The top-seeded Simon Kenton Lady Pioneers (15-12) came into the 32nd District semifinals as huge favorites over the Williamstown Lady Demons (3-12).
Simon Kenton showed why in a 13-0 run-ruling in Independence. The game moved to Simon Kenton because of rain in the area Wednesday. Simon Kenton will take on Grant County (15-12) for the district championship at Walton-Verona on Saturday at Noon.
Things started on the mound with sophomore pitcher Landrey Dance (8-9). Dance struck out nine, walked one and allowed just one hit with Simon Kenton playing error-free defense behind her.
Simon Kenton batted .538 (14 for 26) overall and scored seven unearned runs in the bottom of the second off one Williamstown error. Senior second baseman Alexis Baker led the way going 3 for 4 with a home run, two doubles, three RBI and scored three runs.
The Lady Pioneers saw five players record multi-hit games. Dance went 3 for 3 with a double and RBI. Eighth grade first baseman Adreena Barton went 2 for 3 with two doubles, four RBI and one run scored. Senior left fielder Paige Heringer went 2 for 2 with a double, four RBI and scored one run. Freshman shortstop Larkin Mitchell went 2 for 4 with one RBI and one run scored. Junior right fielder Jada Johnson scored two runs.
Simon Kenton has reached the 32nd District title game seven seasons in a row minus the 2020 season wiped out because of the Coronavirus 2019 pandemic. The Lady Pioneers won five straight crowns between 2015 and 2019 before losing 3-1 to Grant County in the title game last year.
Highlands 8, Conner 1:
The Bluebirds (21-13) stayed undefeated in 9th Region play at 10-0 with a win over the Lady Cougars (12-11) at Winkler Field.
Junior Carly Cramer (5-2) pitched the first five innings to earn the win striking out four, walking two and allowing just two hits. Junior Kennedy Baioni pitched the last two innings striking out three, walking three and allowing no hits.
Highlands batted .240 (6 for 25) overall with six walks. Baioni went 3 for 4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. Cramer went 2 for 2 with two RBI and one run scored. Sophomore catcher Michelle Barth went 1 for 2 with two RBI and two walks. Sophomore center fielder Bailey Markus walked twice and scored twice.
Conner sophomore pitcher Mollie Sharp (9-7) pitched a complete game. She struck out eight.
Highlands concludes the regular season against Dixie Heights (18-5) on Friday at 5:30 p.m. at Winkler Field. Conner plays Ryle (16-14) in the 33rd District semifinals at 1 p.m. Saturday at Boone County.
Boone County 10, Campbell County 3 (5 innings):
The Lady Rebels (13-16) downed the Camels (14-10) in a non-region game cut short by thunder and rain.
Boone County batted .400 (10 for 25) overall. Junior shortstop Harper Kinman went 3 for 4 with a triple, three RBI and two runs scored. Sophomore third baseman Josie Hollingsworth went 3 for 4 with two RBI and one run scored. Sophomore second baseman Amariana Sweet and freshman pitcher Dani Wright batted in two each with junior first baseman Lindsey Courtney batting in two.
Wright (6-5) pitched a complete game. She struck out one and Boone County made three errors behind her to two for Campbell County. Boone County scored five unearned runs to three for Campbell County.
Campbell County batted just .176 (3 for 17) overall drawing two walks. Senior center fielder Bella Bastin led the way going 2 for 3 and scoring one run.
Boone County plays host to top-seeded Cooper (23-9) in the 33rd District semifinals on Saturday at 11 a.m. Campbell County plays host to Calvary Christian (10-17-1) on Monday at 5 p.m.
Louisville Ballard 1, Cooper 0 (5 innings):
The Lady Jaguars (23-9) left Louisville knowing they were a few plays away from knocking the top-ranked team in the final Kentucky High School Softball Coaches Poll from the ranks of undefeated.
The game was called off with two out in the bottom of the sixth because of lightning in the area. The Bruins (31-0) scored the only run of the game in the bottom of the first taking advantage of the lone Cooper error of the game. Ballard also had one error.
Ballard outhit Cooper, 5-2. Junior Brooke Gray (24-0) pitched a complete game for Ballard striking out six and walking just one. Junior Kendall Blau (10-4) pitched a complete game for Cooper striking out five and walking one.
Cooper travels to Boone County (13-16) for an 11 a.m. game Saturday in the 33rd District semifinals. The 33rd District championship game is Monday at 5:30 p.m. back at Boone County.
Baseball:
32nd District Semifinals:
Simon Kenton 8, Grant County 4:
The Pioneers (18-11-1) downed the host Braves (10-13) to move on to the district title game Saturday at 11 a.m. back at Grant County against top-seeded Walton-Verona (21-8-1).
Junior Gavin Riley (3-3) pitched into the fifth inning to earn the win for the Pioneers. He struck out four, walked two and allowed five hits and three earned runs. Senior Ethan Breadon finished the game striking out four, walking none and allowing no runs and one hit.
The Pioneers batted .333 (8 for 24) overall. Senior catcher Tom Lind continued his hot streak going 2 for 3 with a double, two walks and one RBI. Junior designated hitter Ben Stephens went 2 for 3 with one run scored and two stolen bases. Senior shortstop Hunter Parks went 2 for 5 with one RBI and two runs scored.
Simon Kenton has advanced to the district title game all 10 seasons that Troy Roberts has been the head coach and 12 overall. The Pioneers won 10 straight district tournament championships between 2010 and 2019.
33rd District Semifinals:
Conner 12, Boone County 2 (6 innings):
The Cougars (28-6) run-ruled the Rebels (10-18) for the 300th win in the career of Head Coach Brad Arlinghaus.
Conner batted .500 (13 for 26) overall. Senior first baseman Kaden Early went 3 for 3 with one RBI and two runs scored. Senior left fielder Cody Crawford went 3 for 4 with a double, RBI and three runs scored. Junior designated hitter Brayden Stidham went 2 for 2 with one RBI and one run scored. Junior right fielder Jackson Bucks went 2 for 3 with a double, three RBI and one run scored. Senior shortstop Gage Testerman scored two runs.
Junior Brody Mangold (8-0) pitched a complete game to earn the win. He struck out seven, walked two and allowed just one earned run.
Both teams had two errors. Both teams had one unearned run off those errors.
Boone County batted .217 (5 for 23) overall. Senior Jayden Wilson went 2 for 3 to lead the Rebels.
The 33rd District championship game takes place back at Conner at Noon on Saturday at Noon. Conner also won it last year by a 10-7 score over Ryle at Cooper. The Raiders (17-13) and Jaguars (11-20) face off on Friday at 5 p.m. in the other semifinal at Conner.
35th District Semifinal:
Covington Catholic 13, Holy Cross 3 (5 innings):
The host Colonels (17-14) took care of the Indians (9-24) to set up another battle at 5 p.m. against Beechwood (25-5) at 5 p.m. back at CovCath.
Senior Colin Gastright, senior Luke Lenhof and sophomore Brad Zekl pitched for the Colonels. They combined to strike out six, walk four and allow three earned runs.
CovCath batted .526 (10 for 19) overall. Senior right fielder Nick Darpel led the way going 3 for 4 with a double, triple, three RBI and one run scored. Senior left fielder Evan Myers went 2 for 2 with a home run, double, three RBI and three runs scored. Lenhof, senior designated hitter Will Burke and freshman third baseman Marcus Suwinski had two RBI each. Sophomore center fielder Charlie Dieruf scored three runs with freshman shortstop Jackson Reardon scoring twice.
Holy Cross did not have any players with multi-hit games. But junior Jason Dorning had a triple with junior Riley Harber and senior Ryan Pulsfort recording doubles.
CovCath is seeking its first 35th District Tournament title since 2018. Beechwood has won the last two tournament crowns.
36th District Semifinal:
Highlands 10, Bellevue 0 (5 innings):
The Bluebirds (18-16) took care of the host Tigers (10-21) in the first semifinal game. Newport Central Catholic led Dayton, 5-0 in the bottom of the third in the second game. It will resume at 4 p.m. on Friday with the title game taking place at 6 p.m.
Junior Ryan DeBurger (4-1) earned the win pitching a complete game. He struck out six and walked none.
Highlands batted .478 (11 for 23) overall. Senior Ryne Wiseman went 2 for 2 with a double, two runs scored and an RBI. Senior Mason Welsch went 2 for 3 with a double. Senior Drew Hack went 2 for 3 with a double, three RBI and scored twice. Senior Cam McAtee had a triple and two RBI. Senior Nick Robinson batted in two and senior Jack Schneider scored twice.
Bellevue batted .222 (4 for 18) overall. Freshman TJ Sorrell led the Tigers going 2 for 2 with two doubles.
Highlands has is making its 10th straight appearance in the district championship game. The Bluebirds have won the last nine crowns.
Other May 19 NKY Softball Scores:
Villa Madonna 10, Newport Central Catholic 1
Bracken County 8, St. Henry 0 (4 innings)