Season-Opening Split

G. Michael Graham Photo. Highlands pitcher Bailey Spencer sets up to throw in Friday's game against Conner at Softball City in Taylor Mill. Spencer struck out five against Dixie Heights and three against Conner in the Uncle Pete Invitational.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

TAYLOR MILL – The Highlands Bluebirds softball team found out immediately where it stood among the 9th Region contenders Friday.

The Bluebirds ended up splitting those contests beating Dixie Heights, 3-2 in six innings before losing to Conner by the same score in five innings. Both games had a time limit of an hour and 15 minutes.

The Bluebirds had several games cancelled before finally opening the season. These marked the first two games of the Uncle Pete Invitational at Softball City.

“We’re young, but we knew if we could play error-free, we could play with these guys,” said Rob Coffey, Highlands head coach. “We spoke with them all winter about the things we need to change the program. Some are the physical and mental errors that we made. We’ve really done a good job from now to the first scrimmage cleaning those up. Some cost us (against Conner).”

Freshman pitcher Bailey Spencer took the decisions in both games. The first game marked her first appearance against her former teammates. She helped Dixie Heights make the 9th Region semifinals last year.

“It was really hard going in there,” Spencer said. “But once I got focused, it was like another game. I didn’t think about it much.”

Spencer struck out five against the Lady Colonels and allowed just three hits. Spencer struck out three and allowed four hits against the Lady Cougars.

Spencer’s dad Matt is a 1984 Highlands graduate that played safety on the 1982 Highlands state championship football team and helped the Bluebirds to a Class AA state cross country championship in 1983. The family wanted her to attend Highlands because of the school’s academic reputation.

“She’s a teen-aged girl,” Coffey said of Spencer. “She had some moments the last couple days where she was apprehensive about having to face her ex-teammates. She loves that whole coaching staff and the kids on that team. We talked multiple times and she said she was ready to go. She went in and did a great job.”

Highlands fell behind 2-0 to Dixie Heights before rallying in the fifth. KC Broering tripled and Haley Coffey drew a walk. Payton Leighty then grounded out scoring Broering and moving Haley Coffey to second. Whitney Quillen then stepped to the plate and doubled in Haley Coffey to tie the game.

“I think we’re coming together as a team and are ready to compete with anybody,” Quillen said. “I’d been struggling and that hit boosted my confidence. It felt great to help out the team.”

Highlands scored the game-winning run in sixth. Ashley Grosser started out on second per late-inning, tie-breaking rules and scored when Kendall Turner hit into a fielder’s choice.

Highlands belted six hits against Dixie Heights. Shelby Graybill and Grosser had doubles for the Bluebirds.

The Bluebirds took a 2-1 lead in the fifth against Conner. Haley Coffey and Broering scored on errors before the Lady Cougars came back and won the game in the bottom of the inning.

Jessie Roark pitched a good game for Conner. She allowed just two hits.

Highlands continues the tournament today. The Bluebirds take on Nicholas County at 9 a.m. then play another game in the afternoon.