The Conner Lady Cougars softball team (12-7 overall) did not have long to celebrate its huge district win Thursday. The Lady Cougars started their preparation for the 33rd District Tournament coming from behind to beat the Bishop Brossart Lady ‘Stangs, 13-10 in non-region action.
Conner saw freshman pitcher Ellie Ortiz (3-3) throw a complete game. She struck out three and walked two.
“We were happy we got a chance to get Ellie back on the mound after Wednesday’s game,” said Shawn Sproles, Conner Head Coach. “We have five in a row. Ellie hung in there. Our defense made some great plays at crucial times.”
Conner did commit four errors leading to three unearned Bishop Brossart (11-14) runs. Bishop Brossart had one leading to no Conner unearned runs.
But the Lady Cougars batted .387 (12 for 31) overall to overcome the errors. Senior second baseman Haley Kersker went 2 for 2 with three RBI, two walks and two runs scored. Senior shortstop Alex Cobble had a triple and sophomore first baseman Jalyn Cain doubled.
“We’ve come a long way. Alex and I have been in these situations before,” Kersker said. “We encourage the younger girls during games.”
Four Conner players had multi-hit games. Sophomore Mollie Sharp went 2 for 3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Eighth grade catcher Averie Lightner went 2 for 3 with two RBI and one run scored with eighth grade third baseman Breanna Meredith going 2 for 4 with one run scored.
“They scored four in the top of the fifth and we scored seven in the bottom of the fifth,” Sproles said. “We use the get punched, punch back mentality and it was nice to see good inning where we put up some runs. The team hit well. We were going against pitchers with different speeds. We were able to adjust to them well.”
Bishop Brossart threw four different pitchers. Junior Morgan Kramer started but only threw one inning after throwing 147 pitches in the 23-18 loss to Campbell County on Thursday. Junior twin Molly Kramer pitched the next three innings before junior Brooke Shewmaker (0-1) and sophomore Maddie Kremer finished the game.
The Lady ‘Stangs batted .306 (11 for 36) overall. Junior third baseman Savannah Seiter went 3 for 5 with two RBI and two runs scored. Shewmaker went 2 for 4 with four runs scored and senior first baseman Alexis Kaeff went 2 for 4 with one RBI and one run scored.
Conner plays twice at Grant County on Saturday. Conner takes on Tates Creek at 10 a.m. then the host Lady Braves at 11:30 a.m.
Highlands 10, Ryle 0 (6 innings):
The Bluebirds (18-11) scored four runs in the top of the sixth to put away the Lady Raiders (16-13) in Union in what Highlands Head Coach Milt Horner considers a rival.
The two teams have met in the 9th Region Tournament three out of four seasons between 2016 and 2019. Highlands beat Ryle, 8-1 in the 2016 region title game before Ryle beat Highlands, 4-0 in the region title game in 2018. Highlands then beat Ryle, 3-1 in the region quarterfinals in 2019.
Junior Carly Cramer (4-2) pitched the first four innings for Highlands. She struck out one, walked one and allowed just two hits. Junior Kennedy Baioni pitched the last two innings striking out two, walking one and allowing just one hit.
“Carly and Kennedy both pitched really well,” Horner said. “(Ryle) never really threatened. We had some other chances and finally tacked on some in the sixth. Carly and Kennedy were especially hitting the ball. When we start getting Carly and Kennedy hitting again, that’s huge. That just lengthens our line-up.”
Highlands batted .448 (13 for 29) overall. Baioni went 2 for 2 with a double and three RBI. Cramer went 2 for 3 with one RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore center fielder Bailey Markus went 2 for 4 with a double and two runs scored. Senior shortstop Anna Greenwell went 2 for 4 with three RBI and two runs scored and eighth grade second baseman Morgan Pompilio went 2 for 3 with two runs scored.
Ryle started sophomore ace Maddie Goddard (11-7) started the game pitching five innings striking out four, walking three and allowing three earned runs. Junior Lerin Moreland pitched the sixth inning.
“We knew we’d have to play some small ball and hit it on the ground to score runs,” Baioni said. “We practiced that. Maddie Goddard throws a good fastball. She has a tough curve as well.”
Highlands travels to Harrison County on Saturday to play twice against Rowan County at 1:30 p.m. then the hosts at 3:15 p.m. Ryle travels to Pendleton County (14-9) on Tuesday at 6 p.m.
Campbell County 16, Calvary Christian 0 (4 innings):
The Camels (13-7) won their sixth in a row and completed 37th District play 3-0 with the run-ruling of the Lady Cougars (9-16-1).
Junior pitcher Alex Leicht (3-4) threw a complete game no-hitter allowing just one Calvary Christian base runner on a hit by pitch in the top of the first. Leicht struck out seven. Campbell County had no errors behind her. She had a double and four RBI at the plate.
“I was hitting my spots and my team worked really well also,” Leicht said. “My change-up was also working. We just encouraged the younger girls and kept cheering everyone on. We still have to pick everyone up.”
Campbell County batted .625 (15 for 24) overall. Eighth grade shortstop Home Hamilton set the tone hitting a sole home run in the first inning. She finished 2 for 3 with a triple, one RBI and two runs scored.
“Alex Leicht was in control on the mound,” said Sandi Kitchen, Campbell County Head Coach. “Hope Hamilton knows what she does wrong. She does a great job making adjustments. She nearly had another inside-the-park home run. But I held her at third.”
The Camels had four batters with multi-hit games. Freshman right fielder Jayci Kremer went 3 for 3 with one RBI and three runs scored. Junior Paige Stewart went 2 for 2 with a triple and scored one run. Senior center fielder Bella Bastin went 2 for 3 with two RBI. Freshman second baseman Moriah Price doubled and batted in two with eighth grader Emma Schultz batting in two and seventh grade left fielder Josie Feebeck and junior catcher Izzy Whisman scoring two runs each.
Calvary Christian had four errors. The Camels scored six unearned runs off them.
Boone County 4, Notre Dame 2:
The Lady Rebels (10-16) ventured to Park Hills and knocked off the Pandas (9-9).
Freshman Dani Wright pitched a complete game to earn the win. She struck out none, walked just three and allowed four hits and two earned runs. Wright had a double at the plate.
Boone County batted .273 (9 for 33) overall. Junior shortstop Harper Kinman went 2 for 4 with one RBI and one run scored. Freshman left fielder Savannah Steele and senior center fielder Mia Nixson both went 2 for 4 scoring one run each.
Senior Cam Steinbrunner (4-5) pitched the first five innings for the Pandas striking out three, walking two and allowing one earned run. Freshman Abby Turnpaugh pitched the last two striking out two, walking one and allowing one earned run.
Notre Dame had three errors to one for Boone County. The Lady Rebels scored two unearned runs.
Boone County plays host to Beechwood (13-14) on Saturday at 11 a.m. Notre Dame takes on Lexington Dunbar at 1 p.m. in the Bart Rison Classic at Montgomery County.
Scott 16, St. Henry 0 (3 innings):
The Lady Eagles (15-17) took care of the Crusaders (6-14) behind another stellar defensive performance.
Scott eighth grade pitcher Scarlett Cochran (2-5) threw another complete game. She struck out two, walked three and allowed just one hit. She had a double at the plate.
Scott batted .708 (17 for 24) overall drawing no walks with all none spots recording at least one hit. Sophomore second baseman Ivy Cochran went 3 for 3 with a triple, RBI and scored three times. Freshman center fielder Elise Manhardt went 3 for 3 with a triple, two RBI and two runs scored. Senior Morgan Chalk went 2 for 3 with two RBI and two runs scored. Freshman catcher Emerson Morman went 2 for 3 with two doubles, two RBI and two runs scored.
“They picked up where they left off (Thursday). They were able to score nine in the first inning,” said Lisa Brewer, Scott Head Coach. “Everyone was trying a little too hard in the second inning. We told them just to get singles and get six runs in to end it right here. We took care of business.”
Junior shortstop Audrey Griffin went 2 for 3 with three RBI, a double and two runs scored for Scott. Junior first baseman Kayla Overman went 2 for 3 with one RBI and two runs scored. Senior third baseman Riley Reeves had a double and scored twice.
“Before the game we warmed up and really focused on our hitting,” Chalk said. “Personally as a senior knowing it’s my last year is really almost heartwarming to see my teammates step up toward the end of the year trying to make the best season they can for myself and (Reeves).”
Scott plays at Williamstown (3-9) at 6 p.m. St. Henry travels to Calvary Christian (9-16-1) for an 11 a.m. game Saturday.
Pendleton County 4, Cooper 3:
The Lady Jaguars (22-7) dropped a tight one on the road against the LadyCats (14-9) in the second meeting this year between the two.
Pendleton County started seventh grader Hannah Spaulding. But the LadyCats brought in ace junior pitcher Kayley Bruener in the final four innings and Cooper managed just one hit off her striking out six times.
Two Cooper errors to none did not help the cause. The LadyCats scored two unearned runs off those errors.
Cooper batted .222 (6 for 27) overall. Sophomore second baseman Ava Scott led the way going 2 for 2 with a double, triple, one RBI and one run scored. Senior shortstop Dylan Scott went 2 for 3 with a triple, RBI and one run scored. Junior Kendall Blau had a double.
Senior Amber Chaney started the game striking out two, walking two and allowing four hits in three innings. Blau (9-3) pitched the last three striking out two, walking one and allowing four hits.
Cooper plays twice at George Rogers Clark on Saturday. The Lady Jaguars face Woodford County at 10 a.m. and the hosts at 2:30 p.m.
Baseball:
Dixie Heights 7, Covington Catholic 3:
The two have split their four meetings on the season after the Dixie Heights red Colonels (21-7) beat the CovCath blue Colonels (16-13) at Great American Ballpark.
Dixie Heights has won nine in a row including the two wins in the Battle of Dixie Highway. Neither team made any errors.
“This game was actually scheduled to be played during the Coronavirus (2019) year (that wiped out spring sports in 2020),” said Chris Maxwell, Dixie Heights Head Coach. “They came back and scheduled this. (CovCath Head Coach) Bill (Krumpelbeck) and I have been around for a long time so we both wanted to get a win. That was rewarding. The kids are playing well right now.”
Senior pitcher Brennan Staton (2-1) earned the win for the red Colonels striking out two, walking two and allowing just three hits and three earned runs in five innings. Sophomore Brach Rice pitched the last two innings striking out two.
“We just go out, have fun with it and just keep winning,” Staton said. “Right now, we’re hot. We just have to ride it while we’re hot. You just go out, throw strikes and made them hit the ball. I know I have a good defense behind me.”
Dixie Heights batted .385 (10 for 26) overall. Senior third baseman Logan Wilson led the way going 4 for 4 with four RBI and one run scored. Senior shortstop Jay Flynn went 2 for 2 with a double and three runs scored. Senior center fielder Brandon Brooks went 2 for 3 with one RBI. Senior right fielder Mark Dugan walked twice and scored two runs.
Senior Colin Gastright started the game walking two. But senior Luke Lenhof (4-1) took over with two out in the first inning and finished the game. Lenhof struck out six and walked four.
Junior designated hitter Max Lawrie led CovCath at the plate going 2 for 3 with two RBI. Senior Evan Myers had a double.
Dixie Heights plays host to Holy Cross (9-22) at 10 a.m. Saturday. CovCath plays Cooper (10-20) at home at the same time.
St. Henry 7, Conner 4:
The Crusaders (15-12-1) rallied from behind for the second straight day against a 9th Region opponent scoring five times in the top of the fifth to knock off the Cougars (26-6).
St. Henry batted .240 (6 for 25) overall drawing four walks and scored four unearned runs off three Conner errors. The Cougars scored two unearned runs off four Crusader errors.
“We’ve battled all year,” said Greg Pass, St. Henry Head Coach. “It’s been up and down with peaks and valleys. It’s a resilient bunch and we knew once we started getting healthy and swinging the bats we’d start to do some things. Hopefully, that’s starting to go in our direction.”
The Crusaders had three extra-base hits. Senior right fielder Eli Meiman led the way going 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI. Junior Matt Resing hit a grand slam home run for his first of the year in the fifth inning and drove in five total. Junior Luke Keipert added a double and scored twice.
Senior Owen Eilerman started the game pitching three innings striking out one, walking one and allowing seven hits and two earned runs. Resing (1-1) pitched three innings striking out three and allowing two hits before Keipert pitched the seventh.
“We just trusted our defense and made the plays when it mattered,” Resing said. “We came around and hit well when we needed to. We’re a really good hitting team when we’re on. Hopefully we can keep doing it.”
Conner batted .333 (11 for 33) overall. Senior left fielder Blaise Bowman went 3 for 4 with one run scored. Senior shortstop Gage Testerman went 2 for 3 with a double, two RBI and scored once and senior Tyler Parsons went 2 for 2 with one RBI. Senior Trevor Jordan had a double.
Senior Landon Schwartz started for Conner pitching four innings striking out two and walking one. Senior Andrew Minkley and junior Jackson Bucks pitched the fifth before Parsons pitched the last two innings striking out two.
St. Henry next plays in the 34th District Tournament as the second seed. Conner plays Campbell County (18-9) at 2 p.m. at Great American Ballpark.
Cooper 8, Holy Cross 3:
The Jaguars (10-20) took down the Indians (9-22) in a 9th Region battle in Union.
Senior Jake Jennings (2-5) earned the win for Cooper pitching six innings striking out five, walking four and allowing eight hits and no earned runs. Sophomore Cohen Stone and senior William Reimann pitched the seventh inning.
“We’re just taking it one game at a time. We needed a win, came out and got one,” said Scott Buckler, Cooper Head Coach. “We manufactured some (runs), stole some bases, took extra bases going from first to third. We had a guy stretch a single. We did some of the small things to try to scrap together some runs. I think we executed that.”S
Cooper batted (11 for 27) overall. Sophomore shortstop Mark Nowak went 3 for 4 with a double and scored three runs. Senior left fielder Cameron Kuehn went 2 for 3 with two RBI and senior third baseman Emmit Sipple went 2 for 4 with one run scored. Junior right fielder Chase Gartner had a double and two RBI.
“I just go up there, try to get on base and try to steal bases,” Nowak said. “Every time I got on base, I scored. That helped. (My teammates) did a good job (moving me over).”
Holy Cross batted .343 (11 for 32) overall. Junior designated hitter Will Lachmann went 2 for 3 with a double and run scored. Junior Riley Harber went 2 for 4 with senior first baseman Cade Lehmkuhl going 2 for 4 with one run scored. Junior right fielder Javier Ison and junior Jason Dorning had doubles.
Dorning (0-7) pitched into the fourth inning striking out one and walking four. Harber finished the game striking out one and walking one.
Both teams continue in the Coach Conner Classic on Saturday at 10 a.m. Cooper travels to CovCath (16-13) and Dixie Heights plays host to Holy Cross (9-22).
Walton-Verona 3, Newport Central Catholic 1:
The Bearcats (20-8-1) downed the Thoroughbreds (15-11) in the Warhaw Classic at Great Crossing in Georgetown.
Sophomore Bryce Corpus (4-1) earned the win striking out two, walking one and allowing two hits. Junior Ethan Hager finished the game taking over with one out in the sixth inning striking out four and allowing just one hit.
Walton-Verona batted .200 (5 for 25) overall. Senior shortstop Nick Allen went 2 for 4 with a double and RBI. The Bearcats had no errors and the Thoroughbreds worked around three allowing no unearned runs.
Senior Luke Brockman (1-3) pitched six innings striking out four, walking three and allowing three earned runs. Sophomore Connor Seiter pitched a scoreless sixth inning striking out one.
Walton-Verona plays two games again in the Warhawk Classic taking on Green County at 1 p.m. and the hosts at 6:30 p.m.
Simon Kenton 6, Grant County 2:
The Pioneers (17-10-1) scored three runs in each of the first two innings on their way to a win over the Braves (9-12).
Simon Kenton batted .261 (6 for 23) overall. Senior catcher Tom Lind hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the second driving in four total. Senior left fielder Nolan Schreiber tripled, walked twice and scored twice.
Senior Ethan Breadon earned the win for the Pioneers striking out 12, walking five and allowing two hits and one earned run. Senior Logan Grubenhoff pitched the seventh striking out all three hitters he faced.
Simon Kenton travels to Ryle (16-13) on Monday at 5:30 p.m.
Ryle Goes 1-1 in Fayette County Invitational:
The Raiders are 16-13 coming back from Lexington with a huge 5-4 win over the Frederick Douglass Broncos. They lost 7-0 in the second game against Lexington Christian.
Ryle and Frederick Douglass entered the seventh inning tied 3-3. Senior shortstop Josh Furtado singled in senior second baseman Ben Fox before sophomore Caleb Mann walked with the bases loaded to score senior Brayden Stewart.
Junior TJ Schira (3-3) pitched into the seventh inning to earn the win striking out five, walking none and allowing nine hits and four earned runs. Stewart recorded the final two outs for his second save of the season.
Ryle batted .267 (8 for 30) overall. Furtado went 2 for 4 with a double and RBI. Junior third baseman Keegan Flaherty went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI. Fox went 2 for 3 with two RBI and one run scored.
The second game saw Ryle bat just .160 (4 for 25) overall. Freshman Dylan McIntyre (3-5) took the loss pitching into the fourth inning striking out six, walking two and allowing four hits and five earned runs. Senior Tyler Sickmeyer finished the game striking out one, walking none and allowing four hits and one earned run.
Ryle plays host to Simon Kenton (17-10-1) on Monday at 5:30 p.m.
Elder (Ohio) 8, Highlands 5 (8 innings):
The Panthers (15-8) downed the Bluebirds (16-14) scoring three runs in the top of the eighth at Great American Ballpark.
Elder had three errors to two for Highlands. The Bluebirds scored two unearned runs off those errors. Junior right fielder Nathan Hartle had a bases-clearing double in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game at five and send it to extra innings. Hartle finished 2 for 4 with three RBI.
The Bluebirds batted .194 (6 for 31) overall in the loss. Highlands led 2-1 entering the top of the seventh after junior Ryan DeBurger pitched six strong innings striking out seven, walking one and scattering six hits. Senior Austin Eads pitched the other two innings.
Highlands plays twice at Louisville Trinity on Saturday. The Bluebirds take on McCracken County (27-6) at 1:30 p.m. then the host Shamrocks (30-3) at 3 p.m.
Other May 13 NKY Softball Scores:
Beechwood 24, Newport Central Catholic 7
Dayton 1, Newport 0 (forfeit)
Holy Cross 24, Lloyd Memorial 12
Villa Madonna 15, Holmes 0 (4 innings)
Other May 13 NKY Baseball Scores:
Madison Central 3, Bishop Brossart 2
Tates Creek 8, Scott 1
Mercer County 9, Boone County 4
Calvary Christian 9, Carroll County 9
Bellevue 7, Holmes 3
