Flying under the radar to a small extent, the Highlands Bluebirds softball team bested the archrival Notre Dame Pandas at Winkler Field in Fort Thomas by a score of 9-2, taking control after the top half of the first inning.
Highlands accomplished two other feats in the win. The Bluebirds, at 20-13, became the second team in the 9th Region to reach the 20-win plateau and stayed undefeated in region play at 9-0.
“They made some mistakes and we capitalized on them,” said Milt Horner, Highlands head coach. “We kept up our aggressive base running, which we’ve emphasized all year. If (opponents) make mistakes then we are going to capitalize. We still have to get two-out hits. We did okay. But I think we left seven girls on second and third base. We need to do something about that.”
The Bluebirds came back and scored five runs in the bottom of the first and never looked back. Highlands scored four unearned runs off four Notre Dame (10-10) errors and yielded one off one error making a number of routine plays.
“We just need to keep our heads in the game so that we can continue to score,” said Hailey Parks, Highlands senior outfielder. “Once we make one error, we continue to tumble a little. Helping each other out after errors helps us run the game better.”
Junior Kennedy Baioni (9-8) earned the win pitching a complete game. She struck out seven, walked one and allowed just four hits.
The Bluebirds batted .379 (11 for 29) overall. Baioni and senior shortstop Anna Greenwell led the way both going 3 for 4. Greenwell scored once and Baioni batted one in. Eighth grader Kaitlyn Dixon added two runs.
“It’s dangerous. It’s definitely pushing us forward,” Greenwell said. “Scoring the runs in the first inning the past few games has allowed us to win more games. That’s why our record has improved pretty quickly. We’re definitely bringing it together when it matters most. I think our attitudes have gotten better. We’ve been pushing each other. Now we’re winning.”
Junior left fielder Tori Danneman went 2 for 3 to lead the Pandas with a triple, RBI and run scored. Highlands held Notre Dame’s leadoff hitter in shortstop Addie Mack to 1 for 2.
The Bluebirds threw Mack out trying to steal second in the top of the third with two out. But sophomore catcher Michelle Barth fired a dart to Greenwell to nail her. It marked just the second time in 14 attempts teams caught Mack stealing.
“She’s a really good base runner,” Horner said of Mack. “She’s fast. That was probably our best caught stealing all year. Anna made a great tag and Michelle made a perfect throw.”
Senior Cam Steinbrunner (4-6) pitched a complete game for Notre Dame. She struck out three and walked two.
Senior third baseman Morgan Huston singled with one out in the top of the first for the Pandas. With two out, Danneman tripled scoring Huston. Danneman then scored on a Highlands throwing error putting Notre Dame up 2-0.
“Bailey probably should have caught that ball in the first inning,” Horner said. “She broke back and then broke back in or Kennedy probably pitches a shutout. She settled down in about the third inning. She was pretty dominant after that.”
The first four Highlands batters reached to start the bottom of the frame when sophomore center fielder Bailey Markus, Steinbrunner hit eighth-grade second baseman Morgan Pompilio and Greenwell singled to load the bases. Barth drew a walk to score Markus before Pompilio scored on a wild pitch to tie the game 2-2. Cramer then hit a sacrifice fly to right scoring Greenwell giving Highlands the lead for good at 3-2.
The Bluebirds led 4-2 after Baioni singled in Parks. Dixon then singled and eighth grade left fielder Payton Brown scored on a Notre Dame error to make it 5-2 Highlands.
Highlands increased the lead to 6-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Dixon scored on a Notre Dame error.
The Bluebirds made the final score with three more in the bottom of the fifth. Junior third baseman Carly Cramer and Baioni had back-to-back singles. With one out, Dixon reached on a Notre Dame error. Cramer scored and seventh grade pinch runner Allison Meyers advanced to third. Markus then singled in Dixon before Markus scored on a Notre Dame passed ball.
Highlands travels to Conner (12-10) on Thursday at 5 p.m. Notre Dame plays host to Bishop Brossart on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
Softball:
Harrison County 3, Dixie Heights 2 (8 innings):
The Fillies (25-10) snapped the 13-game winning streak for the Colonels (18-5) in non-region play. Harrison County scored the winning run on a sacrifice fly.
Dixie Heights batted .241 (7 for 29) overall. The two seniors at the top of the line-up led the way. Third baseman Ava Meyer went 2 for 3 with two doubles and an RBI. Second baseman Bri Patsel went 2 for 4 with a solo home run and scored both Colonel runs. Meyer doubled in Patsel in the top of the seventh with two out to tie the game.
Dixie Heights sophomore Riley Hopkins started and threw five innings striking out none, walking two and allowing four hits and one earned run. Patsel finished the game striking out one, walking two and allowing one hit and one earned run.
Dixie Heights travels to Highlands (20-13) on Friday. Game time is 5:30 p.m.
Simon Kenton 14, Beechwood 3 (5 innings):
The Lady Pioneers (14-12) concluded the regular season with a home win over the Tigers (13-16).
Sophomore Addison Johnson (5-2) pitched a complete game. She struck out three, walked one and allowed just two earned runs. The Lady Pioneers had one error to none for the Tigers.
Simon Kenton batted .625 (20 for 32) overall. Senior second baseman Alexis Baker went 4 for 4 with two doubles, three RBI and scored four runs. Sophomore Landrey Dance went 3 for 4 with two doubles, three RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore first baseman Emilie Young went 3 for 4 with one RBI and two runs scored.
The Lady Pioneers saw six players record multi-hit games. Sophomore Kayden Porter went 3 for 3. Freshman shortstop Larkin Mitchell went 2 for 4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Senior left fielder Paige Heringer went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI. Senior right fielder Hannah Schwier had a double.
Beechwood batted .250 (5 for 20) overall. Junior third baseman Laney Hatridge and junior center fielder Addison Durrett had doubles.
Simon Kenton faces Williamstown (3-11) in the 32nd District semifinals on Wednesday at Walton-Verona. Game time is 5:30 p.m.
Boone County 9, Bishop Brossart 3:
The Lady Rebels (12-16) hit the road and won their third in a row knocking off the Lady ‘Stangs (11-16).
Senior KB Irwin (7-11) pitched a complete game for Boone County. She struck out three, walked none and allowed just two earned runs. Neither team had any errors.
Boone County batted .367 (11 for 30) overall. Junior shortstop Harper Kinman went 2 for 3 with a double, RBI and scored twice. Junior catcher Kailey Richardson went 2 for 4 with a double and two RBI. Senior first baseman Abbey Sproles went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI. Irwin had a double and three RBI. Seventh grade left fielder Alivia Scott and sophomore right fielder Karlee Herindon had triples. Freshman Dani Wright scored twice.
Bishop Brossart batted .300 (9 for 30) overall. Junior center fielder Brooke Shewmaker led the way going 2 for 4.
Boone County travels to Frankfort (9-18) on Wednesday for a 6 p.m. game. Bishop Brossart travels to Notre Dame (10-10) for a 5 p.m. game Wednesday.
Baseball:
32nd District Semifinals at Grant County:
Walton-Verona 14, Williamstown 0 (5 innings):
The Bearcats (21-8-1) made it back to the district championship game knocking off the Demons (8-19).
The district championship is scheduled for Thursday at 5:30 p.m. Walton-Verona will face either Simon Kenton (17-11-1) or the host Braves (10-12).
Walton-Verona threw five different pitchers combining for a one-hitter allowing no walks. Sophomore Bryce Corpus (5-1) pitched the first two innings striking out four. Sophomore Mason Howard pitched the next two striking out five and junior Carter Krohman struck out three pitching the fifth inning.
The Bearcats batted .542 (13 for 24) overall. Junior center fielder Ethan Mills went 2 for 2 with a triple, three RBI and scored one run. Sophomore left fielder Julian Dixon went 2 for 2 with two RBI and one run scored. Junior Ethan Hager went 2 for 3 with a double and two RBI. Krohman went 2 for 2 with one RBI and two runs scored. Junior first baseman Lance Coleman had a double, two RBI and scored twice. Senior shortstop Nick Allen and junior designated hitter Jimmy Shields had a double and three RBI.
Walton-Verona has advanced to the district championship for the second straight year. The Bearcats edged Simon Kenton, 8-7 in last year’s title game at Williamstown.
Other May 17 NKY Softball Scores:
Holy Cross 17, Calvary Christian 6
Villa Madonna 21, Lloyd 3 (3 innings)
Pendleton County 12, Ryle 3
34th District Baseball Tournament Score:
Villa Madonna 5, Ludlow 4 (9 innings)