Contrary to the first meeting nearly a month ago, this one did not see many balls barreled up.
Harrison County and Highlands threw their aces and they both hit their spots for the most part in the rematch at Winkler Field in Fort Thomas. The difference came down to defense and hitting. The Fillies scored two unearned runs off four Highlands errors and outhit the Bluebirds, 9-5 to leave town with a 3-0 victory in a battle of two-time defending region champions. This marked the first time Highlands has been shut out this year. Harrison County won the previous matchup this season, 11-9 back on back on March 28 in Cynthiana.
Both teams came into the game ranked in the KHSAA Coaches Poll Top 25. Defending 10th Region champion Harrison County came in ranked seventh and defending 9th Region champion Highlands came in ranked 20th.
Harrison County sophomore pitcher Bella Persinger moved to 15-2 on the season striking out 10 and walking just one. The Fillies (21-4) played error-free defense behind her.
“I think the biggest thing is we haven’t faced a pitcher anywhere close to her caliber for close to 12 days,” Highlands head coach Milt Horner said. “For five games in a row, the pitching was not good. I was worried about this game going in.”
Kaitlyn Dixon also pitched a complete game for Highlands, striking out six and walking one. Dixon worked out of some jams to keep the game within striking distance.
“Kaitlyn’s pitched great,” Horner said. “She’s top 10 in the state in ERA. She might have been off on a couple pitches. The last time she pitched against a good team, she struck out 22.”
Emma Hamm and Savannah White had two hits each to lead Harrison County. Hamm had two doubles and scored one run.
Highlands scattered five hits throughout. Cam Markus had the lone extra-base hit for the Bluebirds.
Highlands had two runners on with two out twice, but could not find the timely hit. The first opportunity came in the bottom of the second when Dixon singled and moved to second when Layla Zepf singled with one out. Alli Meyers moved them up on a ground out, but Persinger struck out Julia Luhn to end the threat.
The second opportunity came in the bottom of the fifth. Meyers led off with a single and Luhn bunted her to second. Morgan Pompilio singled her to third with two out before Persinger struck out Payton Brown to end the threat.
Harrison County broke the ice in the top of the fourth. Seventh grader Aligha Newby came up to pinch hit with the bases loaded and two out and hit one back to Dixon, but Dixon could not come up with the ball and Newby beat the throw, allowing Owyn McCoy to score the unearned run.
Harrison County extended the lead to 2-0 in the top of the fifth. Hamm doubled with one out and White singled her home with two out.
The Fillies added some insurance in the top of the seventh when Baylee Hudgins reached on an error, took third when Hamm doubled and scored on a Highlands throwing error.
Highlands (16-5) takes on Male at 6 p.m. and Johnson Central at 8 p.m. in the Lafayette Five-Star General Tournament on Friday in Lexington.
FILLIES 3, BLUEBIRDS 0
HARRISON COUNTY — 000-110-1 — 3-9-0
HIGHLANDS — 000-000-0 — 0-5-4
2B — (HC) Hamm 2, (H) Cam Markus.
WP — Persinger (15-2). LP — Dixon (11-3)
Records: Harrison County 21-4, Highlands 16-5