Kentucky High School Athletic Association

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NOV. 18, 2024

As part of its annual awards program, the National Federation of State High School Associations Coaches Association recognizes Coach of the Year honorees from each state. Those named Coach of the Year at the state level then advance for consideration for Sectional Coach of the Year honors. Winners are chosen through a combination of their coaching accomplishments, particularly for the season in question, as well as their contributions outside of competition to help grow their respective sports. These awards are announced following the recognized year.

The complete list of 2023-24 honorees from Kentucky is below.

Baseball: Brad Burns, Pleasure Ridge Park
Boys’ Basketball: Ryan Perry, Lyon County
Boys’ Cross Country: Chris Davis, Bishop Brossart
Football: Mark Spader, Bowling Green
Boys’ Golf: Chris Cunningham, South Oldham
Boys’ Soccer: Chris Grimm, Lafayette
Boys’ Swimming & Diving: Jamie Palumbo; Bryan Station, Great Crossing, Lexington Catholic, Madison Central, Sayre, Scott County
Boys’ […]
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11/15/24 – Board of Control Approves Alignment for Lacrosse, Boys’ Volleyball; Revisions to Alignment for Field Hockey, Regions 6-7 Basketball, Region 1 Soccer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: NOV. 15, 2024

The KHSAA Board of Control conducted its third regularly scheduled meeting of the 2024-25 academic year this week in Lexington, approving alignments for the upcoming inaugural seasons of lacrosse and boys’ volleyball, as well as a handful of alignment revisions across the sport of field hockey, Regions 6-7 of basketball and in Region 1 of soccer.

Lacrosse was approved for an eight-region format and an eight-team postseason state tournament, with the semifinals and finals of both the boys’ and girls’ tournaments culminating at Shelby County and Collins in Shelbyville on May 19-21. Both of these schools have unified lacrosse field markings, which gives the Association tremendous scheduling flexibility to assist with the contests in this first season.

Boys’ volleyball was also approved for an eight-region geographically based alignment with the winner and runner-up of each region advancing to a 16-team state tournament. The semifinals and championship match are scheduled […]

2024-25 Softball Missing/Duplicate Games, Missing Stat Reports

10/01/24 – KHSAA Combined Participation Tops 115,000 for First Time in 2023-24

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: OCT. 1, 2024

More than 115,000 participants occupied roster spots in KHSAA sports and sport-activities in the 2023-24 school year, marking an all-time record and an increase of more than 5% from the previous year.

A total of 115,608 participants were on rosters for Kentucky high school competition in 2023-24, which is up 5,792 from the previous record of 109,816 set in 2022-23. The latest total includes 63,694 boys and 51,914 girls, a record high for both genders and the first time that girls’ participation has exceeded 50,000.

The 115,608 roster spots were comprised of 86,357 individuals, including 46,635 boys and 39,722 girls.

The 2023-24 total marks a third consecutive increase across KHSAA member schools after numbers briefly declined during the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the NFHS High School Athletics Participation Survey, national participation eclipsed the 8-million mark for the first time last school year.

“We are extremely pleased with our compilation […]

09/26/24 – Board of Control Approves Bass Fishing Site Rotation

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: SEPT. 26, 2024

The KHSAA Board of Control conducted its second regularly scheduled meeting of the 2024-25 academic year on Thursday in Lexington, approving a four-year site rotation for the Operation UNITE Bass Fishing State Championships presented by UK HealthCare.

The Bass Fishing State Championships will debut at Lake Cumberland in Russell County in 2025 and 2027 and return to Kentucky Lake in Marshall County — where the event has been held for more than a decade since its inception — in 2026 and 2028.

“We have been blessed with tremendous growth since the bass fishing tournament first began in 2013,” said Commissioner Julian Tackett. “The fact that multiple entities are interested in hosting this championship is a testament to the great work of our schools, student-athletes and coaches, as well as our long-time partners at Major League Fishing. We are excited to see that growth continue in the coming years.”

Thursday’s […]

07/15/24 – NFHS Announces Softball Playing Rule Changes

One-Way Electronic Communication Approved for High School Softball

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INDIANAPOLIS – High school softball coaches will be able to use electronic devices in the dugout for one-way communication to the catcher while the team is on defense beginning in 2025.

This landmark change was the highlight of the NFHS Softball Rules Committee’s two rules recommendations, which were forwarded as a result of the committee’s annual rules meeting held June 9-11 at The Alexander hotel in Indianapolis. The NFHS Board of Directors approved both rules changes to take effect next year.

“This change is the result of analysis of current data, state association experimentation and a positive response from the membership,” said Sandy Searcy, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the Softball Rules Committee. “The committee has made these changes to support the use of emerging technology within the sport of softball. Being a permissive rule, the use of this one-way […]

07/09/24 – Softball Official of the Year Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JULY 9, 2024

Each year, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association honors the top officials for the 10 sports in which it licenses officials. Finalists in each sport are selected through a combination of not only on-field performance but local association activity and leadership, training efforts and the mentoring of newer officials.

One official in each sport is named “Outstanding Official of the Year” for their sport in appreciation of their dedication and service to schools and student-athletes across the state. Winners are selected following consultation with local assigning secretaries, veteran officials’ observers, coaches throughout the state and additional staff review.

The Outstanding Official of the Year for the 2023-24 softball season is Chriss Kirby of Mount Vernon. Each finalist will receive a commemorative watch and certificate courtesy of the Officials Trust Fund, with the Official of the Year receiving an additional recognition award.

With officiating numbers declining at the national level, […]

6/11/24 – State Softball Weekend #2 Worker Assignments and Information

Thank you for agreeing to work the second weekend of the 2024 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Softball State Tournament presented by UK HealthCare. Below is the list of your duties and explanations of reporting times (all times Eastern Time zone).

EVENT DETAILS
Date: June 14 and 15
Location: University of Kentucky’s John Cropp Stadium
570 Wildcat Ct., Lexington 40506
Tentative Schedule: https://khsaa.org/2024-state-softball-semifinals-finals-schedule-of-events/

TEAM ATTENDANTS

Heather Cavitt, Diane Griffitt

Arrive by 1:00 PM on Friday and 4:30 PM on Saturday
Greet team at the front gate, escort them to the warm-up area, collect line-up cards from coaches, and coordinate their warm-up times/areas.
Assist with getting teams to the proper dugout (the top team in the bracket is home and uses the 3B Dugout).
Review timeline with coaches (infield, anthem protocols per grid)
Assist with securing postgame recognitions (All-tourney, MVP, etc.)
- After each game on Friday, the losing team will get 2 […]
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2024 State Softball All-Tournament Team and Awards

2024 CLARK’S PUMP-N-SHOP SOFTBALL STATE TOURNAMENT PRESENTED BY UK HEALTHCARE All-Tournament Team presented by Morgan & Morgan

Annie Newman, Daviess County
Jaycie Goad, Boyd County
Ava Emmert, Lexington Catholic
Addley Leidecker, McCracken County
Paige Crain, Assumption
Rylee Sandifer, Assumption
Hadley Borders, South Warren
Layla Ogden, South Warren
Emma Carl, North Laurel
Saige McClure, North Laurel
Bella Sizemore, North Laurel
Taylor Troutman, Henderson County
Hallie McCracken, Henderson County
Anna Kemp, Henderson County

Most Valuable Player presented by Morgan & Morgan

Anna Kemp, Henderson County

– KHSAA –

About the Kentucky High School Athletic Association

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association was organized in 1917 and is the […]

06/05/24 – Baseball, Softball State Tournaments to Begin in Lexington

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 5, 2024

The 2024 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Baseball State Tournament presented by UK HealthCare and the 2024 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Softball State Tournament presented by UK HealthCare are set to begin with first- and quarterfinal-round action in Lexington on June 6-8 before wrapping up with the final two rounds of each tournament on June 14-15.

The Baseball State Tournament will conduct its opening weekend at Legends Field, only to reconvene the following weekend at Kentucky Proud Park on the campus of the University of Kentucky.

The Softball State Tournament will be played entirely at UK’s John Cropp Stadium.

Tickets are available online only at khsaatickets.org. Live video of each game will be streamed on khsaa.tv to subscribers of the NFHS Network, while a free audio-only broadcast of each game will be available on khsaa.net.

2024 CLARK’S PUMP-N-SHOP BASEBALL STATE TOURNAMENT

06/04/24 – Thurmond, Germann Named 2023-24 Midway/KHSAA Student-Athletes of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 6, 2024

The 2023-24 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year awards program culminated Tuesday on the campus of Midway University, as Carlie Thurmond of Bethlehem (Soccer) and Max Germann of Boyle County (Track & Field) were recognized as the overall Student-Athletes of the Year.

Beginning in May 2016, Midway has presented a Female Student-Athlete of the Year award at each KHSAA girls’ state championship event. The awards program was expanded in 2019-20 to include male student-athletes, with Midway honoring a deserving student-athlete in each KHSAA sport and sport-activity.

The awards are based on athletic and academic achievement, as well as community service and leadership, with Midway choosing one overall Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year each academic year. School administrators, coaches and athletic directors nominate student-athletes, and the nominees are voted upon by a closed panel consisting of representatives from Midway.

2023-24 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athletes of the […]

06/01/24 – Softball State Tournament

https://khsaa.org/fastpitchsoftball/2024/statefastpitchbracket.pdf

With the completion of all sixteen regional tournaments, all eight first-round match-ups are set for the 2024 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Softball State Tournament presented by UK Healthcare. The bracket for the state tournament can be viewed here:

A time schedule for both weeks of the tournament can be viewed here:

Week One Time Schedule

Week Two Time Schedule

Instructions for Participating Teams and Fans:

State Instructions

– KHSAA –

About the Kentucky High School Athletic Association

The Kentucky High School Athletic Association was organized in 1917 and is the agency designated by the Kentucky Department of Education to manage high school athletics in the Commonwealth. The Association is a voluntary nonprofit 501(c)3 organization made up of 290 member schools, both public and non-public. The KHSAA awards 229 state championships to 59 teams and 178 individuals in 13 sports and six sport-activities, funds catastrophic insurance coverage for its more than […]

05/30/24 – Times Set for First Rounds of Baseball, Softball State Tournaments

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 30, 2024

Game times are officially set for the first round of both the 2024 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Baseball State Tournament presented by UK HealthCare and the 2024 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Softball State Tournament presented by UK HealthCare in Lexington.

While the competition field continues to unfold as regional tournaments are played across the Commonwealth, the 2024 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Baseball State Tournament first-round game times are as follows:

All times Eastern

Thursday, June 6 (Legends Field)

10 a.m. | Russell County vs. Region 8
1:30 p.m. | Region 7 vs. Region 15
5 p.m. | LaRue County vs. Region 6
8:30 p.m. | Region 10 vs. Lexington Catholic

Friday, June 7 (Legends Field)

10 a.m. | East Carter vs. Region 9
1:30 p.m. | McCracken County vs. Region 12
5 p.m. | Owensboro Catholic vs. Region 13
8:30 p.m. | Region 14 vs. Hopkinsville

The competition field […]

2024 State Softball Semifinals, Finals Schedule of Events

2024 State Softball First and Second Round Schedule of Events

5/23/24 – State Softball Weekend #1 Worker Assignments and Information

Thank you for agreeing to work the first weekend of the 2024 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Softball State Tournament presented by UK HealthCare. Below is the list of your duties and explanations of reporting times (all times Eastern Time zone).

EVENT DETAILS
Date: June 6-8
Location: University of Kentucky’s John Cropp Stadium
570 Wildcat Ct., Lexington 40506
Tentative Schedule: https://khsaa.org/fastpitchsoftball/2024/statefastpitchbracket.pdf

TEAM ATTENDANTS

Heather Cavitt, Diane Griffitt

Arrive by 7:00 AM, on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday
Greet team at the front gate, escort them to the warm-up area, collect line-up cards from coaches, and coordinate their warm-up times/areas.
Assist with getting teams to the proper dugout (the top team in the bracket is home and uses the 3B Dugout).
Review timeline with coaches (infield, anthem protocols per grid)
Assist with securing postgame recognitions (All-tourney, MVP, etc.)
- After each game on Saturday, the losing team will get […]
  More

5/15/24 – Softball District/Region Instructions Available

https://khsaa.org/common_documents/Instructions/20232024/Spring/2023-24springtournamentinstructions.pdf

Postseason instructions for the Softball District/Region Tournaments are now available on the KHSAA website. You can view the softball portion of the instructions that begin on page 50 at the following link:

You can find additional information on the KHSAA website on the Softball page under “District Tournament Instructions and Information” and “Region Tournament Instructions and Information”, respectively.

In addition, below are some quick references/reminders:

https://khsaa.org/fastpitchsoftball/2024/districtmanagers.pdf

https://khsaa.org/fastpitchsoftball/2024/regionalmanagers.pdf

LAST DISTRICT-SEEDED CONTEST

The last day for a district-seeded game is the Wednesday prior to District Tournament Week (May 15).
For any game not played after that date, the winner/loser of any unplayed required seeded district games would default to the team with the higher RPI on the day following the deadline for seeded games.

– KHSAA –

About the Kentucky High School Athletic Association
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association was organized in 1917 and is the agency […]

VisitLex 2024 KHSAA Championships Hotel Contacts

VisitLex 2024 Housing Suggestions – select tab at bottom to change sports

05/10/24 – Watch the Spring Draw Show May 14 on KHSAA.tv

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 10, 2024

The pairings for the 2024 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Baseball and Softball State Tournaments presented by UK HealthCare, as well as the 2024 KHSAA Team Tennis State Tournaments presented by UK HealthCare, will be decided during the KHSAA’s annual Spring Championship Draw Show on Tuesday, May 14, at 2 p.m. ET from the KHSAA office in Lexington.

The Draw Show will be streamed live on the NFHS Network at no cost to viewers via khsaa.tv, determining which regions will be paired for first-round matchups.

Following the conclusion of singles and doubles competition the week prior, the newly formatted Boys’ and Girls’ Team Tennis State Tournaments will be conducted June 3-4 in the Lexington area.

The Baseball and Softball State Tournaments are currently scheduled to begin Thursday, June 6, on the campus of the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Kentucky Proud Park will host three consecutive days of first-round and quarterfinal […]

04/10/24 – Media Credentials Now Available for Spring Championships

The KHSAA’s online media credentialing system for 2024 spring state championships (archery, esports, bass fishing, tennis, track, softball, baseball) is now live and can be accessed via credentials.khsaa.org.

Credentials to each KHSAA state championship event are issued by the KHSAA to working members of the media who regularly cover high school athletics. Credentials must be requested prior to the established deadline for each sport through the online credentialing system.

Credentials should be requested by the sports editor/director for all members of their organization needing […]

04/08/24 – Initial RPI Rankings Released for Baseball and Softball

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 8, 2024

The first official KHSAA Ratings Percentage Index rankings for the 2024 baseball and softball season have been posted.

Initial RPI rankings can be found through the links below:

RPI Background

RPI is a tool developed for all team sports using the official KHSAA/Riherds Scoreboard data, modeled after, but not identical to, similar measurement tools. It is provided for a variety of reasons, including district tiebreaking and football bracketing, and as a means to increase publicity, interest and promotion of interscholastic athletics. RPI is also used as a tiebreaking/contest-result mechanism to decide seeded district games that are not played by the deadline. RPI rankings are updated on an hourly basis but are not calculated for teams with missing scores from the previous day. Therefore, it is essential for results to remain comprehensive for accuracy.

RPI Calculation Steps

Statistics and RPI Release

[…]

4/2/24 – Softball Nominations Sought for Midway/KHSAA Student-Athlete-of-the-Year Awards

The nomination process for the Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete-of-the-Year among Softball participants for 2023-2024 is now open.

This award is based on athletic and academic achievement as well as community service and leadership. The link to the application contains additional criteria and a form to nominate one participant. Nominations must come from a member school but can be submitted by an administrator, guidance counselor, or coach. Nominations may only be submitted online at https://khsaa.org/ge35-midway-university-khsaa-female-student-athlete-of-the-year-nomination-form/.

The winner will be announced early in the postseason and recognized at an awards ceremony at Midway University in early summer. From the winners selected for each KHSAA championship, one student-athlete will be selected as the 2023-2024 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete-of-the-Year and announced at the recognition. All winners will receive their honors at that event.

The deadline for nominations for the Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year in the sport of Softball is April 25. We look forward to your participation!

04/01/24 – Initial Stat Leader Reports Available for Baseball, Softball

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 1, 2024

The first official KHSAA statistical leader reports for the 2024 baseball and softball season have been posted.

Stat leader reports will be updated every day at approximately 3 a.m. ET and will include all teams missing stats for no more than two games in baseball or softball.

Statistical entry is required of all member schools, and those failing to meet the requirement to enter stats are subject to penalties from the Commissioner’s office, including fines and other actions within the constraints of Bylaw 27.

Member schools are solely responsible for submitting and validating the accuracy of statistical information. If a school or individual is omitted, or information is not updated, that likely means the team in question did not update its statistics through the KHSAA’s online system prior to the re-calculation deadline. When in doubt about statistics calculations, reference can be made to the NFHS Statisticians’ Manual.

The requirement […]

3/7/24 – Softball Online Rules Clinic Now Available for Coaches & Umpires

The mandatory online KHSAA Rules Clinic for the sport of Softball is now available. The clinic is required of all officials as well as all coaches (varsity, junior varsity, and freshmen) regardless of whether or not the coach receives pay.

OFFICIALS

TO TAKE THE CLINIC, LOG IN TO YOUR ARBITERSPORTS.COM ACCOUNT

Go to https://officials.khsaa.org

OFFICIALS INSTRUCTIONS FOR CLINICS

As they are a condition of postseason eligibility, in the top black bar on the main page for https://officials.khsaa.org, select ELIGIBILITY
Select that you want the 2023-24 Softball Postseason Eligibility by clicking on 23-24 Postseason
You will see a Blue Hyperlink that says Take Online Clinic
Go through the clinic following the instructions including any requirements
Please note it may be as much as 24 hours before your score is posted

DEADLINE FOR OFFICIALS

March 7 to April 4 (Officials) – the […]
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10/06/23 – KHSAA Announces 2022-23 NFHS State Coaches of the Year

Softball Tournament Results

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: OCT. 6, 2023

As part of its annual awards program, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Coaches Association recognizes Coach of the Year honorees from each state. Those named Coach of the Year at the state level then advance for consideration for Sectional Coach of the Year honors. Winners are chosen through a combination of their coaching accomplishments, particularly for the season in question, as well as their contributions outside of competition to help grow their respective sports. These awards are announced following the recognized year.

The complete list of 2022-23 honorees from Kentucky is below.

Baseball: Jeremy Shope, Whitley County
Boys’ Basketball: Josh Cook, George Rogers Clark
Boys’ Cross Country: Brian Ruggles, North Oldham
Football: Keegan Kendrick, Bullitt East
Boys’ Golf: Kyle Congleton, Madison Central
Boys’ Soccer: Stephen Collins, Ryle
Boys’ Swimming & Diving: Mike Essig, Trinity (Louisville)
Boys’ Tennis: Al Hertsenberg, Covington Catholic
Boys’ Track & […]
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2024 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop State Softball Tournament Info and Results

2024 Softball Stat Leaders

08/15/23- Roster/Schedule/Score/Photo, Etc. Reminder for Fall Sports

With fall sports back in full swing, this is a reminder to all coaches and athletic administrators concerning your varsity team schedules, scores, statistics and team photos in the team sports of Field Hockey, Football, Soccer and Volleyball, as well as your rosters (in all sports at all levels).

ROSTERS:

Students may not participate in interscholastic competitions (including scrimmages and contests) without a valid roster online. The KHSAA system for roster and schedule entry is the only system that meets KHSAA rules and requirements in all sports.
Athletic Directors (and coaches if your AD has assigned you those rights):
Please enter your full roster (including freshman, junior varsity and varsity) in the KHSAA School Subdomain. Rosters are required to be submitted to the KHSAA (no other third-party roster system is accepted) prior to any scrimmage or contest.
To enter your rosters (if you have those rights assigned by your school), log into the […]
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07/24/23 – Corresponding Calendar Reminders, Updates, References

At its most recent meeting, the Board of Control approved recommended changes to the Spring Corresponding Dates Calendar impacting Tennis, Track and Field, Softball and Baseball. Please understand that this communication will be more lengthy than normal to attempt to address any questions and concerns.

These changes were a result of significant membership feedback addressing the various issues around spring sports and the potential issues faced by the nearly 290 member schools and the association. This represents the first phase of an overall calendar review the Board has begun to start this school year with the second phase being discussed at later meetings to include issues around the integration of three additional championships (boys’ and girls’ lacrosse and boys’ volleyball) into the 2024-25 calendar.

Spring has always presented challenges around end-of-year activities including testing, graduations, recognition ceremonies and so many other schedule conflicts. While at some point, choices will have to be made by some […]

07/18/23 – Board of Control Conducts First Meeting of 2023-24

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JULY 18, 2023

The KHSAA Board of Control conducted its first regularly scheduled meeting of the 2023-24 academic year on Tuesday in Newport, approving revisions to spring 2024 state championship dates, adopting “playing-up” rule changes for sports classified by size and adopting a new alignment for cross country and track & field.

Tuesday began with an orientation for new and returning Board members before launching into the full Board work session, followed by the full Board of Control meeting. The Board and staff welcomed new members Brandy Carver of Morehead and Mandi Hudson of Georgetown, while KHSAA Office Manager and Assistant to the Commissioner Kara Howard was formally announced as having accepted a newly created events services position on the KHSAA staff. After a favorable annual review by the Board, KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett’s contract was once again renewed for another year.

The 2023-24 baseball and softball state tournaments were approved to […]

07/10/23 – NFHS Announces Softball Playing Rule Changes

Changes in Pitching Delivery Requirements Approved in High School Softball

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INDIANAPOLIS – Beginning next year, pitchers in high school softball will be allowed to disengage both feet from the playing surface if the pivot foot is not replanted prior to the delivery of the pitch. Previously, the pivot foot was required to remain in contact with the ground.

This modification to Rule 6-1-2c of the NFHS Softball Rules Book headlined a set of seven rules changes recommended by the NFHS Softball Rules Committee at the committee’s June 11-13 meeting at the Conrad Hotel in downtown Indianapolis. All changes were subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

“When examining the survey responses, the NFHS Softball Rules Committee recognized that a majority of the membership were in favor of this change,” said Sandy Searcy, NFHS director of sports and liaison to the NFHS Softball Rules Committee. “An additional topic the committee […]

06/30/23 – Official of the Year Winner Announced for Softball

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 30, 2023

The Outstanding Official of the Year for the 2022-23 softball season is Kevin Terry of Corbin. Each finalist will receive a commemorative watch and certificate courtesy of the Officials Division Trust Fund, with the Official of the Year receiving an additional recognition award.

With officiating numbers declining at the national level, […]

06/08/23 – How to Watch Baseball, Softball State Tournaments on KHSAA.tv

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 8, 2023

The 2022-23 athletic season will officially come to a close this weekend as the semifinal and final rounds of the 2023 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Baseball and Softball State Tournaments presented by UK HealthCare wrap up on the campus of the University of Kentucky in Lexington.

All six remaining games across both tournaments will be webcast live on KHSAA.tv to subscribers of the NFHS Network. Live audio from each webcast will be streamed for free on KHSAA.net.

A monthly pass to the NFHS Network costs $11.99 per month, billed immediately once per calendar month from the sign-up date, while an annual pass costs $79.99 per year. All passes include full access to live regular-season and postseason events, as well as immediate access to events when available On Demand, and can be canceled at any time. For more information on how to subscribe to the NFHS […]

06/06/23 – Johnson, Ferree Named 2022-23 Midway/KHSAA Student-Athletes of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 6, 2023

The 2022-23 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year awards program culminated this week on the campus of Midway University, as Rafaella Johnson of Elizabethtown (Cross Country) and George Ferree of Trinity (Louisville) (Wrestling) were recognized as the overall Student-Athletes of the Year.

The awards are based on athletic and academic achievement, as well as community service and leadership, with Midway choosing one overall Male and Female Student-Athlete of the Year each academic year. School administrators, coaches and athletic directors nominate student-athletes online at khsaa.org, and the nominees are voted upon by a closed panel consisting of representatives from Midway.

06/06/23 – Softball Worker Assignments & Information

Thank you for agreeing to work the final weekend of the 2023 Clark’s Pump-n-Shop Softball State Tournament presented by UK HealthCare. Below is the list of your duties and explanations of reporting times (all times Eastern Time zone).

EVENT DETAILS
Date: June 9-10
Location: University of Kentucky’s John Cropp Stadium
570 Wildcat Ct., Lexington 40502
Tentative Schedule: https://khsaa.org/2023-state-softball-semifinals-finals-schedule-of-events/

TEAM ATTENDANTS

Heather Cavitt, Diane Griffitt

Arrive by 8:00 AM Friday, 12:30 PM Saturday.
Greet team at the front gate, escort them to the warm-up area, collect line-up cards from coaches, and coordinate their warm-up times/areas.
Assist with getting teams to the proper dugout (the top team in the bracket is home and uses the 3B Dugout).
Review timeline with coaches (infield, anthem protocols per grid)
Assist with securing postgame recognitions (All-tourney, MVP, etc.)
- After each game on Friday, the losing team will get 2 […]
  More

05/31/23 – Parking Details for State Track & Field, State Softball

The KHSAA has received the final details for parking on the campus of the University of Kentucky at this year’s State Track & Field and State Softball Championships. Coaches and teams are reminded to allow extra time, especially in the Lexington area, for travel due to so many events in and around Lexington June 1-2-3.

State Track & Field Teams are reminded that the State Meet is conducted with a specific time schedule and events will not be delayed if a competitor does not check in on time. Teams can arrive early and remain in buses until the Team Gate opens or athletes/coaches can always arrive earlier than their event to check-in and head to Tent City.

State Softball Teams are reminded they can arrive earlier than their indicated warm-up time and UK Parking/KHSAA Staff will accommodate you on-site. Parking maps are available below!

UPDATED PARKING MAPS

Softball/Track & Field Parking Options

05/31/23 – Track & Field, Baseball, Softball to Wrap Up 2022-23 Championship Season

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 31, 2023

The final state championship events of the 2022-23 school year are set to kick off in Lexington this week.

The 2023 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Track & Field State Championships, 2023 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Baseball State Tournament and 2023 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Softball State Tournament, each presented by UK HealthCare, will run throughout Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

The Track & Field State Championships and Softball State Tournament will be played entirely on the University of Kentucky campus, while the Baseball State Tournament will begin at Counter Clocks Field before finishing at UK’s Kentucky Proud Park the following weekend.

The Track & Field State Championships will start with 1A competition on Thursday and 2A competition on Friday before concluding with its 3A championships on Saturday. Baseball will play its first round over Thursday and Friday and its quarterfinals on Saturday at Counter Clocks Field, concluding with the final two rounds next weekend. Softball will […]

05/10/23 – Baseball & Softball End of Season/Beginning of Postseason Updates

Staff managing Baseball and Softball have continued to receive inquiries regarding the ending of the regular season and the beginning of the postseason.

A variety of situations were shared with the KHSAA Board of Control at today’s meeting. After discussion and on behalf of the staff, the Commissioner proposed an interpretation allowing regular season games to be played up until the day before the district tournament begins in both sports. The Board unanimously concurred with that recommendation which will be the policy in all team sports going forward. This is in alignment with the end of the regular season in the individual sports that can play contests up until the day before the postseason begins.

For example:
1) The District Tournament is set to begin on Monday, teams could play on Sunday, the day before the postseason begins.
2) The District Tournament is set to begin on Saturday, teams could play on […]

05/04/23 – Spring Draw Show Tabbed for May 9 on NFHS Network

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 4, 2023

The pairings for the 2023 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Baseball and Softball State Tournaments presented by UK HealthCare will be decided during the KHSAA’s annual Spring Championship Draw Show on Tuesday, May 9, at 1:30 p.m. ET from the KHSAA office in Lexington.

The Draw Show will be streamed live on the NFHS Network at no cost to viewers via khsaa.tv, determining which regions will be paired for first-round matchups.

Both tournaments are currently scheduled to begin Thursday, June 1, on the campus of the University of Kentucky in Lexington. Kentucky Proud Park will host three consecutive days of first-round and quarterfinal baseball action, while John Cropp Stadium will facilitate softball competition across the opening three-day span.

The semifinal rounds of each tournament will continue on Friday, June 9, followed by both championship games on Saturday, June 10.

The NFHS Network will produce a live webcast of all 30 games […]

04/19/23 – Softball District/Region Instructions Available

District/Region Instructions

In addition, below are some quick reference reminders:

LAST CONTEST

For 2023, the last date of the regular season will be the Saturday prior to the week when a district tournament is scheduled or the deadline for seeded district games to be played if the district chooses to begin on the weekend prior to the published corresponding date.

LAST DISTRICT-SEEDED CONTEST

The last day for a district-seeded game is the Wednesday prior to District Tournament Week (May 10).
For any game not played after that date, the winner/loser of any unplayed […]
More

04/17/23 – Suncoast Model SBFPB-10 Bat placed on Non-Approved Bat List

The KHSAA has received official notification from the NFHS announcing that USA Softball, the national governing body utilized by NFHS Softball to certify bats, has placed the Suncoast Model SBFPB-10 bat on the Non-Approved Bat List with Certification Marks. This bat is not compliant for use under NFHS softball rules, effective immediately (4/17/2023). A picture of the bat is shown below.

These bats were approved when originally manufactured and were legal for play at that time, but due to some unforeseen issues no longer pass the approval requirements. You can find the entire list of USA Softball Non-Approved Bats with Certification Marks here: https://usa.asasoftball.com/e/BB1P2000.asp

– KHSAA –

04/14/23 – Softball Mid-Season Updates & Interpretations

The KHSAA wanted to update member schools on different topics and questions that have been submitted to the office thus far this softball season.

FACE PROTECTION

Since 2018, Kentucky has required the use of face protection for pitchers, first basemen, and third basemen. The office has received several questions about interpretations of this rule which is understandable given the regular turnover of coaches and umpires. Below are a few examples with case situations included for umpires and coaches. None of these are revisions from the past years of implementation and most are simple clarifications.

The face protection for pitchers, first basemen, and third basemen is required in all contests for KHSAA member schools, regular and postseason, whether the contest is played in Kentucky or out of state.
Out-of-state teams who travel to the state of Kentucky to compete are not required by Kentucky rules to wear face protection but are expected to comply with any […]
More

04/13/23 – Media Credentials Now Available for Spring Championships

The KHSAA’s online media credentialing system for spring state championships (archery, esports, bass fishing, tennis, track & field, baseball, softball) is now live and can be accessed via the following link: credentials.khsaa.org

Credentials to each KHSAA State Championship event are issued by the KHSAA to working members of the media who regularly cover high school athletics. Credentials must be requested prior to the established deadline for each sport through the online credentialing system.

Credentials should be requested by the sports editor/director for all members of their organization needing to attend an event. Credentials for freelance photographers and stringers must be requested by the sports editor/director at the outlet the freelancer will be representing. Media outlets are responsible for the actions of all individuals representing their organization, including compliance with KHSAA policies and procedures. No credentials will be issued outside of the online credentialing system. The KHSAA reserves the right to limit the number of […]

04/11/23 – Two KHSAA Coaches Earn NFHS Section II Coach of the Year Honors

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: APRIL 11, 2023

Two KHSAA coaches earned 2021-22 Section II Coach of the Year honors from the National Federation of State High School Associations Coaches Association. Conner boys’ cross country head coach Ian Johnstone and Ballard softball head coach Alan Jones became the KHSAA’s 37th and 38th NFHS Section II Coach of the Year selections since 2001-02.

The NFHS, which has been recognizing coaches through a comprehensive awards program since 1982, honors coaches in the top 10 girls’ sports and top 10 boys’ sports (by participation numbers) and in two “other” sports – one for boys and one for girls – that are not included in the top 10 listings. The NFHS also recognizes a spirit coach as a separate award category. Winners of NFHS awards must be active coaches during the year for which they receive their award. This year’s awards recognize coaches from the […]

2023 State Softball All-Tournament Team and Awards

2023 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Softball State Tournament presented by UK HealthCare All-Tournament Team presented by Morgan & Morgan

Kayden Murray, Greenwood
Madelyn Vaughn, Johnson Central
Raylee Roby, Daviess County
Lynlee Britain, Central Hardin
Haven Ford, Rowan County
Trinity Lambert, Rowan County
Kayleigh White, East Jessamine
Alexandra Cox-Smith, East Jessamine
Kendal Hargrove, Henderson County
Anna Kemp, Henderson County
Hallie McCracken, Henderson County
Mikayla Milby, Ballard
Emory Donaldson, Ballard
Most Valuable Player presented by Morgan & Morgan: Brooke Gray, Ballard

2023 State Softball Semifinals, Finals Schedule of Events

2023 State Softball First and Second Round Schedule of Events

Softball Tournament Results

2023 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop State Softball Tournament Info and Results

04/03/23 – Initial RPI Rankings, Stat Leader Reports Available for Baseball, Softball

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: APRIL 3, 2023

The first official KHSAA Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) rankings and the initial stat leader reports for the 2023 baseball and softball seasons are now available. All data is based solely upon the statistical information officially submitted to the KHSAA/Riherds Scoreboard by member schools.

The RPI is a tool developed for all team sports by using the official KHSAA/Riherds Scoreboard data. It is provided for a variety of reasons, including district tiebreaking and football bracketing, and as a means to increase publicity, interest and promotion. The KHSAA Board of Control has approved the RPI to be used as a tiebreaking/contest result mechanism to decide seeded district games not played by the deadline.

The RPI rankings are updated on an hourly basis but are not calculated for teams with missing […]

2023 Clarks Pump and Shop State Baseball, Track and Field, Softball Housing Information

Baseball Working

04/03/23 – Softball Nominations Sought for Midway/KHSAA Student Athlete-of-the-Year Award

The nomination process for the Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete-of-the-Year among Softball participants for 2022-2023 is now open.

The winner will be announced early in the postseason and recognized at an awards ceremony at Midway University on June 6. From the winners selected for each KHSAA championship, one student-athlete will be selected as the 2022-2023 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete-of-the-Year and announced at the recognition. All winners will receive their honors at that event.

The deadline for nominations for the Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year in the sport of Softball is April 27. We look forward to your participation!

[…]

02/24/23 – Softball Online Rules Clinic Now Available

The 2023 Online Rules Clinic that is required for all head and assistant coaches and licensed officials in the sport of Softball is now available. The clinic is required for ALL coaches at each school, head or assistant, paid or unpaid.

As a reminder, here are some important dates for the upcoming season:

First Practice: February 13
First Contest: March 13
Maximum Number of Scrimmages: 2
Maximum Number of Games: 36
Last Date for Seeded Game – May 10
District Tournaments: May 15 – May 22
- Districts can vote by majority to play as early as May 13
Region Tournaments: May 20 – May 29
State First Round/Quarterfinals:
- Blind draw Regions 1-16
- John Cropp Stadium, UK, Lexington
- June 1-2-3 (final schedule being determined with UK)
State Semifinals/Final:
- John Cropp Stadium, UK, Lexington
- June 9-11 (final schedule being determined with UK)

01/23/23 – Spring Sports Postseason Dates

As you plan for spring events in 2023, we would like to remind schools about the postseason dates for spring sports. Please make sure all parties involved in planning graduation dates, spring activities, etc. are aware of the postseason dates which should help fans, coaches and administrators avoid scheduling conflicts.

TRACK & FIELD

First Date of Practice: December 1
First Allowable Contest Date: January 9
Region Meets: May 12 – May 25
- As regions begin preparation, please remember that all scheduling is led by the regional host, but discussions and planning should include all schools involved.
The KHSAA State Track & Field Meet will return to the University of Kentucky on June 1-3, 2023.
- Class 1A will compete on June 1, followed by Class 2A on June 2, and Class 3A on June 3.

TENNIS

First Date of Practice: February 13
First Allowable Contest Date: March […]
More

01/18/23 – Board of Control Approves Football Realignment, RPI Revision, Jenkins Placement in Region 14

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JAN. 18, 2023

The KHSAA Board of Control conducted its fourth regularly scheduled meeting of the 2022-23 academic year on Wednesday in Lexington, approving football realignment and revisions to the RPI calculations, as well as the placement of Jenkins in Region 14 for basketball, baseball, softball and volleyball.

The Board’s approved football realignment will be effective during the 2023 and 2024 seasons. The current enrollment data used for the 2023 and 2024 classifications are from the 2019-20 and 2022-23 school years. Following significant discussion, the Board elected to adopt a two-year alignment so that the realignment process could begin anew next year (in conjunction with the receipt of fall 2023 enrollment numbers) to allow completion by February 2024, giving schools more than one year to resolve scheduling issues for 2025 and beyond.

12/19/22 – KHSAA Announces NFHS State Coach of the Year Honorees for 2021-22 Seasons

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: DEC. 19, 2022

As part of its annual awards program, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Coaches Association recognizes Coach of the Year honorees from each state. Those named Coach of the Year at the state level then advance for consideration for Sectional Coach of the Year honors. Winners are chosen through a combination of their coaching accomplishments, as well as their contributions outside of competition to help grow their respective sports. These awards are announced following the recognized year.

The complete list of 2021-22 honorees from Kentucky is below.

Baseball: David Rexroat, Russell County
Boys’ Basketball: William Unseld, Warren Central
Girls’ Basketball: Kristy Orem, Pikeville
Boys’ Cross Country: Ian Johnstone, Conner
Girls’ Cross Country: Tom Stickel, Lexington Christian
Field Hockey: Jody Schaefer, Assumption
Football: Noel Rash, Beechwood
Boys’ Golf: Greg Zimmerer, Christian Academy-Louisville
Girls’ Golf: Sam Westfall, Madisonville-North Hopkins
[…]

06/28/22 – Official of the Year Winners Announced for Winter, Spring Sports

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 28, 2022

The Outstanding Officials of the Year for the 2021-22 winter and spring seasons are James Johns for basketball, Joseph Phillips for swimming & diving, Eric Friddle for wrestling, Ron Rawe for baseball, Randy Chapman for softball and Sadie Gambrel for track & field, while Paul Lewis was named the Larry G. […]

2022 State Softball All Tournament Team and Awards

2022 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Softball State Tournament presented by UK HealthCare All-Tournament Team

Isabella Persinger, Harrison County
Jillian Jeffries, Holy Cross (Louisville)
Kaytlan Kemp, Henderson County
Jessie Daniels, Daviess County
Ariel Fox, McCracken County
Zoe Smithson, McCracken County
Elly Bennett, South Warren
Carrie Enlow, South Warren
Ava Emmert, Lexington Catholic
Abby Hammond, Lexington Catholic
Lucy Nash, Lexington Catholic
Imari Golden, Ballard
Macy McCoy, Ballard
More

06/11/22- Kopser, Gloyd Named 2021-22 Midway/KHSAA Student-Athletes of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 11, 2022

The 2021-22 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year awards program culminated this week on the campus of Midway University, as Renae Kopser (Ryle) and Ben Gloyd (Mayfield) were recognized as the overall Student-Athletes of the Year.

Beginning in May of 2016, Midway University started presenting a Female Student-Athlete of the Year award at each KHSAA girls’ state championship event. The awards program was expanded in 2019-20 to include male student-athletes, with Midway honoring a deserving student-athlete in each of the 19 officially recognized KHSAA sports and sport-activities.

The awards are based on athletic and academic achievement as well as community service and leadership, with Midway choosing one overall male and female student-athlete of the year each academic year. School administrators, coaches and athletic directors nominate student-athletes online at KHSAA.org, and the nominees are voted upon by a closed panel consisting of representatives from Midway University.

2021-22 Midway University/KHSAA […]

06/08/22 – 2022 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Baseball, Softball State Tournaments to Conclude This Weekend

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 8, 2022

The 2022 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Baseball State Tournament presented by UK HealthCare and the 2022 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Softball State Tournament presented by UK HealthCare are each set to conclude at the Barnhart Family Athletics Complex on the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington this weekend.

Tickets to every game are available for purchase solely online at khsaatickets.org. Live webcasts of every game will be available on khsaa.tv.

The quarterfinals of the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Softball State Tournament at John Cropp Stadium will begin Friday at 11 a.m. ET, scheduled in three-hour increments through 8 p.m. The semifinals will take place Saturday at 11 a.m. and 5 p.m., followed by the state championship game on Sunday at 3 p.m.

The semifinals of the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Baseball State Tournament at Kentucky Proud Park are scheduled for 12:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. The state championship will be decided on Saturday at 7 […]

06/02/22 – Track & Field, Baseball, Softball Set to Kick Off in Lexington

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JUNE 2, 2022

The final state championship events of the 2021-22 school year are set to kick off on the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington this week with the 2022 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Track & Field State Championships, Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Baseball State Tournament and Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Softball State Tournament, each presented by UK HealthCare.

Tickets to all three events are available for purchase online only at khsaatickets.org. Live webcasts will be available on khsaa.tv.

Track & Field will start with 1A competition on Thursday and 2A competition on Friday before concluding with its 3A championships on Saturday. Baseball will play its first round over Thursday and Friday and its quarterfinals on Saturday, concluding with the final two rounds next weekend. Softball will commence Friday and Saturday before completing its final three rounds next weekend.

2022 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Track & Field State Championships

Schedule: https://khsaa.org/2022-state-track-meet-time-schedule/
Program: https://khsaa.org/Publications/Programs/20212022/Track/issue1/index.html

2022 State Softball Quarterfinals, Semifinals, Finals Schedule of Events

2022 State Softball First Round Schedule of Events

05/17/22 – Baseball, Softball State Tournament Draw Show Set for Thursday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: MAY 17, 2022

Pairings for the 2022 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Baseball State Tournament Presented by UK HealthCare and the 2022 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop Softball State Tournament Presented by UK HealthCare will be revealed Thursday, May 19, at 1:30 p.m. ET, live on KHSAA.tv from the KHSAA Office in Lexington.

The first round of the 2022 Baseball State Tournament will kick off Thursday, June 2, at Kentucky Proud Park on the University of Kentucky campus in Lexington. The opening round will wrap up the next day, followed by quarterfinal action on June 4. Both semifinal games will take place June 10, culminating with the state championship game on June 11.

The first round of the 2022 Softball State Tournament will start Friday, June 3, at UK’s John Cropp Stadium and conclude the following night. All four quarterfinal contests are scheduled for June 10, with the semifinal round tabbed for June 11 and the championship […]

05/10/22 – Baseball & Softball Season Clarification and Reminders

This communication is published to assist Athletic Directors, Baseball/Softball Coaches, and others in the member schools with regard to the end-of-season questions office staff has been receiving as we are approaching the end of the regular season during this first year with a revised schedule.

Prior to the beginning of the year, the Board of Control approved revisions to the structure of the beginning of the season (and the postseason in baseball) to maintain the nine-week regular season. There was no question, at the time, with regard to the last day of the regular season as it was to remain as published in Bylaw 23.

However, many schools tried to both utilize the earlier playing week and shift the end of regular season play. It is clear that in this first year of the adjusted calendar, some assumptions were made at the local level and there is some confusion at the local level on options […]

04/26/22 – Spalding Softball for Postseason

In collaboration with Spalding, and for 2022 ONLY, the requirement of the use of a Dudley softball is suspended due to continued issues in the supply chain of getting balls delivered in time for spring championships. Participating teams shall use any legally approved Dudley brand softball in all playoff games if inventory is available. The game balls used must contain the NFHS authenticating mark and must be a Dudley brand softball if inventory is available.

– KHSAA –

About the Kentucky High School Athletic Association
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association was organized in 1917 and is the agency designated by the Kentucky Department of Education to manage high school athletics in the Commonwealth. The Association is a voluntary nonprofit 501(c)3 organization made up of 286 member schools, both public and non-public. The KHSAA awards 215 state championships to 51 teams and 164 individuals in 13 sports and six sport-activities, funds catastrophic insurance […]

04/13/22 – Media Credentials Now Available for Spring Championships

Softball Tournament Results

The KHSAA’s online media credentialing system for spring sports championships (archery, esports, bass fishing, tennis, track & field, softball, baseball) is now live and can be accessed by going to credentials.khsaa.org.

2022 Clark’s Pump-N-Shop State Softball Tournament Info and Results

04/11/22 – Initial RPI Rankings, Stat Leader Reports Released for Baseball, Softball

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: APRIL 11, 2022

The first official KHSAA Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) Rankings and the initial stat leader reports for the 2022 baseball and softball seasons have been posted at KHSAA.org.

The RPI (https://khsaa.org/rpi-ratings-percentage-index/) is a tool developed for all team sports by using the official KHSAA/Riherds Scoreboard data. It is provided for a variety of reasons, including district tiebreaking and football bracketing, and as a means to increase publicity, interest and promotion. The KHSAA Board of Control has approved the RPI to be used as a tiebreaking/contest result mechanism to decide seeded district games not played by the deadline.

The RPI rankings are updated on an hourly basis but are not calculated for teams with missing scores from the previous day or earlier.

RPI measures a team’s strength relative to other teams, based largely on the strength of their schedules (margin of victory is not a factor). RPI is calculated […]

04/11/22 – Softball Nominations Sought for Female Midway/KHSAA Student Athlete-of-the-Year Award

The nomination process for the Midway University/KHSAA Female Student-Athlete-of-the-Year among Softball participants for 2021-2022 is now open.

This award is based on athletic and academic achievement as well as community service and leadership. The link to the application contains additional criteria and a form to nominate one participant from each 2021-2022 team. Nominations must come from a member school, but can be submitted by an administrator, guidance counselor, or coach. Nominations may only be submitted online at https://khsaa.org/ge35-midway-university-khsaa-female-student-athlete-of-the-year-nomination-form/

The winner will be announced early in the postseason and recognized at an awards banquet at Midway University on Monday, June 6. From the winners selected for each KHSAA championship, one student-athlete will be selected as the 2021-2022 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete-of-the-Year and announced at the banquet. All winners will also receive their honors at that event.

The deadline for nominations for the Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year in the sport of Softball is May 5, […]

03/07/22- UK HealthCare Expands Partnership with KHSAA, Continues Long-Term Commitment to State Championship Events

UK HealthCare and the KHSAA announced Monday that they have expanded their long-time partnership. UK HealthCare, the hospitals and clinics of the University of Kentucky, will serve as the official health care provider for the KHSAA. This move will see UK HealthCare take its title sponsorship of the KHSAA State Football Championship and extend the term of that arrangement, become the title sponsor for the Boys’ Sweet Sixteen® Basketball tournament and serve as presenting sponsor for other KHSAA sports and sport-activity championships.

“We’re honored to be the official health care provider for KHSAA,” said Mark F. Newman, M.D., UK executive vice president for health affairs. “At UK HealthCare, we are always looking to partner with organizations across the state to provide top-tier health care to every Kentuckian who needs it. We appreciate the opportunity to extend this care to the young athletes of Kentucky.”

UK HealthCare has […]

02/23/22 – Softball Online Rules Clinic Now Available

The 2022 Online Rules Clinic that is required for all head and assistant coaches and licensed officials in the sport of Softball is now available. The clinic is required for ALL coaches at each school, head or assistant, paid or unpaid.

As a reminder, here are some important dates about the upcoming season:

First Practice: February 15
First Contest: March 14
Maximum Number of Scrimmages: 2
Maximum Number of Games: 36
Districts: May begin as early as May 16, but no change from prior schedule is required. In addition, districts can vote by majority to play the earlier permitted weekend should they choose to do so.
Region: May begin as early as May 23, but no change from prior schedule is required. Region Tournaments should be concluded no later than June 2. In addition, regions can vote by majority to play prior to May 23rd should they choose to do so and must simply […]
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01/25/22 – Softball Season Clarifications

The KHSAA has received several inquiries and questions surrounding the recent Board of Control action for Softball. The action taken requires no changes or allowances in dates with the postseason. This action gives softball coaches the same flexibility as the baseball coaches to start both the regular season and the postseason early rounds earlier if that works for them. This does not result in any changes in allowable regular-season competition unless that is the wish of the schools in a district or region.

The below information should help clarify further on any dates.

Important dates for the 2022 Softball season:

First Date of Practice: Feb. 15 (No Change)
- Scrimmages may occur any time after the first official practice date
First Allowable Contest Date: March 14
District Tournaments: May begin as early as May 16, but no change from prior schedule is required. In addition, districts can vote by majority to play […]
More

01/21/22 – Revision to Start of FP Softball Season Coincides with Baseball Change (Revised 01/25/22)

The KHSAA Board of Control conducted its fourth regularly scheduled meeting of the 2021-22 academic year on Wednesday at the KHSAA Office and made some modifications to the playing and postseason schedule for baseball. This change on dates for regular season play will also be available to softball teams.

This action taken by the Board approved allowing the beginning of the season to be shifted one week earlier than the past couple of seasons. This start date returns the start of softball play to the middle of March and will allow for districts to begin their postseason tournaments earlier as well. This local flexibility in scheduling will also help with scheduling concerns around end-of-year activities as well as other conflicts. There was no change in the original First Round State and State Final Tournament dates which will give additional flexibility not only for districts but for regions to be creative with their schedule. These changes […]

01/19/22- Board of Control approves expansion of State Qualifiers and Teams, Realignment of Basketball Region 4, Declines to adopt Basketball Shot Clock and Expands Baseball and Softball Seasons

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: JAN. 19, 2022

The KHSAA Board of Control conducted its fourth regularly scheduled meeting of the 2021-22 academic year on Wednesday at the KHSAA Office, approving changes to the golf playoff format, effective fall 2022. The changes will increase the number of golfers advancing beyond the Regional tournament, and create a State First Round of play to expand postseason opportunities.

After Regional play, an additional round of golf, deemed the State First Round, will be conducted across three locations. Each State First Round will include four defined Regions with each Region advancing advance 20 golfers to the State First Round for a total of 80 golfers at each site.

In contrast to the previous format that advanced the winning team and seven at-large qualifiers, the newly adopted format will advance the top two teams and the top 10 individuals from non-advancing teams.

Thirty golfers from each State First Round site will advance […]

12/08/21- KHSAA Announces NFHS State Coach of the Year Honorees for 2020-21 Seasons

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 8, 2021

As part of its annual awards program, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Coaches Association recognizes Coach of the Year honorees from each state. Those named Coach of the Year at the state level then advance for consideration for Sectional Coach of the Year honors. Winners are chosen through a combination of their coaching accomplishments as well as their contributions outside of competition to help grow their respective sport. These awards are announced during the late fall following the recognized year.

The complete list of honorees from Kentucky for 2020-21 is:

Boys Baseball- Richard Arnold, Trinity (Louisville)
Boys Basketball- Kevin Listerman, Highlands
Girls Basketball- Aaron Beth, Marshall County
Boys Cross Country- Joe Buechler, Holy Cross (Louisville)
Girls Cross Country- Brian Allesandro, Highlands
Girls Field Hockey- Amy Elliott, Kentucky Country Day
Boys Football (11-Player)- Justin Haddix, Boyle County
Boys Golf- James Chaney, Trinity (Louisville)
Girls Golf- Aaron […]

10/08/21- Changes in COVID-19 RTA/RTP Implemented Per SMAC Guidance

As they have done since the start of the pandemic, the Sports Medicine Advisory Committee (SMAC) composed of Kentucky Medical Association (KMA) member doctors has held multiple special meetings to continually review the Return to Play Guidance and Recommendations (RTA/RTP). As a result of those continued meetings and review of current and evolving literature, changes have been made to the RTA/RTP and RTA/RTP form and those changes are located at https://khsaa.org/resources/Covid19/CovidResumptionofSports/ApprovedVersion/kma-covid-rtp-algorithm.pdf. For districts that have summarily adopted the “KHSAA” recommendations, these changes should be considered immediate.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, this group has been passionate advocates for the students being involved in sport due to the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual benefits, but also for safety in mitigating the spread of the virus. They are also keenly aware of the first priority of nearly everyone in the education community, that being a full year […]

07/13/21 – Spring Officials, Supervisor of the Year Winners Announced

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 13, 2021

Each year, the Kentucky High School Athletic Association honors the top officials for the 10 sports in which it licenses officials. Finalists in each sport are selected through a combination of not only on-field/court performance but local association activity and leadership, training efforts and the mentoring of newer officials.

One official in each sport is named “Outstanding Official of the Year” for his/her sport in appreciation of their dedication and service to schools and student-athletes across the state. Winners are selected following consultation with local assigning secretaries, veteran officials’ observers, coaches throughout the state and additional staff review.

The Outstanding Officials of the Year for the 2021 spring season are Jerry Mohr for track & field, Ronnie McGuffey for softball and John Carroll for baseball. Each finalist will receive a commemorative watch and certificate courtesy of the Officials Division Trust Fund, with the Official of the Year receiving an […]

07/12/21 – Player Equipment Changes Highlight Rules Revisions in High School Softball

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — Two significant player equipment changes involving the wearing of head coverings and beads were among the rules revisions approved in high school softball for the upcoming 2022 season.

These changes along with six other rules revisions were recommended by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) Softball Rules Committee at its June 14-16 meeting held in a virtual format and subsequently approved by the NFHS Board of Directors.

In Rule 3-2-5b, language that previously prohibited hard items to control the hair, including beads, has been removed from the rules book. The committee did not believe that the use of hard items, such as beads, presented an injury risk to other players. In contrast, the prohibition of such items has been interpreted as adversely affecting one’s cultural background.

In addition, head coverings worn for religious reasons in high school softball no longer will require prior approval from the respective state high […]

2021 State Softball All Tournament Team and Awards

2021 KHSAA State Softball

All‐Tournament Team
Emily Glasscock, Boyle County
Kayley Bruener, Pendleton County
Trinity Bridges, Lafayette
Lucy Patterson, Warren East
Kayla Sullivan, Lewis County
Emily Cole, Lewis County
Mikka Thompson, Green County
Katlyn Milby, Green County
Abby Newman, Daviess County
Miller Roberts, Daviess County
Jessie Daniels, Daviess County
Addisyn McNeil, Butler
Maria Peguero, Butler
Most Valuable Player – Kyndal Tinnell, Butler

06/17/21 – State Softball Tournament Resumes Friday at UK

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 15, 2021

The 2021 KHSAA State Softball Tournament (June 18-20) culminates this weekend as the final eight teams head to the University of Kentucky’s John Cropp Stadium. Tickets to the event are only available for purchase online and can be found at khsaatickets.org. There will be no onsite cash or credit card sales, and fans are encouraged to purchase their tickets in advance to expedite the admission process.

The KHSAA State Softball Tournament gets underway Friday morning with the first of four quarterfinal games at 11 a.m. as Boyle County takes on Lewis County. Daviess County will square off against Pendleton County in the second game of the day at 2 p.m., followed by Lafayette versus Butler at 5 p.m., and Warren East against Green County in the final game of the day at 8 p.m. Saturday’s semifinals will be played at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., with the championship […]

06/11/21 – Friday’s Softball Semi-State Games Postponed Until Sunday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 11, 2021

Friday’s softball semi-state games have been postponed until Sunday, June 13 at John Cropp Stadium due to severe weather conditions.

The rescheduled games will be played on Sunday as follows:

1:30 PM – Boyle County vs. Johnson Central (in progress)
3:30 PM – North Laurel vs. Lafayette
6:00 PM – Pendleton County vs. Boone County

Saturday’s games will be played as scheduled.

The updated schedule is available at https://scoreboard.12dt.com/scoreboard/khsaa/kyfp21/tournament_191200

– KHSAA –

About the Kentucky High School Athletic Association
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association was organized in 1917 and is the agency designated by the Kentucky Department of Education to manage high school athletics in the Commonwealth. The Association is a voluntary nonprofit 501(c)3 organization made up of 284 member schools both public and non-public. The KHSAA awards 215 state championships to 51 teams and 164 individuals in 13 sports and 6 sport-activities, funds catastrophic […]

06/07/21- Lehmkuhler, Smallwood Named Midway/KHSAA Student-Athletes of the Year

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 7, 2021

The 2020-21 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year awards program culminated on the campus of Midway University on Monday, as Claire Lehmkuhler (Woodford County) and Jackson Smallwood (Grant County) were recognized as the overall Student-Athletes of the Year.

2021 State Softball Championship Event Schedule

2021 Semi-State Softball Event Schedule

05/25/21 – Baseball and Softball State Tournament Draws Set for Thursday

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 25, 2021

The pairings for the 2021 KHSAA State Baseball and KHSAA State Softball Tournaments will be revealed Thursday, May 27 at 1 p.m. as the Draw Show will be conducted at the KHSAA offices and streamed online at KHSAA.tv.

The 2021 KHSAA State Baseball Tournament begins Saturday, June 12 with semi-state games played at local host sites. The opening round matchups were carried over from last year after the 2020 season was canceled due to the pandemic. Four sites will host the semi-state matchups with Region 1 vs. 4 and 3 vs. 2 played at Western Kentucky University, 5 vs. 8 and 7 vs. 6 at Elizabethtown, 9 vs. 12 and 11 vs. 10 at the University of Kentucky, and 13 vs. 16 and 15 vs. 14 at Morehead State.

The eight teams advancing from the opening round will travel to Legends Field (June 16-19) for the remainder of […]

05/24/21 – Softball District/Region Instructions Available

CLICK HERE TO READ DISTRICT/REGION INSTRUCTIONS MANUAL

Postseason instructions for the Softball District/Region Tournaments are now available on the KHSAA website. You can view these instructions by clicking on the following link:

– KHSAA –

About the Kentucky High School Athletic Association
The Kentucky High School Athletic Association was organized in 1917 and is the agency designated by the Kentucky Department of Education to manage high school athletics in the Commonwealth. The Association is a voluntary nonprofit 501(c)3 organization made up of 284 member schools both public and non-public. The KHSAA awards 215 state championships to 51 teams and 164 individuals in 13 sports and 6 sport-activities, funds catastrophic insurance coverage for its more than 106,000 rostered member school student-athletes, provides coaching education and […]

05/20/21 – Baseball & Softball Reminders

To assist administrators and coaches as we approach the postseason in baseball and softball, the office would like to provide the following reminders:

DISTRICT SEED GAMES
The last date to play a district-seeded game is Wednesday, May 26. For games that are not able to be played by this date, the winner/loser of the contest will be determined by the RPI as of May 26.

Baseball RPI Link
Softball RPI Link

TIE-BREAKER FOR DISTRICT SEEDS
We continue to get questions about seeding procedures and which game counts toward breaking a tie.

Since the January Board meeting, spring sports have been able to utilize the normal locally adopted seeding procedures. If after all of those locally adopted tie-breaking procedures are exhausted and there remains a tie, the COVID guidance shared states that the first game played would be the tie-breaking game.

[…]

05/11/21 – Baseball & Softball Reminders For Postseason

The KHSAA office has received several inquiries from member schools over the past few weeks on a variety of baseball/softball issues. We share with you the following reminders as we are approaching the postseason.

INTERRUPTED GAMES

All seeded district, district tournament, region tournament, and semi-state/state tournament games will be seven innings unless a run rule is in effect.
If the entire game cannot be played due to weather or other issues, it is a suspended game and shall be completed.
Any completion of a suspended game shall resume at the point of interruption including substitutions, ejections, etc.

DISTRICT SEEDING

All current seeding plans (including tie-breaking procedures) on file with the KHSAA for each district should be utilized.
Only in the case of COVID cancellations where the current seeding plan on file cannot be exercised, will the KHSAA policy in the COVID guidance be used.
As all are aware, the restrictions were much […]
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05/10/21- Senate Bill 128: Supplemental School Year Program Additional Guidance Related to NCAA

Information specific to this topic is now included in the compiled SB128 SSYP Informational post at https://bit.ly/3dUJ9us

04/23/21 – Initial RPI Rankings, Stat Leader Reports Released for Baseball and Softball

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 23, 2021

The first official KHSAA Ratings Percentage Index (RPI) Rankings and the initial stat leader reports for the 2021 baseball and softball seasons have been posted at KHSAA.org.

The RPI (https://khsaa.org/rpi-ratings-percentage-index/) is a tool developed for all team sports by using the official KHSAA/Riherds Scoreboard data. It is provided for a variety of reasons including district tiebreaking and football bracketing, and as a means to increase publicity, interest and promotion. The Board of Control has approved the RPI to be used as a tiebreaking/contest result mechanism to decide seeded district games not played by the deadline.

The RPI rankings are updated on an hourly basis, but are not calculated for teams with missing scores from the previous day or earlier. For the 2021 baseball and softball seasons, COVID cancellations are marked on a team’s schedule as a 0-0 tie but are not factored into the RPI calculations and rankings.

[…]

04/19/21 – Softball Nominations Sought for Female Midway Student Athlete-of-the-Year Award

Softball Tournament Results History

The nomination process for the Midway University/KHSAA Female Student-Athlete-of-the-Year among Softball participants for 2020-2021 is now open.

This award is based on athletic and academic achievement as well as community service and leadership. The link to the application contains additional criteria and a form to nominate one participant from each 2020-2021 team. Nominations must come from a member school, but can be submitted by an administrator, guidance counselor, or coach. Nominations may only be submitted online at https://khsaa.org/ge35-midway-university-khsaa-female-student-athlete-of-the-year-nomination-form/

The winner will be announced early in the postseason and recognized at an awards banquet at Midway University in early summer 2021. From the winners selected for each KHSAA championship, one student-athlete will be selected as the 2020-2021 Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete-of-the-Year and announced at the banquet. All winners will also receive their recognition at that banquet.

The deadline for nominations for the Midway University/KHSAA Student-Athlete of the Year in the sport of Softball is May 13, […]

2021 KHSAA State Softball Tournament Info and Results

04/12/21- Senate Bill 128: Supplemental School Year Program Guidance for Sports and Sport-Activities

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE COMPLETE DOCUMENT

For a complete list of the provisions and information related to the implementation of SB128 and the SSYP, please see the following document-

03/22/21 – NFHS Officials Part 2 Exam Now Online for BA, FP, TR

NFHS Part 2 exams for licensed officials in the sports of Baseball, Fast Pitch Softball, and Track & Field are now available online. The Part 2 exams will be open until Monday, April 5 at 11:59 p.m. (ET). After not being able to be on the field or track last spring we know everyone is excited about this season.

The tests will automatically close on April 5 at 11:59 p.m. (ET). Login at https://officials.khsaa.org/authorize/ to take the test. A minimum score of 80 on the exam is required to be considered for assignment to officiate postseason play. The exam is also used for advancements in levels of classification.

First-year officials are not required to take the exam, however, if any first-year official has completed licensing requirements, the test may be taken.

Any official determined to have been involved in the improper administration of the exam, including taking it for another official or having it […]

02/20/21- Interim Guidance Regarding Spring Sports Travel

Archery Blog Updates

While spring sports guidance is in final production, the office has received several inquiries regarding travel for spring sports. There will effectively be no changes from the winter sports guidance and each guidance document will include enhancements and sources available at the present time. The following represents the recommended guidance for the member schools and will be published in the guidance documents for all spring sports and sport-activities.

Restrictions/Recommendations On In-State Contests

While local decision-making is a hallmark relative to the management of Kentucky schools, there remain several recommendations relative to team travel in- and out-of-state. (CONSIDER)
This guidance is not intended to make local district decisions less or more difficult or provide an arbitrary decision path for such consideration, but rather to ensure that all issues are considered as travel is contemplated. (CONSIDER)
This guidance and similar guidance from the KHSAA, KDE and KDPH is aimed at mitigating the risk of COVID-19 exposure […]
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02/22/21 – Softball Online Rules Clinic Now Available

The 2021 Online Rules Clinic that is required for all head and assistant coaches and licensed officials in the sport of Softball is now available. The clinic is required for ALL coaches at each school, head or assistant, paid or unpaid.

As a reminder, here are some important dates about the upcoming season:

First Practice: February 22
First Contest: March 29
Maximum Number of Scrimmages: 2
Maximum Number of Games: 36
District: May 31 – June 5 (play could begin on 5/29)
Region: June 7 – June 11 (play could begin on 6/5)
Semi-State: June 12
Tentative State Dates: June 18-20

CLINIC FOR HEAD AND ASSISTANT COACHES

For member schools, the clinics are located on the School Log-in Page. To access the clinic, log in to http://schools.khsaa.org and — under the section entitled Rules Clinics — click on the link entitled “View Online Rules Clinics“.

February 22 – April 20: the […]
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01/21/21 – Board of Control Reviews Status of Winter and Spring Sports

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 21, 2021

The Board of Control held its fourth regularly-scheduled meeting of the 2020-21 academic year on Thursday at the KHSAA Office, conducting a thorough status review of ongoing operations and championship plans. Staff provided an overview of all winter and spring sports and sport-activities, while outlining considerations and options for the winter events that will be presented for final review at the Board’s next meeting on Feb. 17.

“Today’s meeting provided an opportunity to update the Board of Control and our constituency on the various issues and COVID-19 mitigations facing each of our sports and sport-activities,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “Circumstances change rapidly during the pandemic but we hope to have a clearer picture for how we can proceed with our winter championships when the Board next meets in February.”

Included in the staff’s report on basketball, was a preliminary discussion on ticketing to the 2021 Boys’ and Girls’ […]

10/02/20 – NFHS Learning Center Adds New Officiating Courses for Soccer, Track and Field

INDIANAPOLIS, IN — In support of its commitment to high school officials’ education, the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS) has announced two new free courses have been published to the online NFHS Learning Center – “Officiating Soccer: Pre-Game Conference for Officials” and “Officiating Track and Field.”

Designed as a complement to two other soccer officiating courses on the Learning Center, “Officiating Soccer: Pre-Game Conference for Officials” focuses on teaching referees the proper protocols to be carried out ahead of each contest. Key aspects include the importance of advance communication between officials, field inspections, and discussing relevant game-time topics and recent rule changes. Effectively executing the pre-game conference allows each referee to work cohesively with his or her team and be as informed and observant as possible during play.

“The pre-game conference for officials in the game of soccer serves to familiarize the contest officials with the host of responsibilities they have to […]

07/27/20 – Student-Athlete Participation Rises for the 3rd Straight Year to New Record Totals

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 27, 2020

Student-athlete participation increased for the third-straight year in Kentucky High School Athletic Association sports and sport-activities to reach record levels in 2019-20. A total of 107,166 rostered participants competed across the KHSAA’s 13 sports and six sport-activities according to information submitted by the membership, surpassing last year’s then-record total of 106,931. Football was one of 12 offerings to show an increase from the previous year, breaking a trend of declining participation for the last three years by adding 202 new student-athletes [freshmen, JV, varsity] during the 2019-20 season to remain the state’s most popular sport with 13,277 rostered participants.

“The continued rise in student-athlete participation the last three years emphasizes the importance of school-based athletics in the fabric of the educational experience for these young adults,” said KHSAA Commissioner Julian Tackett. “The importance of these coach-to-student and student-to-student relationships is only amplified in these uncertain times, as we strive […]

06/18/20 – NFHS to Halt Printing of Spring Sports Rules Publications; 2020 Rules to be Used in 2021 Season