PIKEVILLE – Dedication, hard work and love of the game carried Belfry senior pitcher Kailee Rash to the top of the mountain.
She pitched the Lady Pirates to 22 of their 23 wins this season. Rash struck out 194 batters in 186 innings on the mound and finished with a 2.52 earned run average (ERA).
The Ohio Valley University signee has capped her four-year playing career by being named Mountain Top Sports’ (MtM) Player of the Year in Kentucky high school softball.
The Belfry senior had 35 hits, including 14 doubles and one triple, and finished with a .343 batting average. Rash drove in 44 runs. She finished with a mound record of 22-7.
Rash edged out Johnson Central sophomore pitcher Chloe Vanhoose for the honor. Vanhoose, one of the region’s top up and coming stars, finished with 234 strikeouts in 158 innings of work. She ended the season 20-7 and tossed a 1.47 ERA.
Vanhoose had 49 hits, with 10 doubles, one triple and a home run, while hitting .377. She had 30 RBIs.
Other pitched named to the first team included Pikeville freshman Emily Ford and Shelby Valley sophomore Lily Napier.
First-team catchers are Pike Central sophomore Sydnee Lowe ad Lawrence County sophomore Abby Fletcher.
Infielders include Pikeville and Lawrence County eighth-graders Randi Delong and Kensley Feltner, East Ridge and Letcher Central seniors Kelsi Slone and Alyssa Franklin, Pike Central and Sheldon Clark juniors Skylar Stumbo and Paige Maynard.
Outfielders named are Belfry, Johnson Central and Magoffin County seniors Emily Deaton, Alaina Castle and Kennedi Stacy, along with Shelby Valley junior Taylor Newsome.
Utility picks are Johnson Central senior Alyssa Hedrick, Paintsville senior Jordan Mulcahy, Pikeville freshman Kendal Hall and Floyd Central sophomore Katie Moore.
Pike Central junior pitcher Kayleigh Thomas was named captain of the second team.
Meanwhile, PCC head coach Derrick Newsome was named MtM Coach of the Year after guiding the Lady Hawks to the school’s first-ever appearance in the 15th Region championship game.
Here is a look at the Mountain Top Sports All-Area Softball Teams:
Coach of the Year: Derrick Newsome, Pike Central
Player of the Year: Kailee Rash, Belfry
FIRST TEAM
P – Chloe Vanhoose, So., Johnson Central
P – Kailee Rash, Sr., Belfry (Capt.)
P – Emily Ford, Fr., Pikeville
P – Lily Napier, So., Shelby Valley
C – Sydnee Lowe, So., Pike Central
C – Abby Fletcher, So., Lawrence County
INF – Randi Delong, 8th, Pikeville
INF – Kensley Feltner, 8th, Lawrence County
INF – Kelsi Slone, Sr., East Ridge
INF – Skylar Stumbo, Jr., Pike Central
INF – Paige Maynard, Jr., Sheldon Clark
INF – Alyssa Franklin, Sr., Letcher Central
OUT – Emily Deaton, Sr., Belfry
OUT – Alaina Castle, Sr., Johnson Central
OUT – Taylor Newsome, Jr., Shelby Valley
OUT – Kennedi Stacy, Sr., Magoffin County
UTIL – Alyssa Hedrick, Sr., Johnson Central
UTIL – Jordyn Mulcahy, Sr., Paintsville
UTIL – Kendal Hall, Fr., Pikeville
UTIL – Katie Moore, So., Floyd Central
SECOND TEAM
P – Anna Keeton, Sr., Paintsville
P – Kayleigh Thomas, Jr., Pike Central (Capt.)
P – Gracie Presley, Sr., Sheldon Clark
P – Allie Triplett, 8th, Lawrence County
C – Bailey Joe Stiltner, Sr., Pikeville
C – Natalie Fite, 8th, Belfry
INF – Paula Dotson, Sr., Belfry
INF – Katelyn Bingham, 8th, Prestonsburg
INF – Ariel Mounts, Sr., Belfry
INF – Danielle Prater, Jr., Phelps
INF – Chloe Neece, Jr., Pike Central
INF – Abby Meade, Sr., Letcher Central
OUT – Brooke Stumbo, Jr., Floyd Central
OUT – Brittany Thompson, Fr, Sheldon Clark
OUT – Bailey Birchfield, Jr., Pike Central
OUT – Kelcie Adams, Fr., Pikeville
UTIL – Olivia Whitfield, Sr., Pikeville
UTIL – Linzee Phillips, Fr., Belfry
UTIL – McKenzie Methex, Jr., Lawrence County
UTIL – Clara Blair, Fr., Paintsville
SPECIAL HONORABLE MENTION:
Lauryn Watkins, Amelia Blackburn, Betsy Layne; Kyra Looney, Bethany Tackett, Courtney Standifur, Haley Parks, East Ridge; Grace Martin, Floyd Central; Riley Fleming, Alexis Richie, Abigail Bentley, Jenkins; Morgan Hopson, Abby Fannin, Katelyn Fitch, Johnson Central; McKennah Johnson, Kayte Morgan, Abigail McDougal, Grace McDougal, Letcher Central; Emilee Bailey, Erin Bolen, Presley Smith, Magoffin County; Elizabeth Williams, Abigail Williams, Paintsville; Kacie Dotson, Dailey Prater, Sierra Sincell, Phelps; Maddie Vaughn, Summer Marcum, Pike Central; Alison Campbell, Haylee Niece, Megan Music, Prestonsburg; Emalee Tackett, Angel Newsome, Maggie Hall, Tori Hampton, Shelby Valley; Brittany Thompson, Savannah Young, Fallyne Wefenstette, Sheldon Clark.
(Photo of Kailee Rash courtesy of Ray Justice Photography)