By 1808Delaware
College football has its Heisman Trophy. For college baseball, recognition is given each year to the top collegiate catcher. The Johnny Bench Award, named after the famed Reds ballplayer, was started in 2000 and expanded by Johnny himself in 2019.
That expansion now includes awards for top college softball player, as well as awards in “Red’s County” for high school baseball and softball catchers in the states of Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, and West Virginia, including:
- Top male NCAA baseball catcher
- Top female NCAA softball catcher
- Top baseball and softball catchers from Ohio high schools
- Top baseball and softball catchers from Kentucky high schools
- Top baseball and softball catchers from Indiana high schools
- Top baseball and softball catchers from West Virginia high schools
Online submissions are made, and all-state and state athletic association recommendations are considered. Bench chooses the final winners, who are then recognized in the Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame & Museum in Cincinnati.
This year’s softball winner was a powerhouse player from Delaware Hayes, Myaih Cloud. According to the award website, “Myaih excelled on both sides of the plate with a .605 batting average, 1.767 OPS and 1.000 field percentage. She was named to First Team All-State, Central Ohio Sports Awards’ Super 12 Team and is recognized as the OCC Player of the Year. She will attend Fairmont State University.”
Cloud received her award at a luncheon held at Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati on July 26. Images from that event are below.
Cloud’s name now also appears on the Reds’ website on MLB.com.
Myaih Cloud of The Delaware Hayes Lady Pacer Softball Team is the winner of the 2022 Johnny Bench Award. This award goes out to the top or best catcher in the State of Ohio! Pacer Nation!🐎 pic.twitter.com/zTUcIM8SYI
— Delaware Athletics (@DTownPacers) July 26, 2022
