Very early Top twenty for 2016. Just one persons opinion. So Here you go. Would love thoughts and opinions.

 

1. McCracken County-Defending State Champion. When you can bring back two All State players in Hannah Ridolfi and Audrey Dodd along with LA Tech signee Jenny Chapman then you are primed for another State Championship. Everybody else may be playing for second.

2. Woodford County-arguably the most talented team in the state. SS Catelyn Ferguson a UL signee leads this talented group. Bethany Todd, who has verballed to UK, along with UT-Martin verbal Caitlin Karo make this pitching staff one of the state’s best. Ariel Daily and Lindsey Anderson (Morehead State) also fill out a talented group that will have to get through a tough region to get to Owensboro.

3. Scott County-winners of the 11th Region for the last two years. This group has a strong nucleus coming back including Hannah Davis who has verballed to Marshall and sophomore pitcher/outfielder Kennedy Sullivan. Jordan Ison hit .392 last year and returns as well.

4. Male-7th region stalwart shows no sign of a letdown. Josh Bloomer has got to feel good about his core of Olivia Suski, Danielle Walls and Infielder Alyssa Case. Case hit 458 last year while Suski finished with a 17-5 record on the mound.

5. Anderson County-maybe not as talented as the top of the list but Brent Aldridge has had a core group for several years that have dominated the 8th region. Anderson will return top two pitchers Allie Moore and Mia Aldridge, a Campbellsville signee, and the states #1 power hitter in catcher Bailey Curry (Toledo committ).

6. Madisonville North Hopkins-in looking at the stats last year you would have come to the conclusion that this could have been the best hitting team in the state. Jr. Kaylee Tow hit .701. Jr Mallory Peyton and Sr. Morgan McElroy are also two of the state’s best hitters. Peyton and Courtney Patterson will be looked to provide the pitching which will be the one thing that could derail their state title hopes.

7. Daviese County-lead by UK signee Lauren Johnson this team should find itself back at challenging to go play at home in the state tourney. Senior Kaylee Ranburger (475) and 1st baseman Madeline Bowlds should provide the hitting for this strong group.

8. East Jessamine-winners of the 12th region bring back Soph. Hannah James who was 28-5 on the mound last year. They also return strong hitting Malin Miracle and All Stater Allison Schubert.

9. Warren East-return Freshman Katie gardner that was 17-8 for a team that made it to Owensboro. Hitting will be helped by the return of juniors Nicki Gibbs and Kendall Smith who hit .504 last year.

10. Ballard-have been the bridesmaid in the 7th for a while now and Allen Jones would love to change that. Jones arguably has the deepest staff in the 7th with Jr. Sarah Brill, and sophomores Shelby Kelly and Alivia Sinnott. Skyelar Houston will be depended on to carry a lot of the run production load.

11. North Laurel-probably too low for this bunch that returns pretty much the core of their pitching and hitting. On the mound Sr. Mikayla Vires was 21-8 last year and hit .383. Also returning are Olivia Miller (.371), Senior Kailin Yantz (.468), Senior Mckenzie Mills (.393), and freshman Rebecca Riley (.366)

12. Bullitt East- sophomore Taylor Roby, a UL verbal, is one of the best pitchers in the state in any class. Evansville verbal Lindsay Renneisen provides solid power at the plate and a calming influence in the infield.

13. East Carter- hard to move them up because they haven’t typically played the traditional power houses. We do know that they have one of the nation’s best sophomores in Montana Fouts and a skilled hitter in sophomore Eden Mayo.

14. South Warren- lead by underrated junior pitcher Shelby Nunn, South Warren should again be a force in the 4th region.

15. Assumption- Lisa Pinkston takes over as coach at Assumption and she will have a good core back lead by senior pitcher Sabrina Fusseneggar.

16. Collins- young core lead by sophomore pitcher Paige Oldham and freshman pitcher Carson Murray and seniors Janette and Janell Hynes.

17. Meade County- in one of the tougher regions in the state. All State senior Rachel Ayer returns to lead this talented group.

18. Estill County-Estill’s best pitcher returns in Mckeeley Muncie (15-11) as well as Jr. Taylor Wiseman and Senior Zoe Deaton. Fully expect Estill will get back to Owensboro this year.

19. Owensboro Catholic-lost All State players in Lillie Goetz and Lindsey Barr but do return Alexa Foster. Another All state player.

20. Green County-Green County has had a good program and should again challenge in the 5th region. Ivy Hedgespeth and sophomore Hannah Judd lead this scrappy bunch.

Wow. Northern KY should just pack it in.

Not from EKY at all ... but no Ashland Blazer? I know they lost Hensley, but still.

 

And not sure Green is better than an E'town team that returns most everything. Not only did E'town beat Green last year, but heard it got a decent pitcher to transfer in.

 

Meade will be solid. Ayer, Whelan (top pitcher), Honaker and the Wilsons are all back. New coach, but they have the tools (good pitcher and a power hitter).

 

I figure AC-S would be in the mix somewhere, too.

Playtown

Northern Ky has some fine teams but one really good one doesn't stick out right now. I'm sure they will have some teams rise up early in the season.

^^^ I'm glad someone else is "urinating" off the Highlands contingent. :lol: @Playtowin29 @RCC9 @Meatpuppy @Jayhawk95

All kidding aside, while I'm familiar with only a handful of the teams mentioned, Highlands has the best team in the 9th Region this year (8 returning starters, including U of L signee Shelby Graybill)......should they be mentioned in this Top 20 :idunno:

 

We will find out once the season gets into full gear.

I know Highlands should be good and I think they get in the Top twenty early in 2016 season. I coach travel ball and I see a lot of these kids mentioned plus a lot of them play for me or teams I compete against. Lot of young talent out in the state. Softball is definetly improving.

Great write up Bobby. If someone could list where all those college signees play their travel ball I'd appreciate the info.

As far as Ashland goes losing Hensley in the circle will def be hard to replace . Do they have a strong replacement in line ? She was a once every decade type kid . ( if you are lucky)

Megan hensley was a great player. So good on the mound and at the plate. They may have someone that can step up but they may not be able to identify them until they start playing in March.

Also wouldn't surprise me to see Central Hardin sneak into the top 20 this year. Yes they lost McGuffin and Maggard.

 

But Mariah Bryant (2B/SS/C) and Brooklynne Bryant (DH/Corner IF/OF) will hit their fair share of homers this year. Aubree Muse (3B), Meredith Jones (OF), Peyton Beger (OF/P), Kaci Goedde (P), Amanda Shackelford (C/IF) are all back.

 

Central Hardin won't fall as far as many people think. Heck, they were still good in 2015 after losing the top two pitchers (Nall, Pence) in the 2014 All-Area voting.

Beger and Goedde are young so you can't hang your hat on them carrying this team. Meredith Jones is very solid player.

I know Highlands should be good and I think they get in the Top twenty early in 2016 season. I coach travel ball and I see a lot of these kids mentioned plus a lot of them play for me or teams I compete against. Lot of young talent out in the state. Softball is definetly improving.

 

I was just razing you with my comment. BTW, great write-up. :thumb:

I was just razing you with my comment. BTW, great write-up. :thumb:

Come on now LB. You're just happy there is something other than an "All A" t-shirt to hang in the dugout. Actually glad the Lady Birds weren't mentioned. I'm sure it will be used as a motivator. After a month or so off, workouts start shortly. And yes we have two commits and two weighing options right now. Nice to have all four seniors with the opportunity to continue playing after this year since they won't have a chance this year... JK

I should hope to think that the top 20 is based on the best overall "teams" as they play as a "team" and not individual players who are great at their individual positions, yet do not balance the overall "team". Many of "ball hogs" out there, and yes it applies to softball too! Time will tell with "predictions", hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard, hope everyone is working hard and brings their 'A' games.