Kentucky's Record Breakers: Hits, Pitches, and Mile Markers — Show Notes
- kentuckysportsmemo
- Feb 24
- 3 min read
About the Guests:
Emily Gaines is an accomplished softball player from South Laurel High School in Kentucky. Notably, she holds two impressive records: most consecutive games with hits at 52 games and the most career doubles with a total of 104. Gaines went on to play for the University of Kentucky following her high school career.
Dana Johnson is another notable Kentucky high school softball athlete who played for Bullitt Central High School. She set the state record for the most times hit by a pitch in a single season, enduring this 24 times. Known for her toughness, Dana continued to play resiliently despite the repeated impacts.
Morgan McElroy is a former high school softball player from Madisonville North Hopkins. She holds the career record for being hit by pitches 52 times. She continued her softball career playing at Western Kentucky University.
Yared Nuguse is a track and field Olympic bronze medalist and a Louisville native. He began his competitive running journey at DuPont Manual High School after being scouted by his PE teacher. Nuguse is a highly accomplished athlete and has yet again made his mark by setting a new indoor world record for the mile.
Episode Summary:
In this episode of Kentucky Sports Memories, host Gary Fogle examines the remarkable histories and records set by legendary athletes in Kentucky, putting a focus on high school softball records in preparation for spring. Through detailed conversations with record holders, the episode shines a light on the striking achievements of athletes like Emily Gaines, Dana Johnson, Morgan McElroy, and Yared Nuguse, and unveils the dedication behind their success.
The episode begins with Emily Gaines recounting her impressive 52-game hitting streak and her 104 career doubles record. Emily attributes her exceptional performance to rigorous training with her father and emphasizes how embracing hard work helped solidify her name in the record books. The story then transitions to Dana Johnson's jaw-dropping record of being hit by pitches 24 times in a single season, showcasing her durability and resilience as her mother vividly recalls the challenging experiences. Morgan McElroy is celebrated for her career record of being hit by pitches, offering a riveting testament to her courage and grit on the field. Finally, Fogle recalls his discussion with Yared Nuguse amidst his recent world record achievement.
Key Takeaways:
HS Softball Champ: Emily Gaines currently holds the Kentucky high school softball records for consecutive games with a hit (52 games) and career doubles (104).
Girls With Grit: Dana Johnson set a notable record in 2012, being hit by pitches 24 times in a single season. The career record for the most times hit by a pitch in Kentucky high school softball is held by Morgan McElroy with 52 times.
World Record Realities: The discovery of unexpected talent can arise from seemingly casual circumstances, as shown in Yared Nuguse's path to becoming a world-record-holding runner.
Notable Quotes:
"Records are meant to be broken, you know. I'm very proud. I still hold those, but they're meant to be broken, and hopefully somebody will come along and break both of them." - Emily Gaines
"I think my mom and dad were scared I was going to get blood clots, so they bought me some of those [football pads], and they stopped hitting me in my legs and started hitting me everywhere else!" - Dana Johnson
"We've been together since high school. [McElroy and her husband] So he knows how tough you are, not to mess with you. Is that what I'm understanding here? Yes." - Gary Fogle and Morgan McElroy reflecting on her resilience.
"My PE coach had us do miles for a grade and I was just like, well I guess I'm going to run the fastest so I could like beat the line to the McDonald's, you know." - Yared Nuguse
Join Gary Fogle as he continues to explore the stories behind the events and figures that have left a lasting mark on the world of sports in Kentucky. Listen to the full episode to get the complete story of these Kentucky record-holding icons.
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