This 33rd District softball match-up had a bigger reason than usual for its intensity.
The Boone County Lady Rebels and Ryle Lady Raiders met in Union seeking their first district seed victory of the season. Tied 4-4 entering the bottom of the sixth inning, Ryle scored four times to pull through for the 8-5 victory.
Ryle (9-9 overall) is 1-2 in district seed game and Boone County (6-9) is 0-3. Cooper leads the way at 2-0 and Conner is 3-1.
Both teams recorded 24 at-bats. Ryle had nine hits to record a team batting average of .375 and Boone County had seven for a .292 clip.
But the big difference came with the errors. Boone County made four in the fifth and sixth innings leading to four unearned Ryle runs and Ryle made one leading to one unearned Boone County run.
Junior shortstop Avery Parsons led Ryle at the plate going 3 for 3 with a run batted in and two runs scored. Senior center fielder Grace Morgan went 2 for 3 with one RBI and one run scored and freshman catcher Laney Schuster went 2 for 4 with two RBI on a two-run home run in the sixth inning and a run scored. Junior third baseman Payton Godfrey added two RBI.
“You just have to mentally prepare for these type of pitchers beforehand, just wait for the pitch to be thrown and pick and choose wisely,” Parsons said. “If it’s there, you have to attack.”
Ryle sophomore Maddie Goddard (8-5) picked up the win. She struck out eight, walked two and allowed four earned runs.
Sophomore third baseman Josie Hollingsworth went 2 for 3 with a run scored to lead Boone County. Senior KB Irwin went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI and junior catcher Kailey Richardson hit a solo home run in the top of the seventh to make the final score.
Irwin (5-6) took the pitching loss for Boone County pitching the first five innings before freshman Dani Wright took over and finished the sixth. Wright struck out two.
“KB throws that change-up for a strike,” Ryle Head Coach Jarret Goddard said of Irwin. “Teams push their weight forward and it shuts them down. They pop the ball up. We’ve worked on that a ton and you can see it didn’t necessarily always work for us. I was getting on my girls about swinging at first-pitch change-ups. We have to get in there and see more pitches against a pitcher like that. But she’s very effective and getting her out of the game was a definitely a change in force a little bit.”
Ryle took a 1-0 lead in the top of the first. Junior second baseman Aaliyah Kaseke singled and ultimately scored when Parsons singled.
But Boone County came back to go up 4-1 in the top of the third. Hollingsworth singled and took second when seventh grade right fielder Alivia Scott reached on Ryle’s lone error of the game before scoring when senior center fielder Mia Nixson singled. Junior shortstop Harper Kinman then singled in Scott before Irwin doubled in Nixson and Kinman.
“We’ve had a couple games this year where we’ve had what I call implosion innings,” Coach Goddard said. “Defensively, we just can’t make a play. We get caught under ourselves unable to get outs. We had multiple opportunities to make plays that inning and we did not. That led to multiple runs. The good thing is that happened earlier in the game than when it’s happened in the past so we had a good opportunity to catch back up and get the lead back. They were able to scratch and claw back then move forward.”
But Ryle cut it to 4-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Junior left fielder Emily Zmurk walked and moved to second with two out when freshman right fielder Laci DeLauder walked. Senior center fielder Grace Morgan singled Zmurk home.
Ryle tied it 4-4 in the bottom of the fifth. Parsons singled and took second on a Boone County error before Godfrey singled her home. Godfrey then scored on a Lady Rebel error.
“They did a good job,” Boone County Head Coach Andy Petridis said of the Lady Rebels fighting until the end. “There’s a good number of them that have been in the program for a few years so they got to witness last year and how we turned into a scrappy bunch. The effort is not a concern on my end. We have to stop shooting ourself in the foot.”
The sixth inning started off with Morgan singling then moving to third when Kaseke laid down a bunt and reached on an error. Parsons then walked to lad the bases and Godfrey hit a sacrifice fly to right to score Morgan. Kaseke then scored on a wild pitch before Schuster homered to make it 8-4 Ryle.
“You really just have to relax every time,” Godfrey said of fielding. “You need to not overrun a ball. You need to know how fast the ball is coming toward you. You need to know if you need stay down on a ball or if you need to charge it. You need to set your feet and throw every time. It’s a routine every time.”
Ryle plays three times in the Jerry Puckett Cardinals Showcase at George Rogers Clark on Saturday. The Lady Raiders face GRC at 10:45 a.m. then Fleming County at 12:30 p.m. and Campbell County at 2:15 p.m. Boone County travels to Henry County on Saturday for a 4 p.m. game.
Softball:
Dixie Heights 6, Notre Dame 2:
The Colonels (7-4) downed the host Pandas (4-3) in a 9th Region make-up game.
Sophomore pitcher Riley Hopkins (5-4) threw a complete game striking out four, walking one and allowing three hits and no earned runs. Dixie Heights had two errors leading to the two Notre Dame runs and Notre Dame had one leading to one Colonel unearned run.
Dixie Heights batted .308 (8 for 26) overall in the win. Senior third baseman Ava Meyer went 2 for 4 with a double, one RBI and one run scored. Eighth grade right fielder Sydney Schumacher went 2 for 3 with two RBI. Senior second baseman Bri Patsel and sophomore center fielder Taylor Ingram scored two runs each.
“We’re still taking steps in the right direction,” said Sarah Osborne, Dixie Heights Head Coach. “We had some people in old positions. We had two in new positions. They stepped up and did phenomenal work. They girls did exactly what they were supposed to do and we picked up our intensity quite a bit.”
Seeing more pitches has been an emphasis lately for Dixie Heights. Junior shortstop Ella Steczynski had an RBI single.
“It’s good to keep momentum up,” Steczynski said. “We did well with (approaches). If we got runners on, we moved them right away. It’s important to get the pitcher to throw as much as she can. Eventually, she’ll wear down and we can get better pitches to hit farther.”
Freshman Abby Turnpaugh threw a complete game for Notre Dame. She struck out seven and walked three.
Both teams return to action Saturday. Dixie Heights plays Harrison (Ohio) at 11 a.m. and Notre Dame faces Boyle County at 1 p.m.
Campbell County 6, George Rogers Clark 5:
The Camels (5-5) took down the host Lady Cardinals (8-5) in a 10th Region road game. They led 2-1 before scoring four runs in the top of the sixth and holding off a George Rogers Clark rally. The time-limited game lasted six innings.
Campbell County batted .261 (6 for 23) in the game. Junior pitcher/second baseman Paige Stewart went 2 for 3 with a double, RBI and run scored with junior third first baseman Emily Nadeau recording a triple. Eighth grade third baseman Hope Hamilton homered.
“At the beginning of the game, we weren’t touching the ball and (GRC senior pitcher Emily Schooler) threw fastballs basically and we couldn’t touch her,” said Sandi Kitchen, Campbell County Head Coach. “Then (eighth grade third baseman) Hope Hamilton had a no-doubt home run to center field. We nipped and tucked the rest of the way.
Kitchen credited junior Ana Little for filling in at catcher for the first time in her varsity career for injured junior Isabella Whisman. Little had a key RBI single scoring Stewart in the top of the sixth.
Stewart (5-2) picked up the win pitching the first three innings. She struck out two, walked one and allowed three hits. Junior Alex Leicht pitched the next three striking out two, walking two and allowing four earned runs. Campbell County had one error to none for GRC leading to one unearned Lady Cardinal error.
“We’ve definitely grown in the communication aspect,” Stewart said. “When we don’t communicate, we make all the errors and miscues. I think if I miss a spot, my fielders are there to back me up. If I struggle, I have Alex to come in for me.”
Campbell County plays two games back at George Rogers Clark. The Camels face Ryle (9-9) at 2:15 p.m. then Cooper (9-3) at 5:45 p.m.
Highlands 13, Jeffersontown 1 (4 innings):
The Bluebirds (8-9) downed the Lady Chargers (3-8) in the Capital City Showcase at Franklin County scoring six runs off four Jeffersontown errors and allowing none off their lone error.
Highlands Head Coach Milt Horner said the Bluebirds did not have four starters available because of illness, an eighth grade trip and a prom. Freshman Julia Luhn saw some action as a result.
“It felt good,” Luhn said. “We have a great relationship with our coaches.”
Junior Kennedy Baioni (5-6) pitched the first three innings striking out five and allowing three hits, no walks and one earned run. Eighth grader Kaitlyn Dixon pitched the fourth striking out two and walking one.
“Kennedy pitched a good game,” Horner said. “I’m trying to balance some innings. We put the ball in play. There was a tough sun in right field. I didn’t realize how bad the sun was until we hit a few there and the right fielder couldn’t see them. That was a good start for us.”
Highlands batted .304 (7 for 23) at the plate. Senior Anna Greenwell went 2 for 3 with a triple, three RBI and two runs scored. Eighth grade second baseman Morgan Pompilio went 2 for 3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Senior right fielder Hailey Parks scored twice.
Highlands plays three times in the Capital City Showcase on Saturday. The Bluebirds take on Louisville Eastern at 9 a.m. then Shelby County at Noon. The Bluebirds will play again after that.
Conner 11, Dayton 0 (5 innings):
The Lady Cougars (6-5) scored seven times in the top of the fifth to pull away for the road 9th Region win against the Lady Devils (4-7). Conner has won three straight.
Freshman pitcher Ellie Ortiz (1-2) threw a complete game. She struck out three, walked none and allowed just three hits.
“For pitching, I just have to focus, hit my spots and remember all the details,” Ortiz said. “The team encourages us (pitcher) and that’s how we win. We stay together and we cheer each other on. Whenever the energy gets down, we have to pick each other up.”
Conner batted .346 (9 for 26) overall and committed one error defensively. Dayton had four leading to six Lady Cougar unearned runs.
“Offensively, it took us to get a little bit going from KR Irwin and Maddie Goddard to get Dayton’s pitcher (Sophomore Angie Thomas) timed up,” said Shawn Sproles, Conner Head Coach. “Their defense made some nice plays on some balls in the middle of innings. We were kind of happy with the effort we were able to get going in the third and fourth. But credit to (Dayton Head Coach) Beth Fields. I know she has a young program. They played hard. It’s good to get a win. Things seem to be going the right way.”
Sophomore left fielder Molly Sharp led Conner going 3 for 4 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore first baseman Jalyn Cain went 2 for 2 with two RBI and two runs scored. Senior catcher Alex Lightner went 2 for 4 with two RBI and senior shortstop Alex Cobble scored twice.
Conner travels to Bishop Brossart for a 5 p.m. game on Saturday. Dayton plays host to St. Ursula (Ohio) on Monday at 5 p.m.
Franklin County 6, Scott 4:
The Lady Eagles (6-8) dropped their fourth in a row against the host Lady Flyers (9-8) in a time-shortened six innings.
Scott batted .182 (4 for 22) overall. Junior first baseman Kayla Overman went 2 for 3 to lead the Lady Eagles.
Sophomore pitcher Emma Scribner (6-6) took the loss pitching into the fourth before eighth grader Scarlett Cochran took over. Scribner struck out one and Cochran struck out two.
Scott has a game scheduled at 1:30 p.m. back in the Capital City Showcase against Central Hardin.
Baseball:
Conner 7, Walton-Verona 2:
The Cougars (18-2 overall) took down the Bearcats (13-4) in the Doc Morris Invitational at Campbell County. Conner committed no errors and scored one run off three Walton-Verona errors.
“Our pitching and defense kept us in the game until our offense came alive,” said Brad Arlinghaus, Conner Head Coach. “Like I’ve said most of the year, we’re not always going to be able to put up 10, 12 runs per game. The defense has to be able to play. The district and region games are usually pretty tight games so we have to be able to field it and pitch it to keep us in it until the offense wakes up.”
Conner batted .321 (9 for 28) in the win. Senior left fielder Cody Crawford went 2 for 3 with a double and junior catcher Luke Hubbard went 2 for 3. Senior designated hitter Briggs Yeunger went 2 for 4 with a double. Sophomore second baseman Rex Richter doubled and scored twice with junior right fielder Brayden Stidham batting in two.
“We’re going to get every team’s best game and we’re going to come out and fight no matter who we’re playing,” Crawford said. “We’re going to play calm and cool baseball. Everyone on the team loves each other. We like hyping each other up. It’s been fun to come to the baseball field every day this year.”
Conner stole eight bases. Senior shortstop Gage Testerman stole three and junior center fielder Ayden Lohr stole two.
Junior Jackson Bucks (3-1) picked up the win throwing six innings striking out eight, walking three and allowing four hits and two earned runs. Junior Jeffrey Vest pitched the seventh inning.
Junior Carter Krohman (2-1) took the loss for Walton-Verona. He pitched five innings striking out six, walked four and allowed four earned runs. Junior Ed Drohan pitched the last two innings striking out two, walking two and allowed two earned runs. Junior center fielder Ethan Mills went 2 for 3 with a run scored to lead the Bearcats at the plate.
Conner takes on Mason County at Campbell County in the Doc Morris Invitational at 11 a.m. Saturday. Walton-Verona takes on Batesville (Indiana) at 10:30 a.m. then Beechwood at 12:30 p.m. Both games take place at Beechwood.
Cooper 5, Newport Central Catholic 2:
The Jaguars (6-10) have won three in a row with a 9th Region win over the Thoroughbreds (9-5) at Dixie Heights.
Both teams had five hits and neither team had any errors. Sophomore shortstop Mark Nowak led Cooper going 2 for 3 with two runs scored. Senior infielder Jake Jennings had two RBI.
“Our pitchers continued to step up, keep things simple and work within themselves,” said Scott Buckler, Cooper Head Coach. “They have a good ceiling and basement. I can’t say enough about the guys. They keep coming to the field. They accept their roles and we executed.”
Junior Trevor Ollier (1-0) pitched the first three innings picking up the win for the Jaguars. Senior Justin Delph, junior Brendan Joehnk and junior Logan Dean also pitched for Cooper. The Jaguars had just one wild pitch with senior Warik Dunn at catcher.
“I catch a lot in bullpens and practice so I’m kind of used to everybody,” Dunn said. “I see the warm-up pitches, what everyone is throwing, what’s off, everything like that has just helped a lot. When we get into a game, I know what they want to throw, what they can throw and just go from there.”
Senior Luke Brockman (1-1) threw a complete game for Newport Central Catholic. He struck out seven, walked three and allowed five earned runs. Brockman had a double offensively.
Both teams finish the Doc Morris Invitational on Saturday. Cooper takes on Lexington Lafayette at 3 p.m. at Scott and NewCath plays Paintsville at 1:30 p.m. then host Dixie Heights at 3:30 p.m.
Ryle 6, Batesville (Indiana) 1:
The Raiders (9-9) knocked off their out-of-state opponent at Beechwood. This is the fourth time Ryle has played a non-Kentucky opponent. The Raiders are 3-1 in those games.
Both teams committed one error each. But neither one led to any runs.
“We jumped out on them early,” said Joe Aylor, Ryle Head Coach. “Caleb Mann pitched a great game. We kept the hard hits they had in the park.”
Sophomore Caleb Mann (2-2) pitched the first six innings striking out three, walking two and allowing four hits and one earned run. Senior Tyler Sickmeyer pitched the seventh inning.
“Everything came together,” Mann said. “Everyone made plays. I couldn’t have done it without my coaches and fielders behind my back. You have to let (opponents) put the ball in play and let the fielders do the work. I have a lot of trust in my infielders.”
Ryle batted .192 (5 for 26) earning the win. Freshman Dylan McIntyre led the way going 2 for 4 with a solo home run in the top of the seventh. Senior Brayden Stewart had a double, two walks and two runs scored. Senior shortstop Josh Furtado and junior right fielder Roman Furuta added doubles.
Ryle plays host to Boone County on Tuesday at 5 p.m. in another 33rd District seed game.
Highlands 8, Lexington Christian 3:
The Bluebirds (11-7) jumped out to a 6-2 lead after two against the Eagles (7-11-1) at Beechwood.
“It’s great to get a win. But some of the little things we did, we hadn’t done over the last week,” said Jeremy Baioni, Highlands Head Coach. “We had three sacrifice flies. We hit behind runners to advance them. We battled a little more with two strikes and put balls in play. It was really great to see. Guys are starting to understand what team baseball looks like.”
Junior Jack Hendrix (4-0) picked up the win pitching the first five innings. He struck out six, walked two and allowed four hits. Sophomore Brody Benke pitched the last two innings striking out four, walking two and allowing two hits.
Highlands batted .391 (9 for 23) overall. Junior JP Donelan went 2 for 4 with a home run, two runs scored and an RBI. Senior Ryne Wiseman went 2 for 2 with a double and run scored with junior Nathan Hartle adding a double. Seniors Jack Schneider and Charlie Gorman batted in two with senior Drew Hack scoring twice.
“I think it started with JP’s home run in the top of the first inning,” Hartle said. “It riled us up and made us want to come out and play. The momentum from that inning on just helped us keep going.”
Highlands takes on Covington Catholic (9-7) at 3 p.m. at St. Henry on Saturday.
Covington Catholic 9, St. Henry 6:
The Colonels (9-7) trailed the host Crusaders (11-5-1) 6-5 entering the top of the seventh. But CovCath scored four times to pull out the win in the Doc Morris Invitational. The teams have split the two meetings this year.
Senior Coling Gastright pitched into the sixth inning for CovCath striking out four, walking none and allowing four earned runs. But sophomore Charlie Dieruf (1-0) earned the win striking out two.
CovCath batted .233 (7 for 30) overall. Junior catcher Jonathan Fitz went 2 for 3 with one RBI and one run scored. Freshman shortstop Jackson Reardon went 2 for 3 with two run scored and an RBI. Junior Max Lawrie hit a three-run home run in the top of the seventh driving in four overall.
St. Henry also batted .233 (7 for 30) overall. Senior first baseman Matthew Miller went 2 for 3 with one RBI and one run scored. Senior catcher Carter Scheben had a triple.
Both teams play again in the Doc Morris Invitational at St. Henry. The Crusaders play Louisville Male at 10 a.m. CovCath plays Male at 12:30 p.m. then Highlands at 3 p.m.
Dixie Heights 4, Paintsville 0:
The Colonels (10-5) shut out the visiting Tigers (13-8) in the Doc Morris Invitational.
Junior Brayden Runion (3-1) pitched into the seventh inning striking out three, walking five and allowing four hits. Sophomore Brach Rice retired the last two in the top of the seventh striking out one and walking one.
“Brayden had control problems in the fourth but got out of it,” said Chris Maxwell, Dixie Heights Head Coach. “Brach Rice came in and shut the door (earning) a save.”
Dixie Heights batted .217 (5 for 23) overall. Senior left fielder Gabe Thelen went 2 for 2 with a double, RBI and run scored with sophomore Luke Abeling going 2 for 3 with an RBI and run scored.
Maxwell noted Jerad Howard earned a $1,000 scholarship. He played baseball at Ludlow for current Beechwood Head Coach Kevin Gray.
Dixie Heights travels to Cincinnati (Ohio) Elder at 11 a.m. on Saturday. The Colonels then face NewCath at 3:30 p.m.
Scott 2, Lexington Lafayette 1:
The Eagles (5-12) edged the Generals (10-8) in the Doc Morris Invitational.
Junior Blaise Huiet (1-5) picked up the win pitching into the seventh inning. He struck out 10, walked four and allowed just four hits and one earned run. Sophomore Porter Huston retired the final two batters to pick up his first save this year.
“I was trying to slow everything down and focus in on the strike zone,” Huiet said. “(The Scott infielders) did an amazing job. They were there and backed me up when I needed it.”
Scott batted .280 (7 for 25) in the win. Sophomore shortstop Dylan Giffen went 2 for 4 to lead the way.
“We still have three important (37th) District games in front of us,” said Kevin Goins, Scott Head Coach. “To play a quality team and be in a tight ballgame where in weeks past, we would find a way to stub our toes, make a mistake, allow a big inning and not give ourselves a chance to be able to compete and see how good we can be. We had an opportunity where it could go sideways on us real quick. Blaise Huiet stepped up and threw the type of ballgame we need out of him week in and week out.”
Scott plays host to Western Hills (Ohio) at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
Bishop Brossart 6, Boone County 3:
The Mustangs (11-7-1) took down the Rebels (5-11) in the Doc Morris Invitational at Simon Kenton. Bishop Brossart has won three in a row and Boone County has dropped six in a row.
Senior Andrew Beck (1-1) earned the win for Bishop Brossart pitching six innings. He walked three and gave up six hits and one earned run. Senior Adam Bezold pitched the seventh striking out one.
Bishop Brossart batted .360 (9 for 25) overall. Junior catcher Colin Combs went 2 for 4 with an RBI. Junior center fielder Evan Moore hit a home run driving in two and Beck added a double.
Senior Jayden Wilson pitched the first four innings taking the loss. He struck out three, walked five and allowed five earned runs. Sophomore Jack Moore pitched two scoreless innings for the Rebels.
Boone County batted .276 (8 for 29) overall. Senior first baseman Justin Huff went 2 for 3 to lead the Rebels with one RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore infielder Chris Henson, Moore and senior catcher Tommy Switzer had doubles.
Both teams play Frederick Douglass on Saturday at Simon Kenton. Bishop Brossart goes at Noon and Boone County plays the Broncos at 2:30 p.m.
Frederick Douglass 3, Simon Kenton 1 (10 innings):
The Pioneers (10-7) managed just two hits and had four errors leading to two unearned runs for the Broncos (14-5). Frederick Douglass scored two in the top of the 10th to win the game.
Sophomore Logan Cones pitched seven innings striking out seven, walking two and allowing three. Senior Ethan Breadon (2-1) pitched the three extra innings striking out five, walking two and allowing two runs and two hits.
The Pioneers struck out 12 times against the four Bronco pitchers. Senior Riley Cross scored the lone Pioneer run.
“We’ve seen really, really good pitching,” said Troy Roberts, Simon Kenton Head Coach. “That’s one of the messages. A lot of times when you’re going against a good pitcher, some guys get up for it. Some guys don’t. What we try to explain is in the postseason, you’re going to see ones and twos. You have to be ready to beat ones and twos. It kind of stinks right now. We’re not hitting real well. But in the long run, it does nothing but help us.”
Simon Kenton plays at Covington Catholic (9-7) on Monday at 5:30 p.m.
Madison Central 6, Campbell County 1:
The Indians (14-4) handed the Camels (8-8) their fourth straight loss. Madison Central scored four unearned runs off four Camel errors and committed none.
Madison Central outhit Campbell County, 9-2. Junior Max Lause (1-3) took the loss for the Camels striking out two, walking one and allowing one walk and two earned runs in six innings.
Campbell County plays twice Saturday at home in the Doc Morris Invitational. The Camels face Kings (Ohio) at 1:30 p.m. and Holy Cross (6-11) at 4:30 p.m.
Other April 22 NKY Baseball Scores:
Bellevue 5, Calvary Christian 1
Owen County 16, Villa Madonna 1 (4 innings)
Holmes 7, Ludlow 5