Building on Momentum

G. Michael Graham Photo. The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team works out Saturday at the high school. Highlands hopes to continue the momentum from last year's postseason run. The Bluebirds won the 36th District and finished 9th Region runner-up, 3-1 to Newport Central Catholic.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team hopes to play as consistent as it did during last year’s phenomenal postseason run the entire season this spring.

Highlands caught fire at the end of 2012. The Bluebirds won their first 36th District title since 2009 and fell one game shy of their first appearance in the state tournament since 1973 losing 3-1 to district rival Newport Central Catholic, 3-1 in the 9th Region championship. Highlands beat Conner and Dixie Heights for its first two region wins since 2002.

“They’re extremely hungry,” said Jeremy Baioni, Highlands head coach. “A lot of these guys have been working hard since late fall. The guys that have played football and basketball have come as soon as their sport was over. Guys are working in the weight room and working on hitting and pitching year-round now. They didn’t like the taste that was left in their mouths after losing in the region final. We weren’t surprised we were there. We felt we could get to that point.”

One of the big reasons for excitement this spring is many players from that team that finished 18-21-1 overall return. The Bluebirds graduated just one starter in first baseman Mitch Meyer and three players overall.

Highlands has nine seniors, four juniors and seven sophomores on the roster. The seniors and juniors led the Bluebirds on the run last year after enduring a six-win season the previous year.

Seniors Jake Lester and Hector Molina played in the outfield last year with Quentin Murray returning to catch and Gabe Schultz returning at third base. Schultz, Murray and Lester could also pitch in the Highlands deep rotation.

“We’ve grown up. We need to handle pressure situations better, which I think we will since we’re only losing one senior (starter),” Schultz said. “We’ll have four freshmen who played last year that will be sophomores so we’ll be more experienced.”

In the junior class, Evan Allen and Joey Cochran could see time on the mound. When not pitching, they could play in the infield. Fellow junior Mitch Gesenhues could play on the infield or outfield and sophomore Jake Whitford could play shortstop or second base.

“From last year’s team, we didn’t lose a guy that threw regularly for us,” Baioni said. “We’ve actually gained a couple kids that are bigger and stronger that are younger and able to pitch on varsity now.”

When Murray pitches, sophomore Luke Hennigan could catch. Murray said communication with the pitchers has been worked on in the offseason. Baioni said the pitchers have been trying to hit certain spots in the strike zone in the preseason as opposed to just throwing strikes like the past.

“I’ve been catching with our top four players seeing what they like to throw,” Murray said. “Going from there, (Coach Baioni) will call pitches knowing what they throw best.”

Other seniors aiming to contribute are Jake Heck, Jake Liggett, Colin “Frog” Seidl, Jac Collinsworth and Reid Schroder. The other junior looking to contribute is Ben Vermeil along with sophomores Mitchell Jones, Joseph Martin, Brady Murray, D.J. Mills and Lou Bunning.

Aside from the fundamentals and pitching, Baioni said the Bluebirds have focused on repetitions on offense and defense. They hope to have good habits engrained in them to open the season among other things as a result.

The usual 9th Region contenders could have a huge say in how far the Bluebirds go this season. Aside from NewCath, teams like Dixie Heights, Ryle and Covington Catholic contended for the region crown last year.

“In baseball, it’s always scary because everyone has at least one or two good pitchers,” Baioni said. “When you go into a one-game proposition, any team can win on any given day. We’ve said for the last couple years we think we can win any game, but we can also lose any game. It’s going to be a really competitive year in the 9th Region.”

The 36th District has had the blind draw in the past. The district will seed teams like the volleyball teams did in the fall.

Highlands opens the season Saturday at Lawrence County with three games. The Bluebirds take on the hosts at Noon, Capital at 2:30 p.m. and Prestonsburg at 5 p.m.