Baseball Bluebirds "#BeatColonels"

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

It had been a while since the Highlands Bluebirds baseball team beat a big arch-rival.

But Highlands came through with a huge 4-2 victory over the rival Covington Catholic Colonels on Saturday at Highlands Park. The Bluebirds moved to 10-9 with the win.

Mitch Jones threw a complete game to lead the Bluebirds on the mound. He improved to 3-1 throwing just 85 pitches and struck out six with just one walk.

Highlands outhit CovCath, 8-2. Gabe Schultz and Mitch Gesenhues went 2-for-3 to lead the Bluebirds at the plate. Gesnehues scored once and Schultz had a run batted in. The only Bluebird extra-base hit came on a Jake Whitford double.

Connor Brown took the loss for the Colonels. He struck out two in five innings pitched.

Both teams scored twice in the third. Hector Molina and Gesenhues singled to lead off the bottom of the inning for the bluebirds putting runners at first and third. Gesenhues stole second and Molina scored when the throw went into center field. Quentin Murray then singled in Gesenhues.

The Bluebirds took the lead for good in the bottom of the second. Brown hit Joseph Martin with a pitch before advancing to second on a passed ball and third on a Jake Lester sacrifice bunt. Jake Heck then laid down a suicide squeeze to tie Highlands the lead at 3-2.

The Bluebirds added an insurance run in the bottom of the fifth. Gesenhues singled with one out and Evan Allen ran for him. Allen stole second and scored when Schultz singled with two strikes.

Highlands plays again Tuesday against Lloyd Memorial at Highland Park. Game time is 5 p.m.