The weather warmed up and so did the bats of the Dixie Heights Colonels.
Dixie Heights pounded out 12 hits out of 27 at-bats for a .444 average in defeating the Ryle Raiders, 7-3 to open the season in 9th Region action. Ryle is 0-2 to start the season.
“We had just scrimmaged Ryle and we were a little intimidated by their team speed,” said Chris Maxwell, Dixie Heights Head Coach. “But we were able to hold them off the bases this time. We had just gotten our basketball players back so that was four kids. It was a matter of getting them in the flow of things.”
Dixie Heights saw five different players record multi-hit games. Senior center fielder Gabe Thelen led the way reaching base in all four at-bats going 3 for 3 with one double, one run batted in, one walk and one run scored.
Four others had two hits each. Senior third baseman Logan Wilson went 2 for 2 with one double, three RBI and one run scored. Wilson even had an RBI fouling out near the visiting dugout in the sixth inning. After Ryle catcher Brayden Vice caught the ball near the fence, Dixie Heights junior shortstop Jay Flynn dashed home to make the final score.
“Being put in the four spot puts pressure on me to put the ball in play so we can get runs in,” Wilson said. “But I can handle the pressure. That’s what (Coach Maxwell) wants me to do. On the (foul out), I have to give credit to Jay Flynn, who used his speed to be able to get in there. He’s great to play with.”
Flynn went 2 for 2 with three runs scored, one double and one walk. Junior catcher Ethan Bosley led off and went 2 for 4 with one RBI. Senior left fielder Brendon Cullen went 2 for 3.
“I knew these kids could hit the ball,” Maxwell said. “Last week in the scrimmage, that was the first time they saw live (pitching this year) and we didn’t hit the ball at all. We had maybe four hard-hit balls the whole time. We came back and scrimmaged West Clermont (Ohio) on Wednesday and we touched the ball pretty well. I knew once they got in their head, ‘Hey. I’m seeing the ball. I’m seeing it out of the pitcher’s hand’ that we were going to be okay. They showed that.”
Senior Brandon Brooks pitched the first four innings for Dixie Heights to pick up the win. Brooks struck out five, walked none, and allowed just three hits and one earned run.
“I was hitting my spots,” Brooks said. “I felt good (Monday). (Bosley) was pretty good (at catcher). He is very reliable. (Solid communication) is all it takes (for successful pitching).”
Sophomore Brach Rice took over after the first two batters reached in the fifth inning for the Colonels. Rice struck out two and allowed just two hits with no walks.
Freshman Dylan McIntyre started the game taking the loss for the Raiders striking out one. Junior Vincent Witte and sophomore Caleb Mann also pitched for Ryle. Mann struck out two.
Flynn singled with one out in the first inning for Dixie Heights and scored when senior Mark Dugan doubled to deep left center. The Colonels made it 2-0 in the top of the second. Thelen walked with one out then moved to second when Cullen singled and scored when Bosley singled.
It became 4-0 Dixie Heights in the top of the third. Dugan walked then moved to third when Wilson doubled. Brooks then hit a sacrifice fly to center scoring Dugan and moving Wilson to third. Wilson then scored when Thelen singled.
Ryle dented the scoreboard once in the bottom of the third. Sophomore right fielder Tate Cordrey singled, took second on a wild pitch, stole third then scored when senior left fielder Tristan Musson hit a sacrifice fly to left field.
Dixie Heights make it 6-1 in the top of the fourth inning. Bosley singled and pinch-runner Brennan Staton moved to second when Flynn drew a walk. After Dugan bunted them over, Wilson singled them in.
Ryle cut the margin to 6-3 in the bottom of the fifth. Junior second baseman Roman Furuta reached on an error and took thirde when junior third baseman TJ Schira singled. Futura then scored on a wild pitch and Schira took second before Vice singled him home.
“We compete all the way to the end,” said Joe Aylor, Ryle Head Coach. “We have four guys in the starting line-up who played varsity last year. So the fact we’re in some of these games with one of the top teams in the region and one of the top teams in the 8th Region losing to North Oldham, I think that’s a positive. I think we’re right there with everybody. So once we get closer to the end of the season and we work some kinks out, we’re going to compete for the 9th (Region championship).”
Dixie Heights does not play again until Friday when the Colonels face Holy Cross at 4:30 p.m. Ryle is slated to face Walton-Verona (1-1) on Tuesday. Game time is 5:30 p.m.
Baseball:
Beechwood 10, Scott 0 (Five innings):
Head Coach Kevin Gray expressed some concerns this marked the first game of the season for the host Tigers while the Eagles (1-3) had already played several games.
But the Tigers scored eight runs in the third inning to go up 9-0 and junior pitcher Sam Stacy took care of the rest pitching a no-hitter. Stacy struck out nine, walked one and Beechwood played error-free defense behind him.
“I think we were all just pumped up,” Stacy said. “I’ve been pitching for a while so I think I got it down. I just go through a routine every single game that is the exact same kind of tweaking it where it works for me. That turns all that adrenaline instead of nervousness to feeling prepared for the game. I’ve gotten to where I feel pretty comfortable on the mound. That all sets me up for success.”
Beechwood batted .428 (9 for 21) at the plate and took advantage of six walks. Junior third baseman Matthew Kappes went 2 for 2 at the plate and junior center fielder Nazario Pangallo went 2 for 3 with a double, two runs batted in and one run scored. Junior catcher Brice Estep and senior first baseman Tanner Jackson added doubles with Estep batting in two. Junior feft fielder Landon Johnson walked twice and scored twice with senior designated hitter Brett Holladay scoring twice.
“We’ve been waiting to play with a team with a different uniform on because we’ve been doing inter-squad scrimmages,” Gray said. “(Scott) had a couple miscues that kind of opened the door for us. We had quite a few good hits that inning.”
Beechwood plays host to Campbell County (0-1) on Thursday at 5 p.m. Scott travels to St. Henry (1-0) on Tuesday at 5 p.m.
Softball:
Highlands 4, Harrison County 3:
The Bluebirds opened the season with an impressive win over the 10th Region contending Fillies (1-1) at Winkler Field.
Highlands scored the game-winning run in the bottom of the sixth inning. With one out, junior third baseman Carly Cramer singled then stole second before taking third on a Harrison County throwing error. Junior pitcher Kennedy Baioni then drew a walk before stealing second bringing eighth grade second baseman Morgan Pompilio to the plate.
“It’s always good to win your first game. That goes without saying,” said Milt Horner, Highlands Head Coach. “I scheduled tough this year. I want to challenge them. We’re playing in some tough tournaments. Harrison always has a tough team.”
On her 14th birthday, Pompilio fouled off three pitches before hitting a sacrifice fly to center to score Cramer on her 17th birthday. Pompilio finished 2 for 2 with two runs batted in.
“I just had to put the bat on the ball, get the ball in play and hopefully score a run,” Pompilio said. “Nerves were everywhere. My stomach was in butterflies. As I kept fouling (balls) off, I was like, ‘Alright. I got it. Then when I had the (sacrifice fly), it just felt awesome to know I just put us in the lead.”
Pompilio put down a bunt that tied the game at three in the bottom of the fourth. Seventh grade pinch-runner Allison Meyers scored from third and Cramer came home on a Harrison County error. Highlands batted .250 in the game going 6 for 24.
“She got to play some last year. She didn’t get to play a whole lot,” Horner said of Pompilio. “She’s gotten a chance to start and she came through so she’s earning her stripes.”
Cramer finished 2 for 2 with a double and two runs scored. After Harrison County scored twice in the top of the first inning, Baioni homered in the bottom of the third to put Highlands on the board.
Baioni pitched a complete game striking out five and allowing eight hits, three earned runs and two walks. Horner said she settled down after the first inning.
Highlands has a home game scheduled against Campbell County (1-0) on Tuesday. Game time is 5 p.m.
Scott 4, Bracken County 1:
The Lady Eagles moved to 2-0 with another road win over a 39th District opponent. This marked the first game for the Lady Bears.
Scott scored three runs in the first inning and never looked back. The Lady Eagles went 5 for 27 at the plate for a .185 average. Senior left fielder Michelle Chalk and sophomore pitcher Emma Scribner both had doubles. Scribner batted in two and Chalk scored twice. Junior catcher Emerson Morman also batted in two.
“It brought up their confidence,” said Lisa Brewer, Scott Head Coach. “Bracken County has a great pitcher. In the first inning, we were seeing the ball well. We took advantage of hits. Then our defense played solid for us. It helps when you get those runs early because you don’t feel the pressure.”
Scribner (2-0) threw another complete game. She struck out seven, walked six and allowed four hits and one earned run.
“Bracken County had the bases loaded at one point and we were able to get out of the inning without allowing any runs,” Brewer said. “Emma hung tough. She struggled a little bit. The strike zone was a little inconsistent. I told her to put it where (the umpire) wants it. Let them hit and let your defense do something for you. That’s basically what she did. We caught some girls stealing. That helped keep them at bay as well.”
Bracken County did have one player record a multi-hit game. Junior center fielder Maddie Johnson went 2 for 3.
Sophomore pitcher Ella Johnson also threw a complete game for Bracken County. She struck out nine, walked one and allowed two earned runs.
Scribner doubled in Chalk and senior third baseman Riley Reeves to put Scott up 2-0 before freshman Emerson Morman hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Chalk. Morman had her second RBI in the top of the sixth to score Chalk on a single.
“We all like to be aggressive at the plate,” Chalk said. “So far it’s working for us. I give it to Bracken County’s pitcher (Ella Johnson). She kind of slowed us down. But we still kept that (aggressive) mindset going through and we knew what we wanted the outcome to be.”
Scott plays host to Conner (1-1) on Tuesday. Game time is 5 p.m.
Other March 21 NKY Baseball Scores:
Boone County 10, Walton-Verona 7
St. Henry 7, Campbell County 5
Bellevue 6, Williamstown 4
Calvary Christian 9, Lloyd Memorial 3
Cooper 22, Holy Cross 8
Dayton 12, Newport 4
Mason County 9, Bishop Brossart 5
Pendleton County 16, Holmes 1 (4 innings)
Other March 21 NKY Softball Scores:
Conner 6, Beechwood 2
Holmes 1, Newport 0 (forfeit)
Campbell County 19, St. Henry 0 (3 innings)
Calvary Christian 14, Lloyd Memorial 14 (6 innings, darkness)
Frederick Douglass 5, Simon Kenton 2
Trimble County 14, Walton-Verona 4
Scott County 10, Boone County 0 (6 innings)