Cincinnati, OH – Bellarmine University softball incoming freshman Lauren Guthrie received high praise as she was named a winner of the 2024 Johnny Bench Awards presented by MSA Sport.
 
The Johnny Bench Award honors the top NCAA Division I male and female catchers along with the top high school baseball and softball catchers from Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia. Guthrie, a senior at Sherman High School, was named the top softball catcher in West Virginia.
 
"Now in our sixth year, it's great to see the growth of the awards in both Reds Country and from our winners," said Hall of Famer Johnny Bench. "We get more nominations each year, and it's gratifying to watch the athletes graduate from high school all-state to college All-Americans, and some are now playing in professional leagues."
 
The ten winners will be honored at the Johnny Bench Awards Luncheon on July 30 at Great American Ballpark and recognized that evening during on-field ceremonies before the Reds vs. Chicago Cubs game.
 
About the Johnny Bench Awards: The Cincinnati Reds and Hall of Famer Johnny Bench, along with the Reds Hall of Fame, are partnering for The Johnny Bench Awards presented by MSA Sport. The awards honor the best baseball and softball high school catchers from Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana and West Virginia as well as the top baseball and softball NCAA Division I catchers. A committee determines the finalists with support from local media, coaches' associations and scouting organizations in each state. The winners are then hand-picked by Johnny and brought together to celebrate their achievements and meet "Baseball's Greatest Catcher" at an awards banquet. The awards are permanently located at the Reds Hall of Fame and Museum presented by Dinsmore at Great American Ball Park.