Bluebirds make quick work of Wildcats, 13-1

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The top-seeded Highlands Bluebirds baseball team put 12 on the scoreboard in the first inning to quickly put to rest any chances of an upset.

They used that inning to run-rule the Newport Wildcats in five innings, 13-1 Wednesday at Morscher Field in the 36th District semifinals. Highlands (18-17) faces second-seeded Newport Central Catholic (20-12) today at 5 p.m. for the district championship back at Morscher Field.

“Newport always comes to play in elimination games,” said Jeremy Baioni, Highlands Head Coach. “I’ve been part of teams playing and coaching that have gone into the game as favorites and lost.”

That inning proved to be more than enough for pitcher Joseph Martin. Martin threw a complete game striking out seven to go with three hits and no walks. The Bluebird defense committed no errors behind him.

Highlands pounded out 14 hits. Hector Molina, Jake Whitford, Todd Ramey and Jake Lester all finished 2-for-2 for the Bluebirds. Whitford tripled on his way to three runs batted in and two runs scored with Ramey hitting a home run on his way to two RBI and two runs scored. Lester batted in three and Molina also scored twice.

“Guys squared up with the ball and hit it hard (in the first),” Baioni said. “We had 11 hits in the first inning and nine were hit really well.”

After the first inning, Highlands added another run in the third to go up 13-0. Newport scored its only run in the fifth.

Highlands and NewCath took 13 innings on April 25 in Fort Thomas to decide the regular-season contest. The Bluebirds won 4-3.

The Thoroughbreds won the regular-season contest last year before the Bluebirds won the 36th Championship contest. But NewCath won the 9th Region championship game before losing to Henderson County in extra innings in the state quarterfinals.