You could sense the level of frustration in the postgame interview with Highlands softball coach Milt Horner.
This time was different than the prior two trips to the KHSAA state softball tournament for the Bluebirds. With runners on first and second and no outs of a 3-2 ballgame and balls being sprayed all over the field, Highlands could sense a breakthrough in Lexington.
But it was for naught as a fielder’s choice groundout was followed by a lineout to second base for a double play. Inning over and so were Highlands chances, dropping a 3-2 contest to Assumption in the first round of the state tournament.
“This is the most frustrated I’ve been because we were in the game and felt like we had a chance,” Horner said. “It’s absolutely frustrating and I’m sure the girls are frustrated, but we left it all out on the field and that’s all I can ask for.”
Third straight year, third straight same result as the Bluebirds head back to Fort Thomas with a one and done showing.
“Execution on the little things that makes a difference,” Horner said. “There’s no moral victories when you get here. Yeah, first year we got down here we were glad to just be here. We came down to something this year. We were right there, couple of girls that have come through offensively didn’t today and that’s going to happen. It’s tougher to swallow because we were right there.”
This trip was different though. It wasn’t an 8-0 defeat to South Warren in 2022 or a 3-1 loss to Johnson Central in 2023 in which the Bluebirds were held to one hit.
Thursday’s game was one Horner felt a chance at a win was there. The sixth inning wasn’t the only opportunity. They took a 1-0 lead in the first on a Michelle Barth RBI single.
After Assumption took a 3-1 lead in the third thanks to a Lauren Campisano homerun in the second and Lauren Satterfly RBI triple with a Rylee Sandifer sac bunt RBI in-between, the Bluebirds had their chances.
The first one came in the fourth inning with runners on second and third with one out. Layla Zepf was able to make it 3-2 on an RBI groundout, the threat ending from there as the Rockets got a popout to end the frame.
The sixth inning proved to be the defining moment. Cam Markus hit a sharp grounder in-between short and third, Campisano making a nice play to her left and throwing to third for a fielder’s choice out.
“Their shortstop was good. Turned an unassisted double play earlier in the game,” Horner said.
A lineout by Zepf then turned into a double play. Satterly then struck out all three batters faced in the seventh to end the game.
“You can practice things and practice them, but they’re 13-18 years old,” Horner said. “Sometimes the moment gets a little big for them. I think that happened a couple times today and that’s okay. They’ve worked their butts off to get here and today was our best chance to win out of the last three years.”
Highlands held a high-scoring Assumption team to just three runs, outhit by a 6-4 margin in the contest.
Kaitlyn Dixon did a nice job of keeping the Rockets offense off-balance, going the distance in allowing six hits, three earned runs, a walk and two strikeouts.
“They averaged about 10 runs a game and held them to three,” Horner said. “Kaitlyn pitched a great game today. Kept them off-balance for the most part.”
A fourth trip next year is a certain possibility with 14 of the 16 on the roster expected back, but the losses of Michelle Barth and Bailey Markus will certainly be felt.
“Losing Michelle and Bailey will hurt a lot. They’re two of five now that will be playing college softball next year that have come from Highlands,” Horner said. “The last three graduating classes have five girls that are playing in college and that’s tough to replace that experience and leadership and some girls will need to step up.”
A total of 14 of the 18 on the roster are underclassmen or in middle school.
“Eight 8th and 9th graders on the roster, I start two middle schoolers,” Horner said. “We don’t have quite the depth like these other teams down here. It will certainly help having the majority of this core back.”
The loss ends their season at 27-13.
Assumption advances to face Daviess County on Saturday at 10 a.m. in the quarterfinals.
ROCKETS 3, BLUEBIRDS 2
HIGHLANDS — 100-100-0 — 2-4-2
ASSUMPTION — 021-000-x — 3-6-1
2B — (H) Barth
3B — (A) Satterly
HR — (A) Campisano
WP — Mattingly. LP — Dixon.
Records: Highlands 27-13, Assumption 29-11