Northern Kentucky boasts the prep softball player with the highest batting average in the Commonwealth. Two other locals are among Kentucky’s top 12 hitters. Two more rank among leaders in home runs. The area features a player in the top 10 in triples, slugging percentage, RBI and ERA. There are two local pitchers ranking among the top 10 in strikeouts.
Who are these Northern Kentucky softball standouts and where do they play? We provide the answers while putting a bow on the 2024 season. The year wraps up with the state championship game June 15 at University of Kentucky’s John Cropp Stadium. Three-time defending 9th Region champion Highlands was the lone local team appearing in the state tournament.
The eye-popping stat this softball season belongs to Walton-Verona’s Danielle Oldfield. She hit .711 to lead Kentucky, sending officials to the record books. Her nearest local competitors: Highlands’ Michelle Barth at .586 and Scott’s Emerson Morman at .582.
The KHSAA lists Knott County Central’s Heather Click as the single-season record-holder with a .709 batting average in 2006. But that hasn’t been updated. Beth Haven’s Allie Streble led Kentucky with a .717 batting average in 2023. Model’s Anniston Bray led with .750 in 2022.
Oldfield’s 22 doubles rank third statewide and first in Northern Kentucky. Her slugging percentage of 1.276 ranks sixth statewide and leads the area. Oldfield is a Northern Kentucky Softball Coaches Association Division II first-team selection as a senior. The Bearcats haven’t had a losing season with Oldfield under three-year coach Natalie Meadows. They put together the best winning percentage among area teams in the 32nd District and the 8th Region.
Simon Kenton had the most wins among local teams in the district and the region. The Pioneers advanced to the 8th Region tournament for the ninth straight season. The Bearcats and Pioneers were upstaged by 32nd District champion Grant County. The Braves feature NKSCA Division I player of the year Brianna Knochelman. Simon Kenton’s Emilie Young, Landrey Dance, Taylor Jones and Larkin Mitchell are NKSCA all-Division I selections.
“It was exciting to see the growth of our program in the 8th Region,” Pioneers coach Chris Young said. “We have turned the corner and started to compete with some of the top teams who are top teams in the state. Our program will have a hard time replacing Dance and Young. The return of Jones and Mitchell will be a big step in filling that void and continuing our program’s growth.”
Campbell County won a seventh straight 37th District title. The Camels advanced to the 10th Region tournament for the 12th straight year. They ran their district winning streak to 35, thanks to Hope Hamilton, among state leaders with a .531 average. She’s one of three Camels who are D-1 all-stars.
“The 10th region definitely had some outstanding pitching. Each of these teams also possess high powered offenses,” Camels coach Sandi Kitchen said. “Our offense was no slouch and leading for us was Hope Hamilton. She also did an outstanding job in the circle. Sam Perry was outstanding at shortstop and is certainly a person we want up when we need a hit. Josie Feebeck is a key ingredient to our success. The best part is these girls will be returning for us next season.”
Also in the 37th District, Bishop Brossart’s Maddie Kremer is the local Division III player of the year. She ranks among state leaders with 15 doubles. Teammates Leah Robinson and Rachel Shewmaker are D-3 first-team picks.
The 9th Region showed its power. Dixie Heights’ Skylar Mitchell belted an area-high 13 home runs, ranking 13th statewide. Payton Brown from Highlands was right behind with 12. Brown ranks fifth statewide with 10 triples. She is 13th in RBI, 15th in runs, 15th in slugging percentage and 18th in homers.
Highlands’ Barth ranks third in Kentucky in RBI. She ranks 10th in hits, 11th in batting average, 16th in slugging, 17th in doubles and 34th in homers. Barth is the local Division II player of the year. Coach Milt Horner features five Bluebirds on the all-Division II team. They include Brown, Barth, Bailey Markus, Cam Markus and pitcher Kaitlyn Dixon. Horner thinks the 9th Region upped its game in 2024 and is impressed by the region tournament semifinalists.
“Chris Schreiber got a lot out of Notre Dame, a team that hasn’t been that far in the regional in a few years,” Horner said of the finalist. “Rusty Scott and Cooper did a great job after they lost their top pitcher. Shawn Sproles took Conner to the regional for the first time in several years.”
Conner pitcher Mollie Sharp ranks fourth in Kentucky with a 1.03 ERA. Notre Dame’s Abby Turnpaugh is 12th. Highlands’ Dixon ranks 21st. Dixon is 15th with 21 wins. Dixon is eighth with 286 strikeouts. Sharp is ninth with 284. Turnpaugh, Villa Madonna’s Cam Kratzer, Evie Thomas of Holy Cross and Ryle’s Maddie Goddard also rank among strikeout leaders.
“There’s a lot of great talent up here,” coach Horner said. “I don’t think the rest of the state appreciates Northern Kentucky teams. They’ll fight you tooth and nail.”