The starting pitchers for the Highlands Bluebirds (15-9) and Scott Eagles (7-13) baseball teams recorded quality starts.
It came down to the fourth inning when visiting Highlands scored all three of its runs to record a 3-1 non-region victory. The teams earned all four runs as Highlands committed the game’s lone error that did not lead to a Scott run.
Highlands junior pitcher Brody Benke (3-2) and junior Xander Crawford combined to one-hit the Eagles. Benke pitched six innings, striking out nine, walking one and allowing that lone hit. Crawford pitched the seventh inning to nail down the save.
Scott brought the game-winning run to the plate with one out and runners on first and third after an error, two wild pitches then a walk. But junior first baseman Drew Grindstaff lined out to senior shortstop Jack Hendrix and Hendrix threw to junior Luke Schneider at first to nail Scott junior pinch runner Kyle Groneck to end the game on a double play.
The Bluebirds batted .250 (7-for-28) overall. Hendrix went 3-for-4 and senior designated hitter JP Donelan went 2-for-3 with one run batted in and two runs scored. Senior Brennan Kelsay had a two-run double in the top of the fourth to put the Bluebirds up 3-0.
Junior Gunner Bleha (0-3) pitched the first five innings striking out six and walked three. Sophomore Trevor Pulsfort pitched the last two innings striking out two.
Highlands faces Boone County (7-12-1) on Saturday at Highland Park at Noon. Scott plays three times at home in the Bryan Stevenson Memorial including games against Cooper (7-15) and Rowan County (17-6) at 5 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Friday.
Other Baseball Scores
Beechwood 13, Holy Cross 0 (5 innings)
Simon Kenton 15, Boone County 0 (3 innings)
Campbell County 12, Bourbon County 0 (5 innings)
Covington Catholic 16, Cooper 0 (4 innings)
Grant County 18, Dayton 4 (6 innings)
Ryle 7, Dixie Heights 5
Lloyd Memorial 17, Holmes 0 (5 innings)
Williamstown 8, Bellevue 7
Softball
Grant County 2, Simon Kenton 0
The Simon Kenton Pioneers (11-10) could not take home the top seed in the 32nd District as Grant County (8-10) sophomore Bri Knochelman (8-5) no-hit them, striking out 15. The only Pioneer to reach off Knochelman came in the top of the second when freshman first Adreena Barton drew a walk.
Simon Kenton junior pitcher Landrey Dance (6-6) tried to equal Knochelman pitching a complete game striking out seven, walking none and allowing just four hits. But Grant County pushed across two earned runs in the bottom of the third for the game’s lone runs.
Simon Kenton travels to South Oldham (10-6) on Thursday for a 6:45 p.m. game.
Other Softball Scores
Highlands 14, Boone County 2
Lloyd Memorial 16, Calvary Christian 8
Walton-Verona 19, Ludlow 0 (4 innings)
Notre Dame 19, Newport 0 (3 innings)
Dixie Heights 23, St. Henry 2 (3 innings)
Villa Madonna 10, Holy Cross 6