BASEBALL

The Central Hardin varsity baseball team, coached by Chase Cruse, went 17-15-0 this season. The Bruins earned the District Runner-up title against Elizabethtown (May 15). Their season concluded in the first round of the Region Championship against Taylor County (May 21). Junior Zakery Spurrier led the team with the highest batting average and sophomore Lucas Thompson led the team in most runs scored. Spurrier was named The News-Enterprise Pitcher of the Year.

First Team All-Area: Reece Cowley, Sander Lucas, and Zak Spurrier

Second Team All-Area: Kellen Brandenburg, Chase Price, and Lucas Thompson

SOFTBALL

The Central Hardin varsity softball team, coached by Jamie Goodman, went 33-9-1 this season. The Lady Bruins had a victorious year winning the District Championship title against Elizabethtown (May 18) and winning the Region Championship title against Green County (May 24). The girls ended their season with a 5th place finish at the State Championships. Senior Lynlee Britain was named The News-Enterprise Player of the Year and KY Coaches Association 5th Region Player of the Year. Britain led the team with the highest batting average and most runs scored. Emma Watkins was named The News-Enterprise Sophomore of the Year. Senior Alyssa Gent led the team in home runs, with a grand total of five. Goodman was named The News-Enterprise Softball Coach of the Year.

First Team All-Area: Lynlee Britain, Alyssa Gent, Avery Strader, and Emma Watkins

Second Team All-Area: Allie Link and Jenna Smith

Honorable Mention All-Area: Reese Nickell

All-Region Team: Lynlee Britain, Alyssa Gent, Allie Link, Jenna Smith, and Avery Strader

BOYS’ TRACK

The Central Hardin boys’ track team, coached by Tim Pennington, had a phenomenal season placing second at the LTH Conference Championship (May 9) and took home the Region Team Runner-up title (May 23). Senior Kase Vanblijenburgh broke the boys 110-meter hurdles school record and the 300-meter hurdles school record. Relay team Terry Brooks, Drake Sanders, Gavon Scanlon, and Kase VanBlijenburgh broke the boys 4×100-meter school record. Pennington was named The News-Enterprise Track and Field Coach of the Year.

First Team All-Area: Kase VanBlijenburgh

Honorable Mention All-Area: Terry Brooks and Gage Bryant

Region Champions:
Gage Bryant (shot put)
Kase VanBlijenburgh (110-meter hurdles)
Kase VanBlijenburgh (300-meter hurdles)

Region Runners-up:
Jared Fairbanks (3200-meter run)
Terry Brooks, Drake Sanders, Gavon Scanlon, and Kase VanBlijenburgh (4×100-meter relay)
Brock Angell, Lief Dale, Jared Fairbanks, and Tyler Payne (4×800-meter relay)

State Championship At-Large Bids:
Brock Angell, Alex Argueta, Terry Brooks, and Tyler Payne (4×400-meter relay)
Kase VanBlijenburgh (100-meter dash)

Top State Finishes:
Gage Bryant – 8th in shot put
Kase VanBlijenburgh – 4th in 300-meter hurdles
Kase VanBlijenburgh – 7th in 110-meter hurdles

GIRLS’ TRACK

The Central Hardin girls’ track team, coached by Samatha Dale, had a triumphant season taking home first place at the LTH Conference Championship (May 9) and second place at the Region Championship. Relay team Gabrielle Callahan, Hannah Cox, Alivia Irwin, and Syra Lundergan broke the 26-year-old school record for the girls 4×400-meter relay. Senior Riley Raifsnider broke the girls one-mile school record and sophomore Kennedi Alford broke the girls 100-meter dash school record. Senior Serena McNeilly broke four school records including the girls 100-meter hurdles, girls high jump, girls long jump, and girls triple jump. McNeilly was named The News-Enterprise Girls’ Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

First Team All-Area: Serena McNeilly

Second Team All-Area: Kennedi Alford

Honorable Mention All-Area: Hannah Cox and Riley Raifsnider

Region Champions:
Serena McNeilly (100-meter hurdles, high jump, long jump, and triple jump)
Kennedi Alford, Autumn Callahan, Gabrielle Callahan, and Hannah Cox (4×100-meter relay)
Autumn Callahan, Gabrielle Callahan, Hannah Cox, and Alivia Irwin (4×200-meter relay)

Region Runners-up:
Autumn Callahan (300-meter hurdles)
Samantha Nelson (shot put)
Gabrielle Callahan, Hannah Cox, Alivia Irwin, and Syra Lundergan (4×400-meter relay)

State Championship At-Large Bids:
Hanna Grass, Syra Lundergan, Olivia Miles, and Riley Raifsnider (4×800-meter relay)

Top State Finishes:
Serena McNeilly – State Champion in triple jump
Serena McNeilly – 3rd in high jump
Serena McNeilly – 4th in long jump

BOYS’ TENNIS

The Central Hardin boys’ tennis team, coached by Jody Bingham, finished second at the Conference Championship (Apr. 24-26), and went on to earn the Region Team Runner-up title (May 15-18). Senior Jacob Jiranek became the first boy in school history to win a Conference Champion title in both singles and doubles. Jiranek was named The News-Enterprise Boys’ Tennis Player of the Year and Boys’ Singles Player of the Year. Duo of freshman Gabe Brangers and senior Patrick Lally were named The News-Enterprise Boys’ Doubles Team of the Year. Brangers was also named The News-Enterprise Newcomer of the Year.

First Team All-Area: Jacob Jiranek

Second Team All-Area: Gabe Brangers, Sam Bryan, and Patrick Lally

All-State Team: Jacob Jiranek

Top State Finishes:
Gabe Brangers and Patrick Lally (first round doubles)
Jacob Jiranek (third round singles)

GIRLS’ TENNIS

The Central Hardin girls’ tennis team, coached by Jody Bingham, took home the Conference Team Champions title (Apr. 24-26) and Region Team Runner-up this season (May 15-18). At the State Championship, the girls managed third place as a team for the first time in school history. Seniors KK Ditto and Annie Yates were named the girls doubles Conference Champions, girls doubles Region Champions, and The News-Enterprise Doubles Team of the Year. Ditto became the first Bruin to win 3 consecutive doubles titles back-back-back. Yates became the first girl to play both singles and doubles in the Region Finals in school history. Duo of senior Makenna Cox and sophomore Zoey Graziano were named the girls doubles Conference Runner-up, and finalists in the Region tournament. They were also the first team to play back-to-back doubles championships together in school history. Freshman Clare Riney was named the girls singles Conference Runner-up and named The News-Enterprise Newcomer of the Year.

First Team All-Area: KK Ditto, Clare Riney, and Annie Yates

Second Team All-Area: Makenna Cox, Zoey Graziano, and Parker Lally

All-State Team: Makenna Cox, KK Ditto, and Annie Yates

Top State Finishes:
KK Ditto and Annie Yates (fourth round doubles)
Makenna Cox and Zoey Graziano (third round doubles)
Parker Lally (second round singles)
Clare Riney (second round singles)