Senior Katy Grace Chadwell will go down as one of the most decorated players in Boyle County softball history. She was selected for both the East-West All-Star Game and the Kentucky-Tennessee All-Star Series, named the 2A All-State Player of the Year, and this week, was chosen as the Advocate-Messenger All-Area Pitcher of the Year.

“The award is very much deserving,” Boyle coach Brian Deem said. “Hats off to her. Credit goes to her mom and dad making sure she worked. Credit goes to Katy for putting the hours she put in.”

Not including the loss to Male in the state tournament, Chadwell posted a record of 20-5, with a 2.34 ERA and a 1.13 WHIP while striking out 152 batters and only giving 25 a free pass. Chadwell was the workhorse for the Rebels, pitching in every big game down the stretch on the way to winning the 12th region for the third consecutive season.

Chadwell was also a force at the plate, hitting .397 and slugging .661. She put seven homers over the fence and drove in 44 runs. She also had 12 doubles.

To prepare for the state tournament, Deem put together one of the toughest non-district schedules. In that context, Chadwell’s already stellar numbers are even more impressive. Deem believes that the schedule made his team tougher in the late stages of the season.

Chadwell rose to the challenge of playing one of the toughest schedules in the state, earning Advocate-Messenger All-Area Pitcher of the Year. (Photo Derek Brightwell)

“She’s earned it,” Deem said of his senior. “She’s gone through the wars and the battles and done her part to make sure that she gets herself and her team in the best position to win a ballgame.”

Perhaps Chadwell’s strongest pitching performance came in that state tournament loss to top-ranked and eventual state champs Male. She matched the Bulldogs’ Kelsie Houchens’ perfect game through the first three innings. In the fourth, she surrendered a three-run home run to Jaelyn Sanders. On the game, she gave up four runs. Male was only held below that total four times all year.

Chadwell played under Deem for five years, going back to when she was in eighth grade. She completed her career with him as her coach during the Kentucky-Tennessee All-Star Series, a moment that Deem said was special to share with her.

Chadwell was the on field leader for a team who went 31-7 and dominated both the 12th region and 45th district, with its only loss coming against Garrard County in the district championship game. As the only senior on the team, she is leaving behind a group that should continue the sustained excellence under Deem.