State softball preview: Undefeated No. 1 South Warren faces determined field
Assumption and Henderson County, the past two softball state champions, battled it out for the crown in last year’s final and will be at the University of Kentucky’s John Cropp Stadium this week for another go.
But undefeated No. 1 South Warren (41-0) rates as the overwhelming favorite to shake out of its postseason funk and finally claim the program’s first title at the Softball State Tournament presented by UK HealthCare when it concludes June 13.
South Warren has the most prolific offense among the 16 teams in the field, led by this year’s stone-cold lock for Miss Softball, McLaine Hudson, a senior Florida State signee.
Hudson’s impact at the top of the Spartans’ order cannot be overstated. She leads the state in average (.756), home runs (26), hits (93), runs (102), and is second to teammate Parker Willoughby in RBI (80/78).
South Warren also has two of the tournament’s top pitchers in senior Western Kentucky signee Layla Ogden and junior Kentucky commit Courtney Norwood.
Hudson is quick to credit her teammates for helping her reach such milestones. South Warren as a team is batting a state-best .492 because in addition to Ogden and Norwood, the Spartans have three more Division I college signees — Willoughby (Ohio State), Hadley Borders (Missouri), and Kinleigh Russell (Oklahoma State).
“I wouldn’t have been able to achieve these goals if I wouldn’t have had the lineup that I have behind me,” Hudson said when the Spartans played in a Georgetown showcase April 25. “You can’t (not) pitch to me because you don’t want to pitch to the next girl or the next girl.”
When the KHSAA’s record books are finally updated one day (the last update was in 2021), Hudson will be a single-season and career all-time leader in several offensive categories, including hits, runs, home runs, and batting average. She recently broke the single season home run record shared by her teammate, Ogden, who hit 24 last year, and Montgomery County’s Reaghan Oney (2024).
But South Warren suffered a first-round upset last season, and there are nine other top 25 teams and a few dark horses who could spoil the party.
Here’s a look at some of the best players and teams participating this week.
The ranked contenders
No. 1 South Warren (41-0): The Spartans ranked No. 1 every week of this season’s Kentucky Prep Softball coaches poll and were a unanimous No. 1 to end the year. They rank as the No. 1 team in the nation according to LineDriveMedia.com, No. 3 by the National Fastpitch Coaches Association (with a win over its No. 1 team), No. 4 by Sports Illustrated and No. 1 by MaxPreps.com.
No. 3 Bullitt East (29-4): The Chargers are back for the second year in a row and open with defending state champion Assumption at 10 a.m. Friday. Bullitt East beat the Rockets 14-3 in five innings March 31.
No. 5 South Laurel (36-5): Kenzie Williams’ miniscule ERA of 0.43 ranks as the best in the field, and she’s also the Cardinals’ best offensive threat with a .481 average, 13 home runs and 59 RBI.
No. 9 Henderson County (27-8): The Colonels are aiming to make a fourth straight state championship game appearance. Ayden Bennett and Saniya Shields were a big part of their 2024 championship.
No. 11 George Rogers Clark (36-5): The Cardinals are making their first state tournament appearance since 2016 and are led by a core of juniors in Arabella Guinn, Lilliana Hill and Jordyn Abner, who have combined for 38 homers and 175 RBI.
No. 13 Madison Central (26-8): Kate Drury, a junior pitcher, has pitched four postseason shutouts and allowed just eight hits. She’s also among the state’s top strikeout pitchers with 237 on the season.
No. 15 Assumption (25-11): The defending state champions returned four key players from their state title team, including junior Jaelynn Oaks and senior Maleya Giddens, who are hitting .467 and .449, respectively.
No. 16 Highlands (33-6): The Bluebirds reclaimed the 9th Region crown after a year away and have big-game experience with senior Kaitlyn Dixon, who has pitched in three of the last four state tournaments and has 312 strikeouts. Sophomore Layla Zepf leads Highlands with a .472 average and 44 runs scored..
No. 22 Oldham County (27-10): The Colonels return for a second year in a row after suffering a first round exit to eventual state champion Assumption in 2025. They open with undefeated No. 1 South Warren on Thursday.
No. 23 Ashland Blazer (30-6): Two-sport standout Brookelyn Duckwyler has helped lead the Kittens to multiple 16th Region titles in softball and basketball. On the diamond, she’s hitting .508 with 14 home runs. Jenna Delaney plays a little hoops, too, but she’s more productive here with a .450 average and 13 homers.
The spoilers
Apollo (24-12): The E-Gals (yes, E-Gals) delivered a stunning 2-1 upset of No. 2 Daviess County in the 3rd Region final to end the Panthers streak of six consecutive state tournament appearances. Apollo was 0-3 against Daviess this season.
Ballard Memorial (24-14): Long dominated by big-school bullies McCracken County and Marshal County, this year’s 1st Region final was settled between two of its smallest schools with the Bombers avenging their loss to Hickman County in the All “A” Classic region final with a 7-4 victory over the Falcons last week for the bigger prize and their first region crown in program history.
Hazard (23-12): The Bulldogs earned the 14th Region crown for the first time since 2005 after losing their district championship to Perry County Central. They’re led by senior pitcher Sami Noble (13-8, 1.88 ERA, 168 strikeouts).
Lawrence County (23-12): Senior pitcher Taylor Blevins led Lawrence to a pair of state tournament victories last season and has a 20-6 record with a 1.52 ERA and 149 strikeouts this year.
North Hardin (29-9): The Trojans last won the 5th Region title in 2009 when state was a double elimination tournament. Sophomore pitcher Brooklyn Carmickle led the state in strikeouts with 340.
Pulaski County (18-15): The Maroons knocked off No. 14 West Jessamine 5-0 in 12th Region semifinals as Brooklyn Thomas pitched a six-hit shutout with 11 strikeouts. She struck out 14 in their 3-1 region final win over Southwestern. Pulaski’s only other region title came in 2006.
In-state Division I commitments
Kentucky: Courtney Norwood, South Warren.
Bellarmine: Aubrey Batts, Oldham County; Maleya Giddens, Assumption.
Murray State: Maggie Grogan, Henderson County.
Northern Kentucky: Payton Brown, Highlands.
Western Kentucky: Layla Ogden, South Warren.
Other Division I commitments
Evansville: Ayden Bennett, Henderson County. Florida State: McLaine Hudson, South Warren. Missouri: Hadley Borders. Ohio State: Parker Willoughby. Oklahoma State: Kinleigh Russell. Southern Indiana: Saniya Shields, Henderson County. Southeast Missouri State: Brooklyn Thomas, Pulaski County. Troy: Alivia Cooper, Bullitt East.
Small college commitments
Apollo: Arianna Ramirez (Lindsey Wilson). Assumption: Ava Lou Mattingly (Thomas More). Ballard Memorial: Trinity Williams (Frontier CC). Bullitt East: Mackenzie Mingus and Mollie Johnston (Polk State). Henderson County: Aubrey Risley (Frontier CC). Highlands: Kaitlyn Dixon (Thomas More) and Morgan Pompilio (Central Florida). Lawrence County: Taylor Blevins (Kentucky Christian). Madison Central: Miley Cooke (Manchester). Oldham County: Kayla Cartledge (Chestnut Hill), Kennedy Dennison (Asbury) and Bekah Townsend (Bethel). South Laurel: Aubrie Messer (Union Commonwealth).
By the numbers
Statistics are according to the latest available on KHSAA.org.
Hitting for average: McLaine Hudson, South Warren, .756; Hadley Borders, South Warren, .563; Lilliana Hill, George Rogers Clark, .560.
Home run power: Hudson, South Warren, 26; Hill, Clark, 15, Brookelyn Duckwyler, 14.
Driving them in: Parker Willoughby, South Warren, 80; Hudson, South Warren, 78; Hill, Clark, 63.
Stolen base leaders: Hudson, South Warren, 48; Natalie Cheatham, Oldham County, 41; Brooklyn Thomas, Pulaski County, 40.
Best on the bump: Kenzie Williams, South Laurel, 23-1, xx ERA; Courtney Norwood, 22-0, 1.08 ERA; Layla Ogden, 18-0, 0.71 ERA.
Strikeout queens: Brooklyn Carmickle, North Hardin, 340; Kaitlyn Dixon, Highlands, 312; Kenzie Williams, South Laurel, 299.
Team batting average leaders: South Warren, .492; George Rogers Clark, .442; Bullitt East, .432.
Team runs leaders: South Warren, 531; Clark, 469; South Laurel, 391.
Team homers: South Warren, 67; South Laurel, 60; Clark, 50.
Team ERA: South Laurel, 0.93; South Warren, 0.98; Highlands, 1.48.
State High School Softball Tournament
What: Softball State Tournament presented by UK HealthCare
Where: University of Kentucky’s John Cropp Stadium.
Tickets: via GoFan.
Streaming: KHSAA.tv.
Thursday’s first-round games
10 a.m.: South Laurel (36-5) vs. Highlands (33-6).
1 p.m.: North Hardin (29-9) vs. Apollo (24-12).
5 p.m.: Lawrence County (23-12) vs. Madison Central (26-8).
8 p.m.: Oldham County (27-10) vs. South Warren (41-0).
Friday’s first-round games
10 a.m.: Bullitt East (29-4) vs. Assumption (25-11).
1 p.m.: Hazard (23-12) vs. Ballard Memorial (24-14).
5 p.m.: Henderson County (27-8) vs. Pulaski County (18-15).
8 p.m.: Ashland Blazer (30-6) vs. George Rogers Clark (36-5).
Saturday’s quarterfinals
10 a.m.: South Laurel-Highlands winner vs. North Hardin-Apollo winner.
1 p.m.: Oldham County-South Warren winner vs. Lawrence County-Madison Central winner.
5 p.m.: Hazard-Ballard Memorial winner vs. Bullitt East-Assumption winner.
8 p.m.: Henderson County-Pulaski County winner vs. Ashland Blazer-George Rogers Clark winner.
June 12 semifinals
3:30 p.m.: Friday’s early quarterfinals winners.
6:30 p.m.: Friday’s evening quarterfinals winners.
June 13 final
7 p.m.: Championship game.
