Homestanding Bowling Green held off Warren East for an 8-7 baseball victory Monday.

Evan Schallert went 3-for-4 with a triple, Eli Kries was 2-for-3 with a pair of RBIs, Landon Gilbert was 2-for-3 with a double and an RBI, Harrison Yates was 2-for-3 with an RBI, Grayson Newman tallied two RBIs and Markell Yates chipped in with an RBI for the Purples.

Trey Duff earned the win with a scoreless inning of relief, striking out one batter.

Bowling Green (19-10) was scheduled to play at Barren County on Tuesday.

Carter Bessette was 2-for-3 with an RBI, William Alexander and Brenden Bratcher each went 2-for-4 with an RBI, Carson Choate, Trace Cunningham and Matthew Escalera notched one RBI apiece, and Kavien Hinton had a double for the Raiders in the loss.

Warren East (8-18) was set to visit Edmonson County on Tuesday.

South Warren 6, Adair County 5

Grey Pearson drove in two runs to help visiting South Warren earn a 6-5 win against Adair County on Monday.

Griffin Rardin went 2-for-4, Jaxen Decker tallied a double and an RBI, and Brandon Perkins and Ty Croghan each added an RBI for the Spartans.

Camden Page started on the mound and earned the win, allowing two runs (one earned) off two hits and a walk over five innings. He struck out four.

South Warren (23-7) was set to host Logan County on Tuesday.

Softball

Warren Central 5, McLean County 3

Parker Hawks went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs to pace host Warren Central to a 5-3 win against McLean County on Monday.

Shyanne Pasley was 2-for-3 with a triple, Haylie Baxter was 2-for-3 with an RBI, Adreana Salvador was 2-for-4 with an RBI, Adrianna Olivencia notched a double and an RBI, and Addison Walcher also added a double for the Lady Dragons.

Salvador earned the complete-game win after allowing three runs over seven innings. She struck out 18.

Warren Central (4-15) hosts Edmonson County on Thursday.

Bowling Green 10, Owensboro 7

Addison Darnall went 4-for-4 with a double and two RBIs to spark homestanding Bowling Green to a 10-7 win against Owensboro on Monday.

Emma Lindsey was 3-for-5 with three RBIs, Natalie Klein went 3-for-3 with a double and two RBIs, Caroline Sharber drove in two runs and Amparo DeJesus finished with a double and an RBI.

Ansley Turner earned the win in relief, allowing one run over 3 1/3 innings. She struck out six.

Bowling Green (17-12) visits Franklin-Simpson on Thursday.

Warren East 18, Logan County 3

Kennedy Lawson went 4-for-4 with four RBIs to boost visiting Warren East to an 18-3 win in five innings against Logan County on Monday.

Lydia Jones was 2-for-4 with a double and five RBIs, Jordan Brooks went 3-for-4 with a double, Addison Lee was 3-for-5 with a double and two RBIs, Autumn Brooks went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI, Kaylee Jones was 2-for-2 with two RBIs, Tristen Lindsey went 2-for-4, Avery Gidcumb drove in two runs and Ashley Parson added an RBI for the Lady Raiders.

Lindsey pitched all five innings for the win, allowing three runs while striking out one.

Warren East (20-10) was scheduled to host Cumberland County on Tuesday.

Logan County (9-14) was set to visit Butler County on Tuesday.

ACS 12, Glasgow 3

Jacie Rice went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs to lift host Allen County-Scottsville to a 12-3 win against District 15 rival Glasgow on Monday.

Addison Ausbrooks was 2-for-4 with a double and two RBIs, Ally Anderson went 2-for-5 with an RBI, Payton Hopkins homered and drove in two runs, and Aubrey Williams also added an RBI for the Lady Patriots.

Ausbrooks earned the win after allowing three runs (one earned) over 4 2/3 innings. She struck out three. Brooklyn Oliver earned the save after pitching 2 1/3 scoreless innings with five strikeouts.

ACS (25-3 overall, 5-0 District 15) was slated to host district rival Barren County on Tuesday.

Gracie Walker tallied an RBI for Glasgow (5-17, 0-6), which was set to visit Edmonson County on Tuesday.

Ohio County 5, Butler County 2

Visiting Butler County dropped a 5-2 decision to Ohio County on Monday.

Madison Jones went 2-for-2 with a double and two RBIs, and Emmalin Mode also notched a double for the Lady Bears in the loss.

Butler County (8-22) was scheduled to host Logan County on Tuesday.

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Western Kentucky’s football program had five players named to the 2025 Kentucky Collegiate All-Commonwealth Team, the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame announced Tuesday.

The Hilltoppers are represented by quarterback Maverick McIvor, offensive lineman Marshall Jackson, running back La’Vell Wright, linebacker Anthony Brackenridge and defensive back Demarko Williams.

Former Glasgow High School standout John Carter Myers, who now plays for Georgetown College, was also named to the team.

The All-Commonwealth Team serves as a preseason recognition for Kentucky’s top college football performers on the field and in the classroom and values leadership ability and dedication to the team in addition to gridiron glory.

“For the 12th consecutive year, we’re excited to recognize these outstanding young men from the 17 Kentucky colleges and universities that play football,” Frank Minnifield, executive director of the Kentucky Pro Football Hall of Fame, said in a news release. “Not only do they lead their football teams on the field and in the classrooms, but they are also the future leaders of their communities across Kentucky and around the country.”

McIvor highlights a large group of newcomers to the WKU football program this offseason. The quarterback transferred to WKU after spending three seasons at Abilene Christian, where he was one of the top players at the FCS level. Over three seasons with the Wildcats, he threw for 8,012 yards and 63 touchdowns on 655-of-1089 passing with 21 interceptions. During his final season at Abilene Christian in 2024, the native of San Angelo, Texas, threw for 3,828 yards and 30 touchdowns to seven interceptions on 312-of-499 passing – an average of 294.5 yards through the air per game – while leading his team to the United Athletic Conference title and berth in the FCS Playoffs, where the Wildcats beat Northern Arizona in their first game. He was named a Second Team All-American by FCS Football Central, and was an All-UAC First Team selection at quarterback.

McIvor ranked fourth in the FCS in total passing yards, fifth in passing yards per game, eighth in total offense, sixth in passing touchdowns, ninth in points responsible for, fourth in total completions and seventh in completions per game. In 2023, he posted 17 touchdowns and 1,972 yards with just five interceptions, and in his first year with the program, McIvor had 2,212 yards and 16 touchdowns while completing 60% of his passes. He arrived at Abilene Christian after three seasons at Texas Tech, where he did not see any game action.

Jackson, a Brandenburg native who prepped at Meade County High School, has been a starter for the Hilltoppers the past two seasons at tackle. Jackson started all 14 games for WKU at right tackle during the 2024 season, helping anchor the offensive line for the top passing offense in Conference USA. He was named an All-Conference USA Second Team Offense selection, as voted upon by the league’s head coaches, and was named a 2024 Phil Steele Postseason CUSA All-Conference Third Team Offense honoree at offensive tackle.

Wright, a Louisville native who prepped at North Hardin High School, joined the Hilltoppers during the offseason after one season at Austin Peay. He led the Governors in rushing, posting 609 yards and five touchdowns on 115 attempts in 10 games, while also tallying five receptions for 32 yards. Prior to his arrival in Clarksville, Tennessee, Wright spent three seasons at Kentucky, where he appeared in 17 games at running back. He missed the 2023 season due to injury, but played in all 13 games for the Wildcats in 2022 as a redshirt freshman. He finished the season with 39 carries for 130 yards and six receptions for 28 yards. He played in four games in 2021 and redshirted. He posted 118 yards and a touchdown on nine carries that season as a true freshman.

Brackenridge enters his fourth season at WKU. He played in 11 games last year before suffering a season-ending injury in the Nov. 23 game at Liberty. He started WKU’s first five games of the 2024 season at linebacker, and he totaled 23 tackles on the season. Brackenridge had 0.5 tackles for loss, two quarterback hurries, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Williams enters his second season at WKU in 2025. He played in 12 games with 11 starts during his first season on The Hill, and he finished the season with 37 total tackles, including 1.5 for loss, a pair of interceptions and a pass breakup.

The Hilltoppers are coming off an 8-6 2024 season that saw the team play in the CUSA Championship Game and the Boca Raton Bowl.

The Hilltoppers are scheduled to open the 2025 season with a Week 0 CUSA game against Sam Houston on Aug. 23, at Houchens-Smith Stadium.

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The Bowling Green girls’ lacrosse team overcame a slow start to remain unbeaten and claim the Region 1 crown with a 12-6 win over South Warren in Monday’s championship game at Bowling Green Junior High School.

Bowling Green (11-0) overcame a slow start with a dominant second half to win the first ever KHSAA Region 1 title and earn a home game in the opening round of the state tournament.

“I’m really proud of the way the girls played,” BG coach Lisa Correa said. “We got down a little bit early and they just kept fighting. We made a few adjustments and I think that really helped out on the field.”

Bowling Green took a 1-0 lead in the first minute on a goal from Piper Morton, but South Warren (8-7) quickly answered with two goals from Jordynn Brooks to take the lead midway through the first quarter.

Katie Blair White tied the score with her first goal of the night, but the Spartans were able to move back in front 3-2 when Lauren Hamilton scored off an assist from Honette Irakiza late in the first.

The Spartans opened the second with two goals from Carly Scarborough in a 46-second span to give South Warren a 5-2 advantage with 10:49 left in the first half. The flurry prompted a timeout from Correa.

“I think they were just too excited,” Correa said. “We made some defensive adjustments and that really helped. They scored five in the first half and one in the second. I have to credit the defense to that change. They really stepped up.”

BG’s comeback began with goals from White and Boyd in a 24-second span midway through the second quarter. The score remained 5-4 until right before halftime when White was able to beat the clock and tie the score with 1.7 seconds remaining.

“One person gets it going and I feel like that fires up everyone else on the team,” White said. “We all build off each other and gain confidence that way. Once we get going our team feeds off the energy and it gets easier to score.”

Bowling Green was able to take that momentum into the second half. Macy Lindsey scored twice to push the lead to 8-5. After Scarborough scored her third goal of the night to trim the deficit to two, Bowling Green scored four goals in the final three minutes of the third – including White beating the horn again with a goal with 2.8 seconds left in the quarter.

The Lady Purples added one more goal from Boyd in the opening minutes of the fourth.

White finished with five goals for Bowling Green, while Boyd added four goals.

Scarborough’s three-goal night led South Warren.

“We played our best in that first half and unfortunately we just blew it,” South Warren coach Dionna Bartos said. “They came back with the lead and we couldn’t get our ground back up.

“I definitely believe in my girls. We have a shot. They definitely proved it tonight in the first half. We’ve been working hard and I am grateful to have the opportunity to keep pursuing in the playoffs.”

Both teams advance to the state tournament. South Warren will play at Mercy Academy, while Bowling Green host DuPont Manual.

“They’ve got four seniors that are a force,” Correa said. “We will see how we do on Wednesday and I think they are going to be excited to host.”

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It may not seem like it, but it has now been 11 years since Aaron Harrison had that streak of three straight game-winning shots for Kentucky in NCAA Tournament play that got Kentucky to the national championship game.

It started in the NCAA Sweet 16 when Harrison hit a 3-pointer from the corner with 39 seconds to play to put UK ahead to stay in a 74-69 win over Louisville. The next game against Michigan in the Elite Eight he did it again, but this time only 2.3 seconds remained when he connected from deep to give UK a 75-72 win.

But that wasn’t enough. In the Final Four against Wisconsin, he did it with 5.7 seconds left to beat the Badgers 74-73.

Lexington Herald-Leader columnist Mark Story ranked those as three of the top 10 clutch shots in Kentucky basketball history and they came in three straight games.

Now Harrison and his twin brother, Andrew, are back playing for LaFamilia, Kentucky’s alumni team playing in the TBT chasing the $1 million purse just like they were as starters for the 2014 and 2015 Final Four teams.

Last year Kentucky had a successful TBT debut that included an intense quarterfinal win over The Ville, Louisville’s alumni team, in front of over 13,000 fans in Freedom Hall — the largest crowd in TBT history.

As entertaining as the June matchup was for both Kentucky and Louisville fans, the intense battle was just as important to the Harrisons.

“I think that was the highlight of the tournament, honestly. That was so much fun,” Aaron Harrison said during a call to promote this year’s event. “As a professional, you don’t really get to play that many games with just pride on the line. It’s about money or whatever.”

This game was different and will be again if both LaFamilia and The Ville advance.

“That was just a pure rivalry, and it was just so much fun to be a part of that again,” Aaron Harrison said. “I think that was just like the highlight of my whole summer. I don’t even think I scored that game, but it was just so much fun, like so much energy in there. Just reminded me of being back in school playing them. It was a lot of fun.”

Playing against the Harrisons has not been fun for Louisville. Kentucky was 3-0 against the Cardinals when the Harrisons were at UK and then the twins helped UK beat the Cards again in the TBT.

“I never played in the NBA Finals, but I think that it may be just as intense,” Aaron said about the rivalry. “I wouldn’t say I would compare the NBA Finals to that, just because it’s not as personal. I think people take it so personal between us and Louisville that I think it’s a different type of intensity.

“I wouldn’t compare it to anything, honestly. I think it’s right up there with any rivalry in sports, any two groups of people that don’t like each other. It’s one of the better rivalries in the world, I think.”

If the teams do advance and play again this summer, the game once again will be in Freedom Hall because The Ville presold 4,000 TBT tickets faster than any other team to earn hosting rights.

And if the rematch does happen, Kentucky will be just as inspired to win again as ever.

“Guys that I played with on my team, for the most part, have never lost to Louisville,” Andrew Harrison said. “I think that we want to keep it that way. Keep the dominance going.”

“We’re focused on winning though, we’re not focusing on them,” Aaron Harrison added.“They might not make it to where we are.”

Kentucky will host the Lexington Regional July 18-22 but this year it will be in Memorial Coliseum, not Rupp Arena. The TBT quarterfinals will be July 29, semifinals July 31 and the $1 million championship game Aug. 3.

Andrew Harrison averaged 11.6 points per game in TBT play last year and hit the game-winning 3-pointer against The Ville in the quarterfinals. Aaron Harrison averaged 7.0 points per game and knocked down three or more 3-pointers in multiple games during the 2024 TBT.

•••

Once Ansley Almonor decided to transfer from Fairleigh Dickinson to Kentucky for his senior basketball season, Andreya Flores knew she was going to follow her boyfriend to Lexington.

Flores, a California native, had been a three-year starter on the Fairleigh Dickinson softball team but had her career ended her junior season in 2024 by a knee injury.

They are both “ big sports fans” who thought they understood the passion of Kentucky basketball fans when they came to UK, but were still surprised at the support BBN provided.

“We knew Lexington bled blue and that basketball was a huge part of fans’ lives, which is a little different from where I am from. We have a lot of professional teams (In California) and I am a huge (Los Angeles) Angels fan and have been going to games since I was a little girl,” Flores said. “However, I never experienced love like this for a college team.

“It was quite an experience this year to see how much Kentucky fans care about basketball and we really embraced that. It makes it a whole lot easier to play for someone when you know this (basketball) is their life.”

Flores did an interview on X (formerly Twitter) with some fans before Almonor committed to Kentucky and got “some good, some bad” reaction.

“But here fans have always welcomed me. They were always checking on me and offering to help if I needed it,” she said. “And the fans definitely loved him, which has been awesome.

“You can tell fans appreciate his attitude. He came from a school (Fairleigh Dickinson) where you are the guy and now he just has to embrace a team role. He did that to the best of his ability.

“He didn’t complain about anything. He didn’t even complain to me. He is very grateful to God for just the opportunity to be at Kentucky. If something did not go his way, he just says it is God’s plan and goes about his business.”

Almonor graduated from UK last week – “I always wanted to be a kid that was able to play for Kentucky. To say I’m an alumni from this university, it’s a great feeling” – and now is ready to start training for what professional basketball opportunities might arise.

“I am going to California for an internship and then we will reconnect wherever he goes and let him follow his dream,” Flores said.

•••

The University of Kentucky placed life-sized statues outside of Commonwealth Stadium to honor the first four African-American players – Nate Northington, Greg Page, Wilbur Hackett and Houston Hogg – to play football at the school.

Recently Tom Leach, play-by-play voice on the UK Radio Network for Kentucky football and basketball, suggested on “The Leach Report” that it might be time for basketball to do something similar after a history lesson from former UK All-American Jack Givens, his partner on UK basketball broadcasts.

Givens was sharing memories of his former UK teammate Larry Johnson after Johnson’s passing. He talked about what Johnson meant on and off the court to him and others in the 1970s at UK.

“One of the things I talked about in my book (“They Call Me Goose: My Life in Kentucky Basketball and Beyond”) was a very historic moment for Kentucky basketball. It probably doesn’t mean anything now, but back in those days when we were here it meant a lot,” Givens told Leach.

During Givens’ sophomore season in 1975-76, Kentucky played five African-American players – Johnson, Givens, James Lee, Reggie Warford and Merion Haskins – at the same time. It was the first time that had ever happened.

“I know today that does not probably seem like much, but it was then. Times were changing and changing in a positive way,” Givens said. “But to be able to say it was the first at anything like that was hugely important in Kentucky basketball history. LJ (Larry Johnson) was a part of that, so I just thought I would throw in that significant moment in UK basketball history.”

Leach called it “tremendously significant” when he suggested a statue would be a fitting tribute. He also pointed out it recognized a wide area since Givens and Lee were from Lexington while Johnson from Morganfield, Haskins from Campbellsville and Warford from Drakesboro. Warford was also the first African-American basketball player to graduate from UK.

•••

Former Kentucky cornerback Maxwell Hairston admitted after the Buffalo Bills made him a first-round NFL draft pick that his idol for a long time had been Jalen Ramsey, a seven-time Pro Bowl cornerback who he could now compete against.

Hairston said there was one thing he always loved about Ramsey’s play.

“I love Jalen Ramsey because he plays with so much swagger. You knew he was that guy. You knew not to try him. And I just want to be able to go out there with that same confidence, knowing that if you come at me, it’s not 50-50, that’s my ball,” Hairston said.

“I’m the type of player where I think I have to catch like a receiver because when that ball is in the air, I’m gonna adjust like a receiver and take it back to the house (end zone). And my mindset when I do get an interception is score, make it easy on the offense.”

Hairston returned three of his six interceptions at Kentucky for touchdowns to tie the school record set by Dallas Owens from 1974-77.

The Kentucky standout knows he is fortunate to be playing for Buffalo, a Super Bowl contender led by quarterback Josh Allen. He’ll also rejoin running back Ray Davis, who made a big impression at Buffalo as a rookie in 2024.

“I feel like this team is a Super Bowl ready team, and we’re gonna go out there and attack it. I actually got to watch them play when they came to Detroit (last year). Ray Davis gave me some tickets, and I saw Josh Allen go out there and put on a master class,” Hairston said.

“I was like, ‘Hey, I wouldn’t mind that being my quarterback.’ I’m super excited and super prepared to get to work with him.”

•••

Quote of the Week: “I never got to watch my dad play, but he was still moving very quickly on the court against his kids in his 40s and 50s, so I can only imagine how quick he was in college. RIP to my amazing dad. He will always be the greatest in my eyes,” Laurie Estridge on the passing of her father Larry Johnson, one of the first African-American players to play at Kentucky.

Quote of the Week 2: “I’m all in. I have one more year of eligibility, but my goal is to play in the NBA, so I’m not doing this process one foot in, one foot out,” Kentucky junior Otega Oweh to Aaron Fentress of OregonLive, on his NBA tryout process.

Quote of the Week 3: “Why is Kentucky-Louisville on a Tuesday night in early November? This has Saturday prime time December basketball written all over it. November 11 is the first game of the season for both teams,” Hall of Fame sportswriter Dick “Hoops” Weiss, on the early season date for the Battle of the Bluegrass.

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The South Warren boys’ lacrosse team finally got a chance to show what it could look like at full strength – the result was a resounding 20-3 win over Greenwood in the Region 1 championship on Monday at Bowling Green Junior High.

South Warren (6-5) had a balanced attack, with a trio of players scoring five goals and a suffocating defense to cruise to the win. The Spartans previously competed as a club team but now are in the record books as the program’s first ever KHSAA region title winner.

“It means a lot for this program,” South Warren coach Dale Bird said. “These kids have worked hard starting from middle school now into high school. We’ve been club for seven years and now finally having this opportunity, it feels great.

“They really worked through adversity this year. They battled through injuries. It was a difficult season trying to fit guys into places they typically don’t play. I think that made us stronger and better as a team.”

Haydon Bird, who had five goals in the win, was one of the players finally back on the field.

“This is our first game where everybody that was on the roster at the start is in the game,” Haydon Bird said. “I broke my collarbone right before the start of the season, then we just got the injury bug. All that time over the two months we just healed up and got ready for this.”

South Warren, which beat Greenwood 7-2 and 9-5 in the regular season, set the tone with a strong first quarter – and built from there.

Greenwood (8-5) took a 1-0 lead 61 seconds in on a goal from Hunter Herman, before South Warren took control. The Spartans scored four times in an 84-second span – including a pair of goals from Mason Black – to surge in front 4-1 less than two minutes in.

Kerrick Hanlon’s goal with 6:35 left in the first quarter trimmed the deficit to 4-2, but South Warren closed the first with three goals – two from Bird – to push the margin to 7-2.

Bird opened the scoring less than a minute into the second, his fourth of the day, as the Spartans continued to pull away – building a 13-2 halftime lead.

The run continued in the second half, with South Warren adding six more goals in the third. Meyer Gable’s goal in the fourth completed a 16-0 run by the Spartans, with Greenwood’s Jacob Gray capping the scoring.

Bird, Black and Sid Stewart finished with five goals each for South Warren.

“When there are pieces missing to the puzzle that are valuable to the team, I think people underestimate what that actually makes your team,” Dale Bird said. “We showed that today.”

Both teams advance to the state tournament on Wednesday.

Greenwood will play at DuPont Manual, while South Warren will host DeSales.

“The big talking point this week was to ensure that we get to play at home,” Dale Bird said. “Last year with district we didn’t get to due to some field conditions and that was unfortunate. This year to be able to play on our home field is an awesome advantage that we hope to utilize.”

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South Warren junior Layla Ogden has put up jaw-dropping numbers at the plate for the Spartans this season.

The Western Kentucky commit leads the state in both home runs and runs batted in this season — and her work with the bat isn’t even necessarily Ogden’s most important role for the Spartans.

The right-hander is part of a lethal 1-2 pitching combination in the circle for South Warren this season, joining sophomore Courtney Norwood to give the Spartans a formidable pair of arms who have combined for a 23-3 record so far this season.

It’s as a pitcher that most interested WKU in Ogden, but she’s determined to make them take notice of her abilities with a bat in her hand as well. It’s a case she continues to make exceedingly well since committing to WKU in the fall.

“I’ve grown up hitting and pitching my whole life,” Ogden said. “I love pitching, I love hitting. Sometimes I like one more than the other when I’m doing better in one, but I think it’s just a good mix. I think I’m a pretty good pitcher and hitter, and I work at it all the time. I probably spend two hours a day just pitching and hitting. It’s hard, but I want to hit and pitch in college so I just put the work in.

“We’ve been talking about hitting and pitching — that’s why I committed to Western, because I wanted to hit and pitch. The coaches have been so welcoming and I’ve always been a WKU fan, since I was like two months old. My mom works there, so it’s like literally home. I’ve known those coaches since I was little at the WKU camps. That was my first camp I’ve ever been to, so I bleed red. That’s literally my second home.”

Ogden topped the KHSAA state leaderboard as of Monday morning with 17 home runs this season, with teammate McLaine Hudson tied for second with Oldham County’s Jozie Lashley with 16 homers.

Ogden is four ahead of Lashley in RBIs with 56 so far this season. Ogden, batting .522 this season, also has 10 doubles.

“Layla has been on fire offensively this year,” South Warren coach Kelly Reynolds said. “She’s just a strong girl. She’s worked hard in the offseason and then everything’s been kind of coming into place for her right now. We just need her to keep going strong through the end of the season and the postseason.”

The eye-popping RBIs — Ogden is just short of averaging an RBI each game for the Spartans — are a by-product of South Warren’s ultra-productive lineup.

“Layla bats third in our lineup,” Reynolds said. “We’ve shifted her around a little bit. She was fourth and then we moved her up to third. She generates a lot of power and a lot of strength. It’s nice when the two runners in front of her get on so she can build up those RBIs.”

Hudson, a Kentucky commit, leads the state in runs with 61 and fellow junior Kinleigh Russell is sixth with 48 runs scored this year — rest assured, a good many times both of them were driven in by Ogden.

“It just feels like my work has paid off throughout the preseason,” Ogden said. “It just feels nice, leading the state in those categories. And I wouldn’t be leading the state in RBIs if my teammates weren’t getting on base.”

The home runs are more of a solo effort of Ogden, who has shown off easy power throughout her high school career — she has 42 career homers since making her varsity debut back in 2021.

“I would say I’m a power hitter,” Ogden said. “I mean, I don’t feel like I hit home runs every at-bat. I’m just trying to hit line drives, and those line drives turn into home runs. That’s what we all talk about as a team.”

The Spartans have used Ogden at both first base and third base at times during her career, but Reynolds admitted she’s so valuable in the circle that it’s hard to put her anywhere else on the field even though she has the lateral speed and agility to do so.

That athleticism is something Reynolds thinks WKU will have to consider when Ogden joins the program in 2026 after graduating from South Warren.

“I really think they may look at some way to get her in offensively too,” Reynolds said. “In college you don’t see a whole lot of pitchers that are hitters as well, but I think in Layla’s case she could definitely be a benefit for them offensively as well.”

In the circle, Ogden continues to dominate opposing lineups. She is 9-1 in 11 starts for the Spartans, posting a stellar 1.36 ERA through 56 2/3 innings with 72 strikeouts.

Ogden has played a huge role in South Warren (26-3) maintaining the No. 1 spot in the Kentucky Softball Coaches Association state poll and building KHSAA’s top RPI (.70253) number as of Monday.

The postseason is just two weeks away, and the Spartans have high expectations. Among them is a return trip to the Region 4 tournament, hosted at the WKU Softball Complex — Ogden’s future home field. South Warren is the defending region champions.

“It’s so surreal that I’m going to be playing there,” Ogden said. “When we go to region, I feel it a little bit but I feel like when I step on campus and play for them it’s going to be amazing because I’m a big fan.”

Right now, Ogden is focused on helping South Warren reach its ultimate goal of winning the program’s first-ever state championship. This close-knit group of Spartans is the squad Ogden believes can do just that.

“Our No. 1 goal is to win state,” Ogden said. “We’ve gotten close a couple years and we just want to finish.”

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Western Kentucky beat New Mexico State 11-5 to sweep a Conference USA baseball series on Sunday afternoon at Presley Askew Field in Las Cruces, New Mexico.

The Hilltoppers powered their way to a record-tying 41st regular-season win, capping a dominant weekend with another victory over the Aggies. Fueled by four home runs and a six-run sixth inning, WKU became the first team to sweep the Aggies in a three-game series this season and clinched a top-three seed in the upcoming CUSA Tournament.

WKU moves to 41-10 overall and 17-7 in CUSA on the season and 11-13 all-time against New Mexico State (22-29, 10-13 CUSA). The Hilltoppers’ 41 wins tie the program record for most wins in a regular season. They join the 1985 and 1988 squads.

The Aggies got on the scoreboard first with a solo home run in the second inning.

WKU’s Austin Haller evened the score at 1-1 with a solo homer of his own in the top of the third.

An RBI single put New Mexico State back in front in the third.

A solo home run from Carlos Vasquez knotted the game at 2-2 in the fourth.

The Hilltoppers put up six runs in the sixth frame. Kyle Hayes put WKU in front with a two-run homer before Haller tacked on another with an RBI single. Dalton Fiveash had a bases-clearing double to extend the Tops’ lead to 8-2.

A hit-by-pitch with the bases loaded and an RBI groundout plated two more for the Aggies in the bottom of the frame.

WKU’s Ethan Lizama grounded out to drive in a run in the seventh to make the score 9-4.

A sacrifice fly from Ryan Wideman added another run to the WKU advantage in the eighth.

NM State used a sacrifice fly of their own to cut its deficit to 10-5 in the bottom of the inning.

A solo homer from Lizama put the finishing touches on a 11-5 win for WKU in the ninth.

WKU’s Taylor Penn made his first start in CUSA play on the mound. The freshman went three frames, allowing two runs on four hits with two strikeouts.

Gavin Perry, Treyson Peters, Cal Higgins and Patrick Morris saw action in relief. Perry tossed two shutout innings with two strikeouts, surrendering two hits and two walks. Higgins went three frames, allowed one unearned run on two hits and struck out a pair. Morris closed it down with two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth inning.

The WKU offense produced 11 runs on nine hits and nine walks with 11 RBIs.

Four Hilltoppers homered in the finale, marking 13 total home runs combined in the series. Haller hit it out for the third consecutive game, Hayes hit his second in as many days while Vasquez and Lizama each homered for a second time this weekend.

Fiveash led the team with three RBIs, going 1-for-3 day with a double and a walk.

Lizama went 2-for-5 with a home run, two RBIs and two runs scored. Haller was 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs, two runs scored and a walk. Hayes went 1-for-5 with two RBIs, a homer and a run scored. Vasquez scored twice in a 1-for-4 day with a home run, an RBI and a walk. Wideman had an RBI with a run scored, a walk and two stolen bases. He is up to 39 steals on the season, just two shy of tying the single-season record of 41 set by Carlos Akins in 1995.

WKU concludes the regular season with a three-game series against CUSA rival Jacksonville State at home. First pitch from Nick Denes Field on Thursday is set for 6 p.m.

The post Tops homer four times to complete road sweep of Aggies appeared first on Bowling Green Daily News.

Mac Horvath hit his team-leading eighth homer of the year, but it wasn’t enough for the Bowling Green Hot Rods in a 5-3 loss to the Winston-Salem Dash in South Atlantic League action on Sunday at Truist Stadium in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

For the sixth consecutive game of the series, Bowling Green (18-15) scored the first runs of the game, this time in the top of the third inning against MLB rehabber Jesse Scholtens. Bryan Broecker led off with a single, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and moved to third on a ground ball from Adrian Santana. Aidan Smith plated him with another groundout, giving the Hot Rods a 1-0 lead.

Winston-Salem (12-21) took the lead in the bottom of the third inning against Bowling Green starter Gary Gill Hill. Jeral Perez and Braden Montgomery walked to start the inning, and Cole McConnell singled, loading the bases. Alec Makarewicz reached on fielder’s choice and Montgomery scored on a wild pitch. McConnell and Makarewicz scored on a Luis Pineda base hit, making it a 3-1 Dash lead.

Winston-Salem added another run in the bottom of the fourth on a Montgomery RBI double, bringing the lead to 4-1.

The Hot Rods responded in the top of the sixth against Dash reliever Tommy Vail. With one out, Emilien Pitre doubled and Horvath blasted a two-run homer to left, making it a 4-3 Winston-Salem lead.

The Dash plated an additional run in the bottom of the seventh with Hot Rods reliever Junior William on the mound. Arxy Hernandez hit a one-out, solo homer, extending Winston-Salem’s lead to 5-3.

Bowling Green couldn’t find any offense the rest of the way, losing 5-3.

Vail (2-0) picked up his second win of the year, going five innings, allowing two runs on three hits, walking one and striking out eight. Gill Hill (1-2) surrendered three runs on five hits while walking three and striking out five in his second loss of the season.

The Hot Rods enjoy an off-day Monday before starting a six-game set against the Asheville Tourists at Bowling Green Ballpark on Tuesday with first pitch at 6:05 p.m.

The post Hot Rods fall short despite Horvath’s eighth homer appeared first on Bowling Green Daily News.