Julian Dixon and the Walton-Verona Bearcats made it to the All "A" championship game for the second time in three seasons. Dixon made the All-Tournament team. Photo provided | Josh Claywell

Is consistent baseball weather too much to ask for?

In April and the early stages of May it is as I sit here at my dining room table and look out the window on a chilly, 46-degree afternoon with a mist of rain falling from the sky.

We get teased from time to time in April with georgeous 70 degree days and not a cloud in the sky, here’s to more of those days in May.

As far as the diamond in baseball and softball, not many major shakeups other than a new No. 1 on the baseball side. Covington Catholic has earned that distinction as they’ve rattled off 10 straight wins to improve to 19-4 on the season. St. Henry enters the top 10 as they’ve pitched three straight shutouts as Bishop Brossart falls out.

In softball, Campbell County and Notre Dame move up a spot while Simon Kenton drops a spot. Scott and Brossart flip spots, Scott grabbing the No. 10 position after a win over Bishop Brossart, who drops out of the top 10.

With only two weeks left in the regular season here goes the LINK nky baseball/softball top 10 rankings (For Boone, Campbell and Kenton County):

BASEBALL

Highlands junior pitcher Zach DeSylva and the Bluebirds went 5-0 last week. G. Michael Graham | LINK nky
  1. Covington Catholic (19-4, Previous ranking: 2) — How about 10 straight wins for the Colonels? Scary thing is, they’re doing it with four seniors on the roster and an infield that primarily consists of sophomores. They’ve outscored the opponent 80-21 during their current run and have earned the top spot. Beechwood on Friday in a battle for the top seed in the 35th District.

2. Beechwood (18-5, Previous ranking: 1) — The Tigers were three outs from a marquee win over Sayre and a berth to the All “A” championship game in search of their sixth title, but the Spartans pulled off an improbable comeback to rally for five runs. No rest for the weary as they’ll take on Ryle, Highlands, CovCath and Hazard this week.

3. Ryle (18-7, Previous ranking: 3) — The Raiders have won five straight as they look to have gotten their mojo back after a stretch of 3-4 in their previous seven.

4. Conner (17-9, Previous ranking: 4) — The ups and downs continue for the Cougars. After a 12-1 start to the season, they’ve gone 5-8 since.

5. Highlands (16-9, Previous ranking: 6) — Bluebirds went 5-0 last week and face a gauntlet this week with Ryle, Beechwood, Simon Kenton and Madison Central on the docket.

6. Simon Kenton (17-8, Previous ranking: 5) — An uncharacteristic 13-0 loss to St. Henry on Monday. Things don’t get any easier the rest of the week with Covington Catholic, Highlands, Walton-Verona, Whitley County and Great Crossing on the schedule.

7. Walton-Verona (19-5, Previous ranking: 7) — A second All “A” state appearance in three seasons is nothing to be ashamed of despite being on the wrong end of both of those games. Now that the All “A” is out of the way, the Bearcats can focus on winning a district and possibly a region title. With their pitching depth, it’s certainly a possibility.

8. Campbell County (18-7, Previous ranking: 8) — The Camels got back on track with get right games over Bracken County and Bourbon County, then splitting a pair with Conner and Cooper. At 6-1 in 10th Region play, they’re one of about five teams that can win the 10th.

The St. Henry Crusaders have shutout the opponent in their last three games. Photo by G. Michael Graham | LINK nky

9. St. Henry (10-13, Previous ranking: NR) — Crusaders are a very dangerous team right now, evidenced by back-to-back wins over Conner and Simon Kenton. They’re 4-1 in their last five after a 5-12 start to the season. They’ve pitched three straight shutouts during their three-game winning streak.

10. Cooper (8-17, Previous ranking: 10) — Jags had won four of five before losses to Campbell County and Covington Catholic. With a sweep of Boone County and a recent win over Dixie Heights, they remain in the top 10.

Next up: Boone County (7-13-1), Dixie Heights (8-17), Bishop Brossart (11-14)

SOFTBALL

  1. Highlands (17-5-1, Previous ranking: 1) — Despite losses to Grant County and state-ranked Great Crossing, the Bluebirds are undefeated in region play, winning six of the seven games via run-rule. Four of their final seven games are against region opponents which includes a matchup with No. 2 Ryle on Saturday.
Ryle swept their 33rd District opponents in the regular season for the first time since the 2011 season. Photo provided | Ryle softball

2. Ryle (11-6, Previous ranking: 2) — As with Highlands, also undefeated in Ninth Region play. Saturday’s matchup could very well be a pre-cursor to the Ninth Region championship come late May. With wins over Cooper and Boone County last week, they swept the 33rd District for the first time since 2011.

3. Dixie Heights (13-10, Previous ranking: 3) — Their only losses in region play are to Highlands and Ryle and with wins over Notre Dame and Campbell County over the last two weeks, the Colonels are squarely in the third spot. Their closing schedule the last two weeks of the season will have them ready for postseason with Great Crossing, Boone County, Cooper, Ryle, Conner, Ashland Blazer and Montgomery County on the schedule.

Campbell County had their six-game winning streak snapped with a loss to Dixie Heights. Photo provided | Sally Schaefer

4. Campbell County (13-4, Previous ranking: 5) — Dixie Heights ended their six-game winning streak and they’ll face two state-ranked teams this week when they take on Harrison County and Lewis County.

5. Cooper (13-8, Previous ranking: 4) — The Jaguars have lost four straight and allowed 38 runs in the process. They’ll hope to get things trending back in the right direction with a four-game week facing Bracken County, Oldham County, Dixie Heights and Tates Creek.

6. Notre Dame (7-4, Previous ranking: 7) — Probably the last thing Notre Dame wants to see is more rain in the forecast, but they’re scheduled for nine games over the final two weeks of the season. They’ve only played 11 on the season to date.

7. Simon Kenton (11-11, Previous ranking: 6) — The Pioneers hope to get things turned around this week as they’ve lost eight of nine after a 10-3 start to the season.

8. Boone County (8-13, Previous ranking: 8) — Back-to-back losses to Highlands and Ryle halted a three-game winning streak, their longest of the season.

9. Conner (9-13, Previous ranking: 9) — Got their first district win of the season with a 16-9 victory over Conner.

10. Scott (9-8, Previous ranking: NR) — A big district win over Bishop Brossart gives them confidence headed into the district tournament as the Mustangs will be the team they face in the opening round.

Next up: Bishop Brossart (13-11)