Highlands baseball, softball teams nip NewCath by similar scores

 

G. Michael Graham Photo. Highlands pitcher Joey Cochran delivers to the plate while catcher Quentin Murray and Newport Central Catholic batter Colin DuPont wait. The Bluebirds won the crucial 36th District contest, 4-3 in extra innings.

 

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The baseball team that successfully executed its suicide squeeze attempt Thursday won the extra-inning barnburner.

That turned out to be the Highlands Bluebirds in the 36th District game at Highland Park, 4-3 over the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds in 13 innings. Barring upsets, the win gave the Bluebirds (12-11 overall, 3-0 district) the inside track toward the top seed in the district tournament and the Thoroughbreds (11-8, 2-1) the second seed. Both teams still need to face Bellevue in district play.

“On the offensive side, we haven’t made those big plays,” said Jeremy Baioni, Highlands Head Coach. “If teams execute better offensively early on, the game is over before we get to the 13th inning, especially for us. We missed some sacrifice bunts, didn’t push the ball the other way when we needed to and a couple base running mistakes cost us from winning the game earlier. You have to execute when you play good teams like NewCath and every run is huge.”

The two-time defending 9th Region champion Thoroughbreds had been playing great baseball lately. They’d won 9-of-11 coming into the contest after starting the year 0-4.

“We’re disappointed,” said Jeff Schulkens, NewCath Head Coach. “We didn’t execute. But give (the Bluebirds) credit. I’m proud of my kids. They’ll battle back.”

Highlands senior catcher Quentin Murray found himself on both ends of the suicide squeeze attempts. He laid down the game-winning bunt in the bottom of the 13th to score Hector Molina. Molina charged toward home plate as NewCath pitcher Michael Bueter fired the pitch home.

“Honestly, I was trying to get the bat on the ball more than anything else,” Murray said. “I tried to stay off the plate. It was a long game.”

Murray made two huge plays in the top of the inning as catcher when the Thoroughbreds tried to take the lead on the similar play. Alex Grau tried to bunt home Colin DuPont. The attempt popped up behind home plate. Murray caught it and threw to shortstop Jake Whitford, who tagged out DuPont for the double play.

“That was huge because I knew they were going to squeeze,” Murray said. “I honestly thought they were going to get it down. It was supposed to be a pitch-out. It went too far inside so (Grau) popped it up.”

Both teams had opportunities to score in extra frames. The Thoroughbreds loaded the bases in the ninth with none out against Joey Cochran, but did not score as Highlands forced the runners out at home before Whitford made a nice play diving and tagging second to end the threat.

NewCath nearly took the lead in the ninth. Nick Seibert singled to right and Zach Pangallo tried to score. But the Bluebirds executed and Murray tagged Pangallo out at the plate.

“We’ve pitched well and played good defense all year even when we’ve moved guys around,” Baioni said. “That continued (Thursday). We made some big plays.”

On the other side, Highlands loaded the based with two outs in the 11th. But Whitford grounded out.

The Thoroughbreds led 2-0 in the first. Dom Pangallo was hit by a pitch and Josh Cain homered.

But the Bluebirds came back to tie it in the second. Whitford doubled and Todd Ramey singled him in. Ramey then scored on an error.

The Thoroughbreds retook the lead in the third. Dom Pangallo singled and ultimately scored when Kevin Hoffstedder hit a sacrifice fly to center.

The Bluebirds came back to tie it in the fifth. Gabe Schultz singled and ultimately scored when Whitford hit a sacrifice fly to center.

Joseph Martin pitched three innings to record the win for Highlands. He struck out five. Mitch Jones threw the first four innings before Cochran threw the next six.

“We just go out there and throw strikes,” Martin said. “We trust our defense to make plays. We just have to go out there and do our best.”

Bueter took the tough loss pitching more than five innings and struck out seven. Starter Connor Bartels pitched the first seven innings.

NewCath outhit Highlands, 13-12. Grau, Dom Pangallo, Cain, DuPont and Seibert all had two hits each for the Thoroughbreds. Aside from Cain’s home run, Pete Collopy and DuPont doubled.

Murray went 3-for-6 at the plate for the hosts. Molina, Schultz and Ramey all had two hits each for Highlands with Schultz, Murray and Whitford recording doubles.

The Thoroughbreds return to action this weekend in the Louisville Invitational Tournament. They take on Louisville Butler at 6 p.m.

“Anytime you play, you want to win,” Schulkens said. “You shake it off and try to get better. You especially want to win district seed games. But we’ll be fine. It’s a good group of kids who know how to win.”

The Bluebirds play two games at Boone County on Saturday. They face the hosts at 10 a.m. and Cincinnati Anderson at 12:30 p.m.

Highlands softball 4, NCC 3:

The Bluebirds (8-5) bested the Thoroughbreds (7-10) for the second time this year, but in seven innings. Highlands beat NewCath by the same score on April 9.

Highlands scored all four of its runs in the fifth.

Payton Leighty singled and moved to third when Bailey Spencer singled before scoring when Haley Coffey laid down a sacrifice bunt. Spencer then scored after three consecutive walks and Brennah Dutcher had a two-run single.

Spencer pitched a complete game to pick up the victory for Highlands. She struck out six and walked two.

Sarah Neace threw a complete game for NewCath. She struck out five and walked three.

NewCath outhit Highlands, 8-5. Kristin Schreiber went 2-for-4 with a run batted in and Neace went 2-for-3 with Molly Mertle doubling.

No one had more than two hits for the Bluebirds. Whitney Quillen tripled and Dutcher had two RBIs.

Both teams return to action today. Highlands plays host to Covington Holmes at 5:30 p.m. and the Thoroughbreds play host to Dayton at 5 p.m.