The Dixie Heights Colonels softball team (12-9) can not be counted out in the Ninth Region, especially when the Colonels hit the ball like this.
They pounded out 14 hits in 31 at-bats for an impressive .452 batting average in a 10-6 win over the host Campbell County Camels (13-4). Dixie Heights scored at least three runs in each of the fourth, fifth and sixth innings on the way to the win and held off a furious Camel rally in the final two innings.
“That’s a discussion we had with the girls before the game,” said Sarah Osborne, Dixie Heights head coach. “We told them from this point, there are no more cupcakes. We told them from here on out, we have to start playing our ball. We have to start lighting the fire. That’s what they did (Thursday). They hit the crap out of the ball.”
Junior first baseman Taylor Ingram led the way going 3-for-4 with a solo home run, one run batted in and scored twice. Junior center fielder Skylar Mitchell belted a three-run home run in the top of the fifth going 2-for-3 with three RBI and two runs scored. Eighth grade second baseman Haley Waters went 2-for-3 with a triple and scored a run in the top of the sixth with freshman catcher Sydney Schumacher going 2-for-3.
Eighth grade third baseman Ava Niemer started the rally in the fourth inning with a two-run single. She finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and one run scored.
“Practice definitely helps a lot. Playing a lot of positions definitely helps adjust,” Niemer said of adjusting to the varsity level. “You just have to put (mistakes) behind you so you don’t think about it and can focus on the next play.”
Junior pitcher Riley Hopkins earned the win pitching the first five innings, striking out one and walking none. Freshman Valkyrie Ison pitched the last two innings.
Campbell County batted .387 (12-for-31) overall. Freshman Hope Hamilton led the way going 3-for-4 with a home run, double, one RBI and scored twice. Senior Emily Nadeau went 2-for-3 with a double and RBI with sophomore center fielder Jayci Kremer going 2-for-3 with a double and RBI. Freshman shortstop Sam Perry also went 2-for-3 with an RBI.
Hamilton started the game and pitched into the fifth inning. Senior Alex Leicht took over and pitched the sixth before senior Paige Stewart pitched the seventh inning.
Dixie Heights plays twice at home Friday against Harrison County (18-6) at 11 a.m. then East Central (Indiana) at 3 p.m. Campbell County plays host to Bracken County (15-8) on Monday at 5:30 p.m.
Softball
Ryle 10, Boone County 5
The Raiders (11-6) completed the undefeated 6-0 run through 33rd District seed play with the win over the host Rebels (8-13). Ryle takes on Conner in the district semifinals and Boone County takes on Cooper after finishing 2-4 in district seed play.
Sophomore Laci DeLauder (1-2) pitched a complete game striking out three and walking two in her third start this year. DeLauder has a 2.67 earned-run average.
The Raiders batted .267 (8-for-30) overall. Senior shortstop Avery Parsons led the way going 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBI and scored twice. Senior second baseman Lerin Moreland went 2-for-4 with one run scored. Senior third baseman Payton Godfrey went 2- for-5 with a double and two RBI and sophomore catcher Laney Schuster belted a home run with three RBI to go with one run scored and two walks.
Boone County batted .406 (13-for-32) overall and eighth grade pitcher Alivia Miller pitched a complete game striking out two and walking nine. Senior second baseman Harper Kinman went 3 for 4 with a double, RBI and scored once. Sophomore center fielder Dani Wright also went 3 for 4 with an RBI and junior shortstop Amariana Sweet went 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Eighth grade left fielder Alivia Scott went 2-for-4 with an RBI and eighth grade first baseman Ashia Grant added a triple.
Ryle plays host to Simon Kenton (11-10) on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.
Other Softball Scores
Beechwood 3, Villa Madonna 1 (5 innings)
Bishop Brossart 6, New Richmond (Ohio) 4
Conner 16, Cooper 9
Newport Central Catholic 10, Dayton 8
Pendleton County 5, Notre Dame 4
Scott 15, Calvary Christian 3 (5 innings)
Holy Cross 14, St. Henry 4 (5 innings)
Bellevue 22, Villa Madonna 15
Walton-Verona 10, Holmes 3
Baseball Scores
Newport Central Catholic 9, Lewis County 7
Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller 1, Conner 0
Walton-Verona 2, Bishop Brossart 1
Cooper 4, Bracken County 1
Augusta 2, Holmes 1
Lloyd Memorial 16, Villa Madonna 6 (6 innings)
Ludlow 14, Lockland (Ohio) 0 (5 innings)
Simon Kenton 6, Grant County 0
Ryle 7, St. Henry 2