High winds did not stop the tripleheader from taking place at Simon Kenton.
The Simon Kenton Pioneers (7-2 overall) and Cooper Jaguars (6-3) run-ruled the West Chester (Ohio) Lakota East Thunderhawks (2-2) before facing each other trying for two wins on the day. Simon Kenton earned it with a 12-1 five-inning run-ruling taking control in the second inning.
Eighth grade pitcher Lauren McIntosh (1-1) pitched a complete game for the win. She struck out four, walked none and allowed no runs as the Pioneers made one error behind her. McIntosh retired the side in the top of the first and fifth innings.
Simon Kenton saw three players put up multi-hit games batting .588 (10 for 17) overall starting with sophomore center fielder Larkin Mitchell. Mitchell went 3 for 4 with a double, two runs batted in and scored all three times she reached.
“I definitely take that responsibility very serious,” Mitchell said of leading off the game. “My approach is to try to get on as much as I can. But I still have to remember you’re not going to be perfect all the time. I try to be the best leader I can be.”
Junior first baseman Emilie Young and eighth grade catcher Jayden Jones both went 2 for 3 for Simon Kenton. Emilie Young batted in two and Jones scored twice. Junior right fielder Kayden Porter drove in two and scored twice with eighth grade shortstop Taylor Jones batting in two.
“We’ve consistently been good at the plate all year long,” said Chris Young, Simon Kenton head coach. “Our defense is starting to catch up, which is where I feel we should be strong in the first half. It’s nice to have a young girl like Lauren McIntosh come out against a really good Cooper team and do what she did. That’s exciting to see long-term. I’m hoping we keep swinging the bats like we are. If we do, then we have a chance.”
The Pioneers scored five runs in the bottom of the second to break a 1-1 tie. They added five in the bottom of the fourth to make the final score.
Cooper batted .300 (6 for 20) overall. Sophomore right fielder Grace Cline went 2 for 2 to lead the Jaguars. Cooper scored its lone run in the top of the second when senior third baseman Ashley Chaney singled in senior first baseman Kendall Blau.
“In that game, we lost a little focus,” said Rusty Scott, Cooper head coach. “We didn’t throw as many strikes as we’d like. We got ourselves in a hole and didn’t come up with any key hits. We really struggled that second game.”
Cooper started freshman Lily Sparks (1-1) on the mound. Seventh grader Taylor Nevels and eighth grader Desiree Thompson pitched in relief.
Simon Kenton beat Lakota East, 16-4 in five innings to start the day. Junior pitcher Landrey Dance (4-0) pitched a complete game striking out four, walked two and allowed just five hits and two earned runs. She’s getting back into her groove after an offseason injury.
“I’m so excited being out there,” Dance said. “The vibe was just different when I’m on the mound and back to my normal ways because I know we were struggling defensively a little bit. It’s nice to be out there and help carry the team whenever I can.”
The Pioneers batted an amazing .643 (18 for 28) overall. Taylor Jones went 4 for 4 with a double, two RBI and scored three runs. Emilie Young went 2 for 3 with her fourth home run and second triple of the season with four RBI. Mitchell went 3 for 4 with four runs scored and Dance went 3 for 3 with three RBI.
Simon Kenton had six players with multi-hit games. Sophomore Courtney Beach and junior Addie Johnson also went 3 for 3. Beach scored two runs.
“I think we’ve had really good plate approaches all season,” Coach Young said. “We’re not chasing pitches out of the zone. When we do get a pitch to hit, we’re doing a good job of making sure we square it up. As we hit as a team, we’re pretty hard to handle.”
Cooper then shut out Lakota East, 11-0 in five innings. Blau (4-2) pitched the first four innings and Thompson finished it. Blau struck out four, walked two and allowed just two hits.
“We came in that game focused,” Scott said. “The defense played really well. Kendall got a first-pitch strike a lot so we were working ahead. That’s always big. Overall, we played a solid game.”
Senior Emily Schmeltz belted two home runs going 3 for 4 with a double, four RBI and three runs scored. Schmeltz has a team-high five home runs this year. Freshman Ainsley Scroggie went 2 for 4 with a double and scored twice with junior Maddie Childress going 2 for 3. Junior Ava Scott homered and scored twice with junior Kailey Milburn scoring twice.
“I was just looking for my pitch to drive early in the count and I wanted to capitalize on (the pitcher’s) mistakes,” Schmeltz said. “We take every game seriously. We’re just here to play our game and beat whoever we’re up against.”
Cooper travels to Bracken County (3-4) on Monday at 5 p.m. Simon Kenton travels to Dixie Heights (4-4) on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m.
Other Softball Scores
Conner 16, Mason County 15
Lewis County 11, Conner 2
Dixie Heights 6, Pendleton County 1
Kings (Ohio) 3, Dixie Heights 2
Baseball
CovCath wins Knucks Tournament
The Colonels (5-1) won both games against 9th Region rivals in the Knucks Tournament.
CovCath handed the Conner Cougars (7-1) their first loss of the season in an 8-4 win. Senior Chris Young (2-0) pitched six innings to pick up the win striking out fix to go with one walk and one earned run. Senior Jonathan Fitz pitched the seventh inning striking out three and walking three.
The Colonels batted .357 (10 for 28) overall. Junior center fielder Charlie Dieruf led the way going 3 for 4 with two doubles and scored twice. Sophomore shortstop Jackson Reardon went 2 for 4 with two runs scored. Fitz, senior Max Lawrie and junior Vincent DiTommaso all had doubles. DiTommaso scored twice.
Senior Jeffery Vest started the game for Conner pitching five innings and senior Zander Allen pitched the sixth inning. Vest struck out two, walked one and allowed just two earned runs.
Junior shortstop Rex Richter led Conner going 2 for 3 with a double, triple and three RBI. After falling behind 4-0, Conner tied the game in the top of the sixth.
CovCath run-ruled Dixie Heights, 12-2 in five innings in the second game. Reardon went 2 for 3 with a triple, three RBI and scored twice with Lawrie going 2 for 3 with a double and three RBI. Fitz and Dieruf added doubles. Dieruf drove in three and scored three times.
Sophomore Ben McEvoy (1-0) pitched the first four innings to pick up the win striking out two and walking two. Junior Luke Pieper pitched the fifth inning.
Junior Brach Rice (2-1) took the loss for Dixie Heights pitching into the third. Senior Owen Lawrence went 2 for 2 to lead the red Colonels at the plate.
Conner beat Dixie Heights, 9-1 in the other game. Senior Oliver Kerns picked up the win for the Cougars striking out nine and walking five in six innings. Senior Layne Masters pitched the seventh for Conner.
The Cougars batted .250 (7 for 28) overall. Senior second baseman Cody Henson went 2 for 3 scoring twice for the Cougars with senior Logan Tucker tripling. Seniors Brayden Stidham and Jackson Bucks added doubles. Stidham, Bucks and Vest drove in two each.
Junior Aiden Mills pitched four innings for Dixie Heights striking out five. Junior Thomas Gemeinhardt had an RBI double for the red Colonels.
Conner and Dixie Heights play again Monday at 5 p.m. at Dixie Heights. CovCath goes to Dixie Heights on Wednesday at 5 p.m.
Other Baseball Scores
Beechwood 12, Newport Central Catholic 2 (5 innings)
August 10, Dayton 5
Owen County 9, Calvary Christian 6
Augusta 11, Holmes 0
Holmes 7, Covington Latin 2
Brunswick (Ohio) 13, Ryle 6
Campbell County 11, Perry County Central 0 (5 innings)
George Rogers Clark 2, Campbell County 1
Shelby County 8, Bishop Brossart 7
Shelby County 15, Bishop Brossart 5 (6 innings)