Highlands’ softball team is the lone NKY team ranked in the initial Top 25 coaches poll. Photo provided | Charles Bolton

The reigning three-time 9th Region softball champion Highlands is the lone team ranked in the initial weekly statewide softball coaches poll on April 7. 

The Bluebirds are off to a 9-5 start to the season (as of April 9) and ranked 24th in the poll. Payton Brown leads the team at the plate with a .568 batting average and 24 RBI. She’s one of seven hitters batting over .300 to start the season. Allison Meyers (.405), Kaitlyn Dixon (.359), Morgan Pompilio (.351), Bailee Class (.343), Cam Markus (.333) and Bailey Zepf (.333) are all over .300 through the team’s first 14 games. 

Dixon leads them in the circle, pitching in 12 games with a 1.24 ERA and 94 strikeouts in 62.1 innings pitched. 

Others off to a strong start to the season in NKY include Notre Dame (5-1), Bishop Brossart (8-1), Campbell County (8-2), Ryle (4-2) and Holy Cross (6-3). 

The top five teams in the state in the initial poll were South Warren at No. 1 and then Assumption, Greenwood, Henderson County and Male. 

The full poll is below:

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