Kenton Ridge senior named 2026 Johnny Bench Award winner in Ohio

Jun. 10—Kenton Ridge senior Brenna Fyffe is the 2026 winner of the Johnny Bench Award, as announced Tuesday.

The award is given to the top catcher in Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia high school baseball and softball, as well as NCAA Division I baseball and softball, respectively.

Fyffe helped lead Kenton Ridge to a second consecutive OHSAA Division IV State Championship in the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

She finished her senior year batting .566 with 24 home runs and 60 RBI. Fyffe also stole 15 bases, and scored 66 runs to go with 11 doubles and three triples. Defensively she did not commit an error and had nine assists and 16 non-strikeout putouts.

Fyffe — who is committed to Ohio to play collegiately — ended her career as the OHSAA leader in RBI (231) and runs (216). Her 24 home runs in the 2026 season were the second most all-time for a single season.

Catching is one of the toughest jobs in sports and demands leadership, toughness, quick instincts and a relentless work ethic,” said Bench in a release. “This year’s winners are outstanding athletes that have proven they can handle every party of the game from managing a staff, controlling the field and delivering when it matters most.”

Fyffe and the other nine winners will attend a luncheon and be honored in an on-field ceremony prior to the July 7 Cincinnati Reds game hosting the Philadelphia Phillies at Great American Ball Park.

The Johnny Bench Award was created in 2000 to honor the top NCAA Division I catcher. The award was expanded in 2019 to the current format of honoring high school and NCAA Division I softball athletes.