Back with a list of the top Sophomores in the State. I always preface by saying this list is not complete. I know there are some I am missing but I try to take my best stab at it based on those I see in the Spring and Summer and based on my people out in the state. So here you go.

 

(Numbers are not overall ranking)

Sophomores have to start with the 3 top pitchers in the state. One could argue that the sophomore class in KY in 2016 is the deepest class

 

1. Montana Fouts-P East Carter-Alabama commit. Has been on the cusp of leading them to State Tourney but the Blazers have had a star of their own in Megan Hensley so East Carter has had to wait. regarded as the best pitcher in her class in the nation. Good hitter as well. Hit 587 last year.

2. Taylor Roby- P/1B Bullitt East-UL commit lead her summer team to ASA national Title. Will take Bullitt East as far as they can go. Still developing as a hitter but has big pop in her bat especially at the band box in Mt. Washington.

3. Kennedy Sullivan- P/OF Scott Co.- the only 1 of the three that has been to state tournament in the last 2 years. Was 3-1 in Owensboro last year. Future may be in the outfield at the next level.

4. Payton Blades-UT/P Apollo- really a do all type for Apollo. Apollo stacked with young talent but Blades will have to hit at a high level to beat Daviese County in the region.

5. Alyssa Case- IF Male. had a tough State Tournament but really was a spark for Josh Bloomer in the regular season where she hit close to 385. Kid developed her power game in the summer as well.

6. Maddie Martin-C/UT Carlisle County. Hit 450 as a sophomore last year

7. Jaci Babbs-UT Union County. UK Committ. Another Southern Force product that was a honorable mention all state selection last year.

8. Elle Montgomery- 2B/UT Garrard County- Hit close to 500 last year. Garrard will compete in the region if she has another big year in 2016.

9. Hannah Davis-IF Scott County. Not big in stature but gets it done at the plate and in the field. The Marshall commit has played well especially on the big stage.

10. Sarah Ratterman-OF/P Christian Academy. Hit close to the 500 mark for a very solid CAL team in 2015.

11. Brooke Hill-IF Dunbar. has been a pivotal player for Dunbar and hits it well although not as consistent as it could be. Dunbar was Jeckyl and Hyde last year and will look to be Lexington's finest in 2016.

12. Eden Mayo-2B/OF East Carter- 521 avg in regular season last year. 2nd part of the dynamic duo at East Carter.

13. Lindsey Carroll-P/IF -McCracken Co. had a great summer but is it enough to push through and be a big time contributor at the Crack. I would guess that her role will increase this year as McCracken looks to go back to back.

14. Hannah Judd-IF/OF Green County- had a great 2014 State Tourney as a 8th grader hitting a home run against Mercy. Green Co has some talent and looks to get back to Owensboro in 2016. Judd has typically hit it well and she's a versatile defensive player.

15. Hannah James-P/IF East Jessamine. Was no surprise that James came over and East Jessamine broke through to Owensboro in 2015. James hit 378 and had 8 HR's as well as getting 17 victories on the mound. East Jessamine has a lot back so I would expect that they will challenge again.

Madison Coppage-Harrison County Sister of 2013 Ky Miss Softball Ashley Coppage. Madison Hit around .440 last year and is improving everyday. Her dad, Roger Coppage is training her daily on her hitting, so we know where that is going. Madison plays 2nd base for Harrison County and is looking to improve on her defense this year. Looking for Madison to having a great year.

when you mention some of the top sophomores in the state, these are two that need to be mentioned. Both play for South Laurel.

 

Leslie Dixon, RF - batted a second-best .427 as a freshman with 8 doubles, 4 triples, 31 RBI, 43 runs scored and an on-base percentage of .478. She had 124 at-bats and only struck out four times. Top notch outfielder but will be switched to second base this season.

She batted .387 as an eighth grader with 36 hits, 17 RBI, 15 stolen bases and 32 runs scored and only struck out four times in 106 at bats. Her travel ball team played the majority of their games in Tennessee this past season. Might have been why you didn't see her.

 

Makenzie Powenski, third baseman, - batted .366 with 34 hits, 37 Runs scored and six doubles and one triple. And she missed a part of the season due to injuries. As an eighth grader, she broke former Miss Softball Emily Gaines eighth grade record with most hits in a season with 63. She batted .477 with 45 runs scored and 38 RBI. She also had 16 doubles and 20 stolen bases.

 

These are two players that hve to be considered as some of the best sophomores in the state. No doubt.

Aware of both but not in my top 15 right now. South Laurel had a good season last year but when coming up with these I have to look at the schedule that is being played by some of these other teams. HS Stats are subjective. Their best win last year was GRC and I'm assuming GRC's big lefty was on the mound. Not knocking the kids at all because I know they are good players but their is some research taken into account. It is all good anyway because it is one person opinion.

Oh. I def. agree and wasn't disagreeing with your picks at all. I agree with them. I was just stating I think they are two of the better sophomores in the state. High school stats are subjective but when both players are hitting over .500 during travel ball against top notch competition in Tennesee that's pretty darn good but I'm sure your research found their travel ball stats.

I have only seen 6 of the kids on this list play and they all are very good. Leslie Dixon may understand the game as well as any girl I have seen. Smart athletic player. Powenski works her tale off and is a strong girl and moves well.

Bobby, I think you have a future in the online recruit ranking game, seeing as though FB is now being populated with references to these rankings as if they're something more than just one person's opinion. Saw one where an NSR scout posted it as if it was an official list published by Bluegrass Preps and that the number was her actual ranking (which you of course point out it is not).

 

People getting out of control with this stuff. It's all in good fun while we wait for the season to start. This is where the whole recruiting game has become almost as important as the games themselves, and it's sad.

No official list, I'm just some old guy that thought it would be cool to get some lists of some of the good players in each class to support softball. I have no idea really if there are 5 or 10 girls better than the few I listed. I am familiar with these players and have seen many of them play but I am no expert in projecting who the best are. This was a strictly for fun exercise and that is the way it should be looked at. Nothing more nothing less.

Putting this out as fact is absurd and if I thought this info. would have been used like that then I would never have taken the time to do it. Just thought it would be fun for some of the diehards of this board to have some water cooler conversations. I'm now second guessing my Junior and Senior lists I am currently working on.

I agree. I enjoy reading the lists, nothing better to do to pass the time for the next couple of months until games start. Also provides a little scouting haha! I was surprised to see it show up multiple times the last couple days, particularly the NSR scout. Nothing against the player being promoted - I've talked with NSR and I know they get paid a pretty penny to rep players, so he's just doing his job. But in this case, even if it's an innocent mistake, he's promoting something as fact that for all he knows could have been written by the girl's own father on one of these boards!

Lol. That's true and one is mine. But oversighting Makenzie Powenski is a total joke in my opinion.

I've covered this sport since 1995 when the KHSAA picked it up and just don't cover local teams and actually get out of the state on travel ball as well.

But with that said, BobbytheBrain, I do enjoy your selections. Nothing wrong with agreeing to disagree. At least you are giving softball some coverage. The freshmen, sophomore, junior and senior top player list will be put out in the paper in late March. A lot of who you have listed I have as well.

Madison Robbins C/OF Boyle Co. High. Started every varsity game behind the plate as a freshman. Had a 400+BA in High school and travel ball. The speedy slapper is a tough out and should turn some heads in the 12th region in 2016.

Madison is very good. She'll be in the top 25 sophomores list when I release my story.