Cameron Pridemore named girls basketball coach at CAL

Courier Journal

Cameron Pridemore has been named the new girls basketball coach at Christian Academy.

Pridemore spent the past three seasons as the head coach at Tipton-Rosemark Academy in Millington, Tennessee, posting a 67-20 record. Last season’s team finished 25-5.

“When the job at CAL opened up, I saw a special opportunity to help girls grow, not only as basketball players but as Christians, students and people,” Pridemore said in a news release. “CAL has that same desire throughout the entire school and its athletic programs. The environment and culture around CAL make it a special place to work and coach.”

Pridemore replaces Perry White, who stepped down in February after posting a 69-52 record over four seasons. The Centurions finished 20-11 last season after falling to Ballard in the opening round of the 28th District Tournament.

CAL is set to return four of its top six scorers from last season in Mia Beam, Shelby Calhoun, Jaya McClure and Sydney Raque.

“The goal for this year’s team will be to continue to build on the success that the Lady Centurion basketball program has had in the past,” Pridemore said. “My vision is to consistently be a program made of high-character players who love the Lord, love their teammates and love playing the game of basketball. I want all of our teams to consistently be known as tough, fundamental teams that play hard, smart and entertaining basketball.”

St. X baseball, Male softball top polls

The St. Xavier baseball and Male softball teams are ranked No. 1 in the state in their respective coaches polls.

The St. X baseball team is 16-3 after Monday’s 4-1 victory at Male. Other Louisville area teams in the Top 20 are No. 3 Trinity, No. 7 Pleasure Ridge Park, No. 11 Oldham County and No. 20 Bullitt East.

The Male softball team is 15-0 and hasn’t played since a 12-1 victory at Assumption on April 10. The Bulldogs also are ranked No. 6 in the nation by USA TODAY. Other Louisville area teams in the statewide Top 25 are No. 4 Holy Cross, No. 11 Manual, No. 12 Assumption, No. 14 Ballard, No. 17 Oldham County and No. 21 Butler.

Here are the complete polls:

Baseball: 1. St. Xavier, 2. Tates Creek, 3. Trinity, 4. McCracken County, 5. Beechwood, 6. Madison Central, 7. Pleasure Ridge Park, 8. Paul Dunbar, 9. Danville, 10. Lexington Catholic, 11. Oldham County, 12. Bowling Green, 13. Highlands, 14. Lafayette, 15. Central Hardin, 16. Rowan County, 17. Knox Central, 18. South Warren, 19. Lawrence County, 20. Bullitt East.

Softball: 1. Male, 2. Warren East, 3. Christian County, 4. Holy Cross, 5. Scott County, 6. (tie) McCracken County, Central Hardin, 8. Boyle County, 9. Woodford County, 10. Webster County, 11. Manual, 12. Assumption, 13. Clay County, 14. Ballard, 15. Henderson County, 16. South Warren, 17. Oldham County, 18. Madisonville-North Hopkins, 19. Daviess County, 20. Marshall County, 21. Butler, 22. Madison Southern, 23. Lafayette, 24. Bourbon County, 25. Pulaski County.

Tidbits

Male junior wide receiver Izayah Cummings announced his final six college choices via Twitter on Monday — Kentucky, Louisville, Purdue, Virginia, Wake Forest and West Virginia.

The 6-foot-3, 195-pound Cummings was a third-team All-State selection by the Courier Journal last season after posting 41 catches for 597 yards and 11 touchdowns.

Josh Leslie has stepped down after seven seasons as the girls basketball coach at Eastern. Leslie posted a 138-60 record, including 20-10 last season. His 2014-15 squad was the Seventh Region runner-up.

Eastern is one of three prominent girls basketball programs in Louisville seeking a new head coach, joining Butler and Male.

Sean Pigman, who led the Collins girls basketball program to its first-ever regional title last season, has accepted as the girls basketball coach at Whitley County.

Pigman went 72-55 in four seasons at Collins. He previously spent eight seasons as an assistant coach at Mercer County.

Collins is accepting applications for Pigman’s replacement.

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: www.courier-journal.com/jasonf.