a big class of juniors that will be leading our offense and defense. We’ve got four girls that can pitch and some strong freshmen and sophomores.”
HENRY CLAY
Last season: 11-24. Fourth in 42nd District.
This year’s start: 0-3.
Big hitters: Ella Smith LHP/1B, 8th (.292 AVG, 4 R, 12 RBI); Anna Webb OF, Jr. (.213 AVG, 18 R, 8 RBI, 10 SB); Armani Happy, OF, Fr. (.208 AVG, 10 R, 8 RBI, 7 SB).
In the circle: Ella Smith (10-24, 187 IP, 5.24 ERA, 164 K’s).
Notes: Henry Clay did not respond to the Herald-Leader’s preseason survey. It has a very young team with one senior, two juniors and no sophomores. Most of its offensive production graduated with six seniors last year. The Blue Devils have seven eighth-graders and four seventh-graders on the roster.
PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR
Last season: 5-18. Fourth in 43rd District.
This year’s start: 0-1.
Big hitters: Macy Hyams 1B/LHP, Jr. (.397 AVG, 13 R, 11 RBI); Mia Clemmons, 1B/2B/RHP, Jr. (.279 AVG, 10 R, 8 RBI); Tatum Golden C/OF, Fr. (.293 AVG, 14 R, 5 RBI).
In the circle: Macy Hyams (5-13, 108.1 IP, 5.30 ERA, 105 K’s); Mia Clemmons (0-5, 32 IP, 10.28 ERA, 21 K’s).
Notes: Shelby Shanks takes over as the Bulldogs’ new coach this season. Senior transfer Elise White plays catcher and is a “strong hitter,” her coach said. “Elise has so much power at the plate and behind the plate.”
Coach Shanks says: “Last year was tough on us. We were still very young, with eight middle schoolers. This year, we are tougher and work better together. Pitching and hitting is going to be the difference this year. We have three tough pitchers. Our hitting was iffy last year. This offseason, we have been working super hard.”
LEXINGTON CHRISTIAN
Last season: 8-13. Fifth in 43rd District.
This year’s start: 1-0.
Big hitters: Alexis Furlong, 3B, Sr. (.484 AVG, 16 R, 13 RBI, 20 SB), Anna Gorshak C, Fr. (.375 AVG, 14 R, 21 RBI, 2 HR), Avery Leach, SS, Fr. (.364 AVG, 14 R, 12 RBI).
In the circle: Sabrina Sizemore, P, 8th (7-6, 89 IP, 7.16 ERA, 37 K’s).
Notes: LCA has a short roster with only 12 players, including two seniors. Sizemore handled the bulk of LCA’s pitching duties as a seventh-grader. They won their season opener 12-2 at Paris on Tuesday.
Coach Stephon Brown says: “We are very young this season with a lot of eighth- and ninth-graders holding down some of my key positions. Our goal this season is to compete in every game we play. With our team being so young, I want them to learn and improve in all areas of their game every time we face a different opponent.”
This story was originally published March 23, 2022 at 7:54 AM.
