Softball All-Area: The name of the game: Kittens reach goal with group effort; Duckwyler, Laine, Ingram receive honors
· Yahoo Sports
ASHLAND Scott Ingram welcomed each member of his team to a postseason practice, referring to each one by their nickname as they stepped onto the field.
During an interview that same evening, the Ashland coach called his team by one name.
Visit casino-promo.biz for more information.
Winners.
The victorious mindset on and off the field remained as strong as their bond during the season, and Ingram knew that the Kittens would not leave the region tournament diamond as runner-up a third straight time.
“They put in the work and got tired of coming up short,” Ingram said. “I saw what I’ve seen all year. It was not acceptable to lose this year. They would have torn off limbs to reach that goal. They would not be denied. It was a lot of fun to watch.”
Ashland outscored its district and region tournament opponents, 54-9, on the way to claiming the program’s first 16th Region crown since 2019. The Daily Independent selected Ingram as All-Area Coach of the Year.
“We are going to make you work,” Ingram said. “You may get us out a few times, but you are going to have to earn it. The goal is to be as hard an out as we can possibly be, whether that’s working a count or putting the ball in play. It’s one versus nine. We talk about it all the time. “
Every Kitten was instrumental in getting back to the state tournament, but leading the charge was a duo that controlled an important 43-foot area of softball dirt each night. Pitcher Addi Laine and catcher Brookelyn Duckwyler were named Pitcher and Player of the Year, respectively.
Laine ended with a 19-4 record, 182 strikeouts and a 1.89 ERA. She also batted. 314 and knocked in 33 runs. The junior said her mental approach allowed her to take another step forward this year.
“I would say my confidence,” Laine said. “In past years, I really haven’t had that much confidence. Now that I have learned to completely spin the ball, it has also helped me.”
Laine experienced tragedy midway through the season and dedicated the remaining games to her late grandmother.
“She was already doing well,” Ingram said. “She had made those jumps mentally and all that and was improving her pitching, but that tragedy put it into another gear for her. She’s been different. Obviously, you never want those things to happen, but life is tough sometimes. Addi chose to find a way to turn the rest of the season into a positive.”
Duckwyler already experienced the state tournament atmosphere on the basketball court, but getting the softball team back to Lexington made for an unforgettable moment.
“It’s not something everybody gets to do,” Duckwyler said. “To be a main player and contribute to the team, finally winning a region title on the softball field, is a different feeling.”
Duckwyler recorded 63 hits and a .516 average. She added 11 doubles and 14 home runs. Duckwyler said she has one main objective in the leadoff spot.
“All I have to do is get on base, and I feel it’s a guaranteed run every time,” Duckwyler said. “Then you have Jenna (Delaney) and then Zoey (Smith) and Paige (Harmon) behind her. Our lineup is very strong. I just want to get on to help them out.”
Delaney (.462, 52 RBIs, 32 extra-base hits, including 14 long balls) and Smith (.383, 41 RBIs and eight homers) join their Ashland teammates on the All-Area team.
Laine appreciates her team’s encouragement and their offensive capabilities.
“It would be a pretty tough game if I didn’t have the support from my coaches and my whole team,” Laine said. “I love how they hype me up.
“We had been in the region final in the two years prior to this season. To come out on top feels amazing. We have such a good group of girls. They all deserve it.”
Lawrence County and Greenup County each placed three players on the All-Area roster.
The three-time 15th Region champion Bulldogs were led by Taylor Blevins in the circle. She posted 20 wins and picked up her 100th career victory late in the regular season. Jada Patton (.473) and Emalynn Kitts (.442) both had 10 home runs and a combined 87 RBIs.
Josey Kegley produced another stellar season for the Musketeers. The two-time 63rd District champions had 24 wins this year, and Kegley accounted for 18, while finishing with 231 strikeouts and a 1.46 ERA.
Laela Matthews (.396, 32 RBIs) and Maddy Steele (.387, five long balls) added more green to the All-Area roster.
Bath County, Boyd County, East Carter, Johnson Central, Raceland and Rowan County each have two representatives on the team.
Lauryn Eastham (.530, 57 RBIs, 11 home runs) and Kassi Perkins (.383, 14 wins, 2.76 ERA) guided the Vikings back to the region final.
Avery Baber (.400, 13 homers, 53 RBIs) and Kylee Hodson (.473, 35 RBIs, 2.11 ERA) led the way for the Wildcats.
Most of Boyd County’s career offensive records now have Jaycie Goad’s name at the top. The senior and Marshall signee batted .411 and drove home 40 runs. Savanna Henderson (.398) tallied 21 extra-base hits, including eight homers.
Allison Felty (.514, 12 doubles) and Laken Knipp (.467, 40 stolen bases) had productive seasons for the Raiders.
Shelby Arnett hit .421 and collected 36 RBIs for the Golden Eagles. Keylee Blair supplied a .350 average and eight home runs.
Rams put senior leaders Peyton Mackie (.404) and Bryna Wellman (.390, six long balls) on the team.
Elliott County’s Breyleigh McDaniel, Paintsville’s Maggie Music and Menifee County’s Grace Rogers round out the All-Area team.
2026 All-Area Softball Team
Shelby Arnett (Johnson Central)
Avery Baber (Bath County)
Keylee Blair (Johnson Central)
Taylor Blevins (Lawrence County)
Jenna Delaney (Ashland)
Brookelyn Duckwyler (Ashland)
Lauryn Eastham (Rowan County)
Allison Felty (East Carter)
Jaycie Goad (Boyd County)
Savanna Henderson (Boyd County)
Kylee Hodson (Bath County)
Josey Kegley (Greenup County)
Emalynn Kitts (Lawrence County)
Laken Knipp (East Carter)
Addi Laine (Ashland)
Peyton Mackie (Raceland)
Laela Matthews (Greenup County)
Breyleigh McDaniel (Elliott County)
Maggie Music (Paintsville)
Jada Patton (Lawrence County)
Kassi Perkins (Rowan County)
Grace Rogers (Menifee County)
Zoey Smith (Ashland)
Maddy Steele (Greenup County)
Bryna Wellman (Raceland)
PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Brookelyn Duckwyler (Ashland)
PITCHER OF THE YEAR:
Addi Laine (Ashland)
COACH OF THE YEAR:
Scott Ingram (Ashland)
HONORABLE MENTION
Bailee Artrip (West Carter), Brinley Baisden (Lawrence County), Addison Branim (Greenup County), Jaylen Cooper (Greenup County), Josie Dials (Johnson Central), Courtney Doyle (Fleming County), Chloe Dye (Morgan County), Shelby Felty (East Carter), Kelbie Ford (Rowan County), Ava Frasure (Russell), Taylor Fultz (Menifee County), Shelby Gauze (Raceland), Jadyn Goad (Boyd County), Paige Harmon (Ashland), Riley Harmon (Ashland), Ava Howard (Russell), Ryleigh Howard (Rowan County), Brooke Jacobs (Boyd County), Shaddix Lewis (Menifee County), Madison Loving (Fairview), Jerra Lucas (Lewis County), Ally Manley (Bath County), Makenzie McGlone (Fleming County), Allison McMackin (Raceland), Molly Music (Johnson Central), Kiya Noble (Lewis County), Kylie Parks (Fairview), Kelsie Pennington (Rowan County), Emma Pinson (Ashland), Kira Ratliff (Paintsville), Bentley Smith (Paintsville), Grace Stephens (Boyd County), Karson Tolle (Bath County), Brynlee Walker (East Carter), Adrian Wells (Greenup County), Claire Whitley (Elliott County), Addalyn Woods
(Lawrence County).