The Kentucky Softball Coaches Association have released their All-State teams and Region Player of the Year and Coach of the Year awards.
The Highlands pair of senior Michelle Barth and coach Milt Horner took home 9th Region Player of the Year and Coach of the Year honors.
Barth led the Bluebirds in multiple hitting categories starting with a .586 batting average. She also led the three-time reigning 9th Region champions in RBI (67), doubles (17) and struck out just three times in 111 at-bats. Barth was also vital in the field as the team’s primary catcher.
Horner’s Coach of the Year honor comes after Highlands finished the season with a 27-13 record and won the 9th Region for the third straight season. In those three seasons, Highlands has amassed an 80-37 record. Since Horner took over the program in 2019, Highlands has accumulated a 124-58 record.
Barth was also named to the Class 3A All-State second team, the Coaches Association splitting the state into three classes for the team. Barth’s teammate Kaitlyn Dixon was also named to the second team for her stellar performance in the circle this season. Dixon went 21-6 with a 1.68 ERA for the Bluebirds in 2024 with 286 strikeouts in 190.4 innings pitched.
Cooper’s Ava Scott made honorable mention for the 3A All-State team. Scott led the Lady Jaguars in batting average with a .491 average and also led the team in hits (52), doubles (12), triples (7), runs (45) and stolen bases (24). Scott is also considered one of the best shortstops in the region.
Notre Dame’s Abby Turnpaugh made the honorable mention list for the 2A All-State team. Turnpaugh was the ace in the circle for the regional runner-up Pandas this season. She went 18-7 with a 1.37 ERA in 143.1 innings pitched. She collected 211 strikeouts to just 30 walks and allowed 107 hits and 28 earned runs. At the plate, Turnpaugh batted .329 and was second on the team in doubles (8) and walks (15). She drove in 22 runs and struck out just five times in 73 at-bats. Turnpaugh was also named to the East-West Junior All-Star game.
Bishop Brossart’s Maddie Kremer made the Class 1A All-State second team. Kremer hit .420 for the Lady ‘Stangs this past season, collecting a team-high 37 hits and driving in 23 runs. She also led the team in doubles with 15.