The Dixie Heights Colonels (2-0) have been in contention for the 9th Region softball title for years and have come into the season with unfinished business after the way last season ended.
Dixie Heights made it to the region championship last spring and led 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh. The Colonels had it down to one strike twice, but could not put it away losing 3-2 to Highlands at Notre Dame.
Host Dixie Heights showed why it is in contention for the region championship again in a 17-2 victory over the Beechwood Tigers (0-1) in four innings. The Colonels received another nice performance from junior pitcher Riley Hopkins (2-0) striking out four, walking none and allowing just one earned run. Behind Hopkins, the Colonels made the routine plays better with just one error and squared up the ball well with 12 hits.
“(Beechwood head coach Mary Beth Odom) helped us build the culture that we still have today,” said Sarah Osborne, Dixie Heights head coach. “We don’t want to just make it to region. We want to win region, go downstate, help represent Northern Kentucky softball and help show the rest of the state what Northern Kentucky is. Unfortunately for us, we’re in a spot where Northern Kentucky softball isn’t quite looked at with the same reserve as maybe Central Kentucky or Western Kentucky. It’s been Dixie’s MO even since I played here. We’re going to help build Northern Kentucky softball.”
Four Colonels had multi-hit games. Junior left fielder Carly Waters led the way going 3-for- 4 with a triple and three runs batted in. Junior third baseman Taylor Ingram went 2-for-4 with a home run, double, four RBI and three runs scored. Junior first baseman Skylar Mitchell went 2-for-2 with a double, RBI and scored three runs to go with two walks. Senior shortstop Ella Steczynski went 2-for-4 with a triple, three RBI and scored twice. Hopkins added a double.
Dixie Heights does not hesitate to pinch run speedy players on the base paths and it paid off as the Colonels had six stolen bases to none for the Tigers. Eighth grade second baseman Haley Waters led the way with three, freshman pinch runner Kilee Stewart swiping two and Steczynski taking the other one.
“Everybody plays a special role on this team, especially base running because scoring runs is one of the most important parts,” Stewart said. “We’re playing for the team and not for ourselves.”
Beechwood tallied three hits in the game. Senior shortstop Laney Hatridge had a double and junior third baseman Katelynn Murphy tripled.
“We’re trying to compete against teams like Dixie that are really good,” Odom said. “The first thing I told them before we started the game is we know they’re good. But let’s hang in there for more innings. As long as we have good attitudes, put the bat on the ball, put it in play and keep our heads up, we’ll be fine. That’s one of the spirits we need not only when we’re playing Dixie, but all the teams that we’re going to face.”
Senior Brooklyn McGuire (0-1) started and took the loss for Beechwood. Freshman Annette Cento took over in the third and finished the game.
Beechwood plays host to Ryle (0-1) on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Dixie Heights plays at Cooper (1-1) on Friday at 5:30 p.m.
Other Softball Scores
Bishop Brossart 15, St. Patrick 0 (5 innings)
Campbell County 20, St. Henry 0 (3 innings)
Harrison County 5, Highlands 3
Simon Kenton 10, Boone County 5
Bryan Station 11, Ryle 1 (5 innings)
Lloyd Memorial 18, Holmes 3 (5 innings)
Newport Central Catholic 15, Newport 0 (4 innings)
Conner 6, Scott 3
Baseball
Ryle 4, Highlands 3
The Raiders (3-0) found themselves down to their last out trailing by a run and senior center fielder Landon Sawyer hit one in the air that could have ended the game. But Highlands made an error on the play allowing junior first baseman Caleb Mann to score tying the game and Sawyer wound up at third base.
Senior second baseman Roman Furuta took full advantage of that extra out belting one out to center field for his second home run of the season to put the Raiders up 4-2. The Raiders then held off a rally attempt from the host Bluebirds (0-1) for the 9th Region win.
“The wind was blowing in,” Furuta said. “I thought it was great, especially starting the game 0-for-3. I definitely wasn’t really feeling it, then I came up that last inning and came through to help our team win.”
Both teams pounded out five hits. Senior TJ Schira added a double for Ryle with junior first baseman Luke Schneider going 2-for-4 with a run batted in to lead Highlands.
Schira (2-0) pitched the sixth inning to pick up the win for Ryle, striking out one. Junior Maverick Rabe pitched the seventh to earn his first save this season for the Raiders. Junior Grant Ashcraft started for the Raiders, pitching four innings, striking out two and walking one before junior Sam Eppley pitched the fifth.
“It’s always nice. Obviously (Highlands) is a program that we respect,” said Joe Aylor, Ryle head coach. “It’s a program that we know is going to be in the regional tournament so it’s a good test of where we’re at. We’re right there with them so that’s something that we’re taking away from it. We’re happy with it. But we also know we have a long road to go.”
Senior Logan Weber started for Highlands and pitched three innings, striking out one before senior Ryan DeBurger pitched the next three, striking out five. Junior Brody Benke (0-1) pitched the seventh inning for Highlands, striking out three.
Both teams return to action Wednesday. Ryle plays host to Campbell County (1-0) at 5 p.m. and Highlands travels to Conner (1-0) in a 5 p.m. battle.
Other Baseball Scores
Beechwood 10, Bellevue 4
Boone County 4, Villa Madonna 0
Bourbon County 14, Calvary Christian 2 (5 innings)
Augusta 6, Dayton 3
Ludlow 10, Holmes 0 (5 innings)
Mason County 5, Bishop Brossart 4 (8 innings)
Simon Kenton 10, Holy Cross 0 (5 innings)
Walton-Verona 2, St. Henry 1