Teams may not be able to win certain things during the regular season.
But the top seed in the 33rd District Tournament is one of them. The Conner Cougars baseball team (12-1 overall) came into the day with the best record of the four teams and showed why in an 8-0 blanking of the host Boone County Rebels (5-6).
“Our offense has been able to swing the bat the best we’ve been able to swing the bat in a few years here,” said Brad Arlinghaus, Conner Head Coach. “I’ll take your offense and I’ll take the hitting. But at some point, we’re going to have to win a 1-0 ballgame. That starts with our defense and pitching. That wins championships. We’ve really put the time in on defense this year. (Assistant) Coach (Jim) Booth hits them ground balls every day. But they’re having fun and that’s the biggest thing.”
Arlinghaus noted the Cougars went to lunch after Peewee’s Place in Crescent Springs. He said that energy resonates in the dugout. The players not in the game constantly stand up and cheer on their teammates.
Junior Brody Mangold (4-0) pitched six solid innings for the Cougars striking out 10, walking two and allowing four hits. Senior Tyler Parsons pitched the seventh striking out one and walking one.
“To be honest, our hitting is impeccable this year. The offense is really sparking the defense,” Mangold said. “It just really helps having that support at the plate. Our pitching coach Brady Smiley just absolutely killed it calling pitches and our catcher (senior Briggs Yeunger) was there framing the pitches giving me all the strikes I needed. If you miss a spot, you see what happens. I got lucky and hit all my spots.”
Conner did make two errors to none for Boone County. But the Rebels did not score any runs off them.
“One of the things we just talked about is you have to have a short-term memory out there,” Arlinghaus said. “We can’t let one bad at-bat, one bad pitch snowball into another bad at-bat or another bad pitch. You have to be able to handle failure and that’s one of the things we’re doing.”
The Cougars showed discipline at the plate batting .269 (7 for 26) in the game and taking advantage of 10 walks. Sophomore second baseman Rex Richter and senior catcher Briggs Yeunger walked twice. Conner earned all eight runs in the win.
The power hitters did most of the damage for Conner. Senior shortstop and Indiana University-Southeast commit Gage Testerman led the way going 2 for 4 with a double, home run, two runs batted in and two runs scored. Arlinghuas said Testerman will be one of the best to come through the program at the end of the year.
But he has plenty of help around him. Senior first baseman Kaden Early went 2 for 3 with one RBI and two runs scored and Yeunger went 2 for 2. Testerman’s two-run home run in the top of the sixth scoring junior center fielder Ayden Lohr in front of him made the final score.
Senior third baseman Blaise Bowman may not have recorded a hit. But he added two RBIs on a sacrifice fly and drawing a walk with the bases loaded.
Senior Justin Huff started for the Rebels and took the loss. He struck out four pitching into the third inning before senior Jason Williams finished the game. Huff struck out four and Williams two. Justin Huff also had one of the four Boone County singles.
The Rebels did have a golden opportunity in the bottom of the first. They loaded the bases with two out. But Mangold got Williams to ground out to Richter at second to end the threat.
“(Mangold) threw well. They came ready to play,” said Wayne Huff, Boone County Head Coach. “We just weren’t ready to play. They handed it to us. They were the better team and they deserved to win.”
Boone County also put runners at second and third with two out in the bottom of the sixth. Huff and Williams recorded consecutive singled and moved up one base on a Conner error. But Mangold struck out senior catcher Tommy Switzer to end the inning. The Rebels also put runners at first and second in the bottom of the seventh before sophomore third baseman Chris Henson grounded into a fielder’s choice. Testerman threw to Richter at second forcing sophomore Jack Moore to end the game.
Conner scored the lone run it needed in the top of the second. Early walked then took second when Yeunger singled. Richter walked to load the bases and Bowman walked with the bases loaded scoring Early.
The Cougars exploded for five runs in the top of the third. With one out, Testerman doubled and scored when Early singled to go up 2-0. Four straight walks gave the Cougars a 4-0 advantage. Yeunger and junior right fielder Jackson Bucks walked to load the bases. Then a walk to senior left fielder Cody Crawford scored Early forcing Boone County to bring in Williams to pitch. Richter then walked to score Yeunger.
That is when Bowman delivered a crucial RBI. He hit a deep fly to Boone County right fielder Barth allowing Bucks to score giving Conner a 5-0 lead. Lohr then singled to score Crawford. Richter tried to score. But the Rebels tagged him out before he could score ending the inning.
“One of our coaches Brady Smiley always talks about positive-negative charts how that is more important than batting average,” Bowman said. “That bases-loaded walks was a really positive at bat. It (got) us going. Then that sacrifice fly doesn’t help my batting average or anything. But it got us going again. One run can be the difference in the game.”
Boone County had not played in eight days earning a 12-6 win over Cooper April 4. But Conner last played Friday defeating Lawrenceburg (Indiana), 14-3 in five innings.
“That was one our talks out (in right field after the game),” Coach Huff said. “It’s one thing hitting in the cage. But going seven days then seeing a pitcher that’s that good, that’s a problem. But other teams deal with it. We have to find a way to deal with it.”
The teams will battle again Thursday at Florence Y’alls Stadium. Game time is 5 p.m.
Cooper 9, Ryle 5:
The Jaguars (3-6) were the other 33rd District team to earn a jump in seed play on the road against the Raiders (6-6).
Cooper led 4-1 after three before Ryle rallied to tie the game at 5-5 after five innings. But the Jaguars scored four times in the top of the sixth to make the final score.
Junior Logan Dean (1-0) picked up the win in relief for Cooper after junior Chase Gartner started the game. Junior Trevor Ollier pitched the last two innings for the Jaguars. Gartner and Ollier both struck out two and walked one.
Both teams had their struggles in the field. Ryle scored four runs on three Cooper errors. Cooper wound up scoring two unearned runs off two Ryle errors.
Cooper went 8 for 26 at the plate for a team batting average of .308 and drew 10 walks. Gartner went 2 for 3 with two doubles, three runs scored and an RBI. Ollier went 2 for 4 with one RBI and one run scored. Junior third baseman James Crowe went 2 for 3 with a double, three RBI and one run scored. Sophomore Mark Nowak doubled and scored twice.
Ryle threw four pitchers. But senior Tyler Sickmeyer (1-1) wound up taking the loss striking out three.
The Raiders batted .207 (6 for 29) in the game. Junior right fielder Roman Furuta and junior third baseman/second baseman Keegan Flaherty both went 2 for 4. Flaherty scored once and drove in one. Junior shortstop/third baseman TJ Schira scored twice.
The teams go at it again Thursday in the second part of a 33rd District doubleheader at Florence Y’alls Stadium. Game time is 7 p.m.
Highlands 13, Scott 0 (5 innings):
The Bluebirds (7-3) began the long week with a run-ruling of the Eagles (2-10) in non-region action at Highland Park. Neither team had played in eight days.
“We actually started off a little rusty. Offensively, we couldn’t get timing early on,” said Jeremy Baioni, Highlands Head Coach. “It kind of looked like we needed to get back into it. Pitching-wise, we weren’t as efficient as we need to be. But we told our guys, ‘Keep it in perspective.’ Even with it being turf, we couldn’t get out there and inter-squad (scrimmage) with the way the weather was. But I was really pleased how quickly we got back into it. We really did a good job with approaches and were aggressive offensively. We made the routine plays.”
Highlands senior pitchers Connor Schwalbach and Austin Eads combined to no-hit the Eagles. Schwalbach (2-0) threw the first three innings striking out four and walking three. In two innings, Eads struck out four and walked two.
“I love being able to pitch like that,” Eads said, “Coach (Baioni) is able to get a lot of guys in and out. We have a lot of games this week so a lot of guys are going to see a lot more opportunities. He was talking with us at practice about how we need to take advantage of a lot of opportunities because we have a lot of good guys.”
Highlands batted .400 (10 for 25) at the plate. Junior shortstop Jack Hendrix and senior third baseman Nick Robinson both went 2 for 3. Robinson drove in two and scored once with Hendrix driving in one and scoring once.
The Bluebirds had three extra-base hits in the win. Senior left fielder Drew Hack belted his third home run of the year driving in two with senior second baseman Charlie Gorman and junior catcher Brennan Kelsay recording doubles.
Highlands plays host to Newport (1-8) on Wednesday at 5 p.m. and Scott plays host to Lloyd Memorial (5-5) at 5 p.m.
Campbell County 10, Pendleton County 0 (5 innings):
The Camels (7-4) moved to 4-0 in 10th Region play with the run-ruling in Alexandria over the Wildcats (4-6).
Campbell County batted .400 (6 for 15) at the plate and took advantage of seven walks. Junior second baseman Jake Gross went 2 for 3 with a double, one RBI and one run scored. Junior shortstop Aydan Hamilton and senior Jake Napier scored two runs each. Napier also drive in two and walked twice.
The Camels stole 12 bases in the game out of 13 tries. Junior Evan Clark stole three with senior center fielder Greg Vineyard and senior third baseman Tyler Fowler stealing two each.
“We really took advantage of our opportunities,” said Scott Schweitzer, Campbell County Head Coach. “They threw their best pitcher in (junior) Ethan Verst.”
Freshman Zach Franzen (1-0) made his first varsity start striking out seven in four innings and allowing just one hit. Junior Max Lause pitched the fifth striking out three.
Wells and senior left fielder Caeleb James had sacrifice flies. James batted one in and scored after a walk.
“Even when I’m on the bench, I try to make the most of it trying to cheer and get the dugout going even if people are being quiet,” James said. “When I’m on the field, I’m locked in trying to be a leader. We’ve all played with each other from freshman or eighth grade up. We’re all real close. We have team dinners after games.”
Campbell County travels to Mason County (4-9) on Friday. Game time is 6 p.m.
Covington Catholic 5, Bishop Brossart 2:
The Colonels (6-6) evened up their record with a home win over the Mustangs (7-6-1).
Senior Will Burke (2-0) pitched the first six innings striking out seven to go with two walks, three hits, two walks and one earned run. Sophomore Charlie Dieruf pitched the seventh striking out one and walking one.
The two also did well at the plate. Burke went 2 for 3 with one RBI with Dieruf going 2 for 4 with one RBI and one run scored.
The Colonels batted .444 (12 for 27) at the plate with five hitters recording multi-hit games. Senior right fielder Nick Darpel went 2 for 3 with one run scored and senior outfielder Evan Myers went 2 for 4 with one run scored. Junior catcher Jonathan Fitz went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI.
Junior Evan Moore (2-3) pitched a complete game striking out four, walking two and allowing five earned runs. The Mustangs had two extra-base hits. Moore homered and junior catcher Colin Combs doubled.
Both teams return to action Wednesday. CovCath travels to Cincinnati (Ohio) Elder at 5 p.m. and Bishop Brossart takes on Newport Central Catholic (8-2) at home at 5 p.m.
Lexington Sayre 4, Simon Kenton 1:
The Pioneers (7-5) lost a home game against the Spartans (9-4).
Sophomore Logan Cones took the loss pitching into the seventh inning. He struck out three before junior Dakota Brown recorded the final out in the seventh on a strikeout.
Sayre outhit Simon Kenton, 8-2 and both teams committed two errors. The Pioneers had one unearned run.
Simon Kenton plays host to Dixie Heights (6-3) on Wednesday. Game time is 5:30 p.m.
Softball:
Oldham County 15, Dixie Heights 0 (4 innings):
Dixie Heights (5-3) could only manage just two hits against undefeated Oldham County (16-0), ranked ninth in the latest Kentucky Softball Coaches Association poll.
Oldham County scored 12 unearned runs off five Dixie Heights errors. Senior third baseman Bri Patsel and sophomore pitcher Riley Hopkins had the two Dixie Heights hits.
Dixie Heights travels to Highlands (5-8) on Wednesday. Game time is 5 p.m.
Other April 12 NKY Baseball Scores:
Ludlow 5, Dayton 3
Newport Central Catholic 6, Cincinnati (Ohio) Purcell Marian 3
Walton-Verona 16, Eminence 3 (5 innings)
Villa Madonna 10, Bellevue 0 (5 innings)
Other April 12 NKY Softball Scores:
Villa Madonna 8, Newport Central Catholic 6
Villa Madonna 13, Holy Cross 2 (5 innings)
Walton-Verona 14, Eminence 3 (6 innings)
Beechwood 25, Dayton 6
