For the 11th straight season, the Highlands Bluebirds baseball team are champions of the 36th district.
It wasn’t a high scoring affair, but Highlands took the win as they shut out Newport Central Catholic, 3-0. It was the eighth straight time the two met in the district title tilt, the Bluebirds coming up on the winning end in all of them.
The three pitchers that took the mound on Monday each had solid performances. Newport Central Catholic’s Noah Ohradzansky held a Highlands to three runs on six hits.
On the other side, tournament MVP Ryan DeBurger started on the mound before switching with shortstop Jack Hendrix, who finished the game. The two combined for a six-hit shutout, DeBurger pitching the first three innings while Hendrix closed out the final four.
The scoring started early for Highlands as Luke Schneider had an RBI single to send Hendrix home in the first inning. DeBurger helped his own cause with an RBI single in the second inning to make it 2-0 Highlands.
“Everyday it’s somebody that contributes. Brody (Benke) threw well for us to get us here to the finals. A couple guys got some big hits. Today, Callum McAtee had two hits. There are guys that we count on, seniors that we’re expecting a lot out of, and they really performed today and in this tournament,” Bluebird’s coach Jeremy Baioni said.
Ohradzansky also played well on both sides, with three strikeouts and two hits earning himself All-Tournament team honors.
“We got two on the shelf with injuries, so we looked to Noah to go out there and do what he does. He handled adversity out there. He’s a pitcher that will continue to throw and throw. It’s going to be a struggle to get him off the mound late in the game. He wanted to finish it. It always seems like he gets better as he goes.” NewCath coach Jeff Martin said.
Before the fourth inning began Highlands made the switch putting Jack Hendrix at pitcher.
After some early control issues Hendrix found his groove, accumulating five strikeouts.
It was back-and-forth between Hendrix and Ohradzansky from there, both pitchers stranding multiple base runners.
Highlands added some insurance in the sixth, JP Donelan’s solo shot making it 3-0 Bluebirds.
“It was huge. We were stuck on two for a while, so I think it made everyone relax a little bit. It was really good timing on our part. It was a 3-0 pitch and I told him to be smart and when he rounded third, he asked me, ‘Was that smart’ and I said, ‘Yeah that was smart’. It was a huge, huge run for us. Really gave us some breathing room, got us comfortable.” Baioni said.
Hendrix mowed the ‘Breds down in the seventh. Newport Central Catholic scattered six hits, Ian Mann also collecting two hits with Ohradsansky. NewCath’s 1-4 batters went 6-for-12, but the rest of the lineup went 0-for-13 with four strikeouts.
The title stays in Fort Thomas.
“It means a lot. We put all of our hard work and effort into it. It really means something in the end of things. A lot of credit to Jack for throwing strikes and keeping the defense in the game. It’s everything we practiced. It was time to execute in a game and that’s what we did. It gives us a lot of confidence, going in with a win streak and winning district. A lot of momentum and it feels good to have it.” Ryan DeBurger said.
The Thorobreds didn’t make things easy, Highlands winning the first matchup of the season, 11-5.
“New Cath has a really good team and really good program. I think it says a lot about us that we’re able to win this game because they played well today. The pitcher threw really well. But I was really happy with the way our guys played. Win or lose, you get into the regional tournament, but we always want to go in with momentum as winner so I’m glad our guys responded today.” Coach Baioni said.
Heading into the 9th Region Tournament, Highlands will be a one seed, while Newport Central Catholic will be a two seed.
“I think we had two walks and a hit batter and they capitalized on it. They had two better swings than us to get the clutch hit. Eight in scoring position, we just couldn’t get that hit. A lot of credit to Highlands. They’re a very solid team, up and down the lineup. To win districts, you got to go through Highlands and rightfully so. I wish them the best and hope we meet them again because that means we will be in the final,” Martin said.
NEWPORT CENTRAL CATHOLIC – 000-000-0 — 0-6-1
HIGHLANDS – 110-001-x — 3-6-1
2B – (H) McAtee, (NCC) Schoulties
HR — (H) Donelan
WP – DeBurger. LP – Ohradzansky.