Seven Northern Kentucky softball players earn all-state honors

The Kentucky Softball Coaches Association announced its all-state teams Sunday evening.

Seven Northern Kentucky players earned all-state honors, though none were named to the first team in their class.

The association splits the state into three classes that mirror the track and cross country alignment in the Kentucky High School Athletic Association for the all-state teams.

Only members of the association can vote on the awards.

Bishop Brossart junior Brooke Shewmaker was the only local player on the 1A all-state team. She was named second team after hitting .565 with three home runs, 42 runs scored and 30 stolen bases for the Mustangs, who were 12-18 and 37th District runner-up.

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Two Highlands players were named all-state on the 2A selections.

Highlands senior Anna Greenwell was named second team after leading the Bluebirds to their first Ninth Region championship since 2016.

Greenwell will play on the East senior all-star squad this weekend in Bowling Green, hoping to win a spot on the Kentucky all-star team that faces Tennessee later this month.

Pitcher Kennedy Baioni was named honorable mention for the Bluebirds, who finished 26-15 and lost to South Warren in the state round of 16 at the University of Kentucky June 4.

Pendleton County junior Kayley Bruener was named second team all-state in 2A after leading the Wildcats to a 20-10 record and the 38th District championship. Pendleton, last year’s 10th Region champion, was 10th Region runner-up earlier this month.

Bruener was 16-6 in the circle with a 1.70 ERA and 211 strikeouts in 139 innings. She hit .345 at the plate as well.

Three local players were honorable mention in 3A: Grant County’s Brianna Knochelman, Cooper’s Dylan Scott and Dixie Heights’ Bri Patsel.

Patsel, a senior, led the Colonels to a 23-7 record, 34th District championship and Ninth Region runner-up to Highlands. She hit. 531 with three home runs, 36 runs scored and 14 steals. She also played second base.

Scott led Cooper to a 25-11 record and the Ninth Region semifinals. She hit .465 with 44 runs scored and 11 steals while playing shortstop.

Knochelman, just a freshman, led the Braves to an 18-13 record, 32nd District championship, and Eighth Region runner-up. She was 15-8 in the circle with a 1.19 ERA and 311 strikeouts in 152 innings, more than two Ks per frame.