marc.hardin

I realize that you can't please everybody, but this is kinda crazy... There are three Campbell County girls on the watch list, more than many teams. I'm trying to figure out how that actually disrespects the Camels. Heck, I even made this post answering a person who was wondering about the Campbell County girls, specifically to show that the Camels were recognized on our list. But yet, we still get this passive-aggressive statement: Oh well hope the Lady Camels are lucky enough to win a couple of games this year. I mean, who's disrespecting whom here? The Camels are going to win a bunch of games, not just a couple! They have three girls on our watch list, and I could have listed more, believe me. They have an outstanding coach, who answered my questionnaire. I hope I get to see them play Bishop Brossart. That's always a live one! Thanks for reading! We love that.

Thanks for the kudos, folks. It's better treatment than I usually get here for my annual Cats Pause basketball top 10 lists lol, which, by the way, I have to have complete by July, so anything can happen between then and the time it hits the street in September. Ugh. That's too early of a basketball preview deadline, but they sign my checks! And it's an outstanding basketball annual. Anyway, I do have these three Campbell County girls on my Enquirer watch list; they were listed for me by their coach with all-NKAC credentials, which I let guide my selections. This was not a subjective list! Just so you know, I consulted other head coaches and assistants, other than Lawnboy! But what happened was I left off Highlands' Haley Coffey in print, and I shouldn't have. I enjoy her as a person in post-game interviews through basketball and softball coverage, and she is a dynamite softball player, and a neat young lady. She will out-earn me in this life, trust me. She's got a great future. She is listed second on the online list at NKY.com, which is alphabetical. The list is below for convenience.. By the way, 12 coaches of the 30 I contacted did not return my email, so this required some incredible painstaking work over several days working the back channels to confirm that all these players were indeed back in uniform, so that they could get their due, despite their coaches. Here they are: Kennedy Baugh (Notre Dame): Sophomore C hit .358 with 26 RBI. Haley Coffey (Highlands): Great athlete, all-conference SS and a key team leader. Haley Delaney (Boone County): Senior C was second-team all-Northern Kentucky Athletic Conference. Olivia Dezarn (Walton-Verona): Junior SS led team in average and steals. Mckensie Dickerson (Ryle): Junior C led team in RBI, second-team all-conference. Hannah Dossett (Gallatin County): Senior C/3B was all-Eighth Region. Headed to Syracuse. Brennah Dutcher (Highlands): Junior 1B hit .434 with 52 RBI, named Ninth Region tournament MVP. Sydney Foster (Boone County) Slick-fielding junior SS with live bat, second-team all conference. Amanda Graus (Bishop Brossart): Junior SS and lead-off hitter, second-team all-conference. Shelby Graybill (Highlands): Powerful C led team with .514 average, 9 HR, 54 RBI, named 2014 NKAC Division II co-player of the year. Jenna Hicks (Conner): Versatile junior INF with solid bat was first-team all-conference. Katlyn Hoeh (Newport): Sixth-year hurler knows the underhand. Also one of area's top bowlers. Holds every school pitching record. Abby Jones (Notre Dame): Verbally committed to Slippery Rock after going 12-4 with a 0.74 ERA and .383 average. Haley Meyers (Newport Central Catholic): Sophomore went 17-9 with 2.26 ERA, five no-hitters, named NKAC 2014 Division II co-player of the year. Mary Beth Odom (Dixie Heights): Senior 3B hit .464, named first-team all-conference. Samantha Perkins (Simon Kenton): Senior C, team leader, all-conference. Whitney Quillen (Highlands): Smallest strike zone in Ninth Region with.404 average, six triples, 42 runs. Kristin Schreiber (Newport Central Catholic): Senior C hit .395, led team in RBI, doubles, slugging. Karlie Shackelford (Bishop Brossart): Senior P a four-year starter, named first-team all-conference. Elizabeth Sims (Conner): Hit. 381 with 2.09 ERA, won her 100th career game, signed to play at Birmingham Southern College. Haylee Smith (Notre Dame): Signed with Southern Indiana after posting 18-2 record, 0.92 ERA, .462 average, 42 RBI. Bailey Spencer (Highlands) Played through quadriceps injury, had an appendectomy, still won 20 games with 2.20 ERA. Gabby Stewart (St. Henry): First team all-conference. Michaela Ware (Newport Central Catholic): Senior SS led team with 484 average. Abby Wassam (Walton-Verona): Junior 3B one of area's best contact hitters. Loren Zimmerman (Newport Central Catholic): Hustling senior 3B hit. 395, tied for team lead in runs. Others standouts to watch: Amanda Lloyd (Bishop Brossart); Ryley Grau (Boone County), Mallory McGrath, Danielle Orick, Jessica Verst (Campbell County); Hailey Nicholas, Peyton Fields, (Cooper); Rachael Zalla (Covington Latin); Kayla Ellis (Conner), Samantha Scott, Felicia Watts (Dayton); Haley Schulte (Dixie Heights); Taylor Brashear, Katlin Ascraft (Holmes); Aleah Tucker, Courtney Turner (Holy Cross); Jordan Gentry (Lloyd); Karyn Zwick (Ludlow); Kylie Orr (Newport); Casey Kohls (NewCath), Jordan Kramer, Jessie Roark (St. Henry); Hayley Reynolds, Macy Krohman (Simon Kenton); Alexa Meier (Villa Madonna).

Some cool Nell numbers here in my gamer for the Kentucky Enquirer: http://www.cincinnati.com/story/sports/high-school/kentucky-high-school/201 5/03/03/nell-fookes-retires/24300117/

She told the team tonight shortly before 10 pm in the postgame locker room at NKU's Bank of Kentucky Center after Boone County lost to Highlands in Monday's Ninth Region tournament quarterfinal. She coached the Rebels for 30 years, and won 686 games, third all-time in state history, while coaching in 941. She was like a sister to me during the 19 years I have covered her teams for The Post and The Enquirer, and one of my all-time favorite people. Needless to say, the Boone bench will be a little quieter from now on with Nell gone. But her name will live on, right there on the court at Boone County that was named after her.

Notre Dame athletic director Myanna Webster, whose office overlooks the basketball court, is going on maternity leave soon. And guess who's going to be the interim AD while she's away for the next 6-8 weeks: Nancy Winstel, the former NKU women's basketball coach who won almost 700 games and two NCAA D-2 national championships. Among the interesting things about that move is the fact it's Nancy's birthday today, naturally. I don't know whether to say happy birthday, coach Winstel, or happy birthday, Wyatt Foust! Check out Nancy Winstel's Wikipedia page for a trip down memory lane.