Death, taxes, and Dylan McIntyre picking up wins on the mound.
It’s not the original saying, but the senior pitcher for Ryle has been just that reliable.
McIntyre threw a complete-game shutout to lead the Raiders past Highlands, 8–0, at Highlands Hills Park in Fort Thomas—another statement win for a team that continues to assert itself as a Ninth Region power.
Over seven innings, McIntyre allowed just four hits and two walks while striking out nine. Of his 93 total pitches, 69 were strikes.
“Coming into it, I knew they were a good hitting team,” McIntyre said. “I knew I had to go out and throw my best stuff the whole game, and I think that’s what I did. My defense was really, really good today, and the pitch calling from my catcher was good. I just give all the credit to them.”
Highlands knew what the ace was capable of, yet figuring him out was another matter.
“One of the things I reminded the kids was that he was going to have a little bit more velocity than what we’ve seen for the most part,” Bluebirds coach Brian Benzinger said. “We told them to try not to muscle up. A lot of guys in high school feel like the harder the pitcher throws, the harder they have to swing.”
McIntyre’s success wasn’t limited to the mound. He also made an impact at the plate, leading a balanced Raiders lineup that collected 12 hits in the contest.
He finished with three hits, including a double, and drove in two runs. Josh Caudill added two doubles and an RBI, while Anthony Coppola went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Caudill’s performance also earned him a spot in the school record books, as he set the program’s all-time record for career doubles—a mark previously set in 2000 and held by Scott Buckler.
“We’re deep, and we know it,” Ryle coach Joe Aylor said. “They’ve all bought into the idea that just because you’re hitting in the nine spot doesn’t mean you’re a terrible hitter. There’s a purpose.”
Highlands starter Adam Forton didn’t make things easy early on. Over five innings, he allowed just three hits and three runs, walked three, and struck out eight. The Raiders chipped away steadily—scoring one run each in the second, fourth, and fifth innings—before breaking the game open late.
In the sixth inning, they added two more runs and tacked on three in the final frame.
“Early on, Forton kept us off balance,” Aylor said. “Our guys did a great job of battling. We talked about it this weekend—don’t be an easy out. Make the adjustment. Do what you need to do to get a guy across or get on base. Landon Louden hit two baseballs that combined for about 100 feet, but he scored two runs off of them. That’s just as successful as a double sometimes.”
Brooks Hendrix finished the night on the mound for Highlands, giving up six hits, five runs, and five walks while striking out four.
The Bluebirds were also plagued by five errors.
It marked the first time Highlands has been shut out since May 11, 2024, in a 7–0 loss to St. Xavier, and the first time they’ve been blanked at home since a 6–0 loss to Campbell County earlier that same season.
“The nice thing about this particular team is that we have tremendous senior leadership,” Benzinger said. “I think our seniors, in those darker moments, are the ones who pull the whole team out of it.”
Looking to avoid a second straight loss, the Bluebirds (17–6) will face another Ninth Region power in Beechwood at home on Tuesday night at 5 p.m.
Ryle (19–8), winners of four of their last five, return home to Union to host Walton-Verona on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
Photo gallery, provided by Charles Bolton:
RAIDERS 8, BLUEBIRDS 0
RYLE — 010-112-3 — 8-12-0
HIGHLANDS — 000-000-0 — 0-4-5
RBI —(R) McIntyre 2, Caudill, Coppola, Furtado, Hughes
2B — (R) Caudill 2, McIntyre
WP — McIntyre. LP —Forton.
Records: Highlands 17-6, Ryle 19-8