For the third consecutive season, Dixie Heights is champion of the 34th District Baseball Tournament.
In a low scoring affair, the Colonels shutout St. Henry, 3-0.
Brayden Runion pitched the complete game shutout, allowing just two Crusader hits.
“We finally got the game out of Brayden that we’ve been looking for all year. He had a heck of a season for us last year and he drew the toughest assignments all year long. He actually came into this game 1-5, but he was nails today.” Dixie Heights coach Chris Maxwell said.
Runion didn’t allow a hit from St. Henry until the fourth inning when Matthew Resing hit an infield single. It was a quiet game until Dixie Heights got on the scoreboard from an RBI single by Ethan Bosley in the fifth. The Colonels had their chances putting runners on in the prior three innings, but Bosley helped break through.
St. Henry kept it at a one-run stalemate, Luke Kieper working through a bases loaded jam in the sixth. Kieper would finish with four strikeouts.
“Luke pitched his rear end off. He’s been good for us all year. We knew he was going to give us a good outing, he always does. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to bounce back and capitalize for him.” Crusader coach Greg Pass said.
Kiepert was replaced by Carson Shea in the seventh, the Colonels capitalizing with two insurance runs on Luke Abeling’s two-run hit.
St. Henry had one last chance to get their offense going, but Runion continued his stellar game with two groundouts and a flyout for the complete game shutout.
Dixie Heights goes back to the region as a winner, but it wasn’t an easy path to get there as they enter with a 14-21 record.
“We’ve been playing better baseball the past few weeks. We’ve been getting better at pitching, better fielding, the whole phase of the game has really improved. We’ve had a couple letdowns, but we hung with it and we’re pretty happy with where we’re at right now.” Maxwell said.
Maxwell was also delighted with his All-District players’ execution during the tournament.
“(Brach) Rice has been our best pitcher and with the way the tournament was set up this year, we had to throw him in the first game, we couldn’t save him for today because I needed him to get us to region. Luke Abeling has done very well for us as as a second-year starter. If could pick four kids, I would’ve picked Ethan Bosley. He’s been unbelievable for us. I think he’s the best player in the region. I was in a tough spot so I couldn’t give him the award today, but he was big today. Throwing kids out, making big plays, he broke the ice with the RBI single so I’m pretty happy with him.” Maxwell said.
St. Henry has a chance at redemption during the region tournament, but it starts with preparation as they look to make a return to the region championship.
“I didn’t prepare our guys well enough. It’s my job to get them prepared to play a game and I didn’t do my job, so the blame strictly goes on me. We have to prepare better if we want to make a run like we did last year to get to the championship. We have to have better mindset and that starts with me.” Pass said.
Dixie Heights joins Highlands, Covington Catholic, and Ryle as one-seeds in the 9th Region Tournament, while St. Henry will be a two-seed, along with Newport Central Catholic, Beechwood and Conner. The draw is Thursday night with the tournament starting Sunday at Thomas More Stadium.
DIXIE HEIGHTS – 000 – 010–2 — 3–9–0
ST. HENRY – 000–000–0 — 0–2-0
WP – Brayden Runion. LP – Luke Kiepert.