Thursday Sports Briefs

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands senior Ashley Grosser (5) slides into second in Thursday's game against Covington Holy Cross. The Ladybirds run-ruled the Lady Indians, 11-0 in five innings for their eighth straight win.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team clinched the top seed in the 36th District Tournament for the second straight year.

Highlands (15-14) beat the visiting Bellevue Tigers, 6-1 in Fort Thomas on Thursday. The Bluebirds have won the previous two district championships.

Highlands scored four times in the bottom of the second and never looked back. The Bluebirds added two more runs in the fifth.

Joey Cochran pitched a complete game to pick up the win for Highlands. He struck out three, walked one and allowed five hits.

The Bluebirds recorded eight hits. Todd Ramey once again led the way going 2-for-3 with a home run, double, two runs batted in and a run scored. Teammates Brandon Hergott and D.J. Mills also had two hits. Hergott doubled and Alex Veneman had a triple.

The Bluebirds play at Cincinnati Anderson on Saturday. Game time is 7 p.m.

Softball:

Highlands 11, Covington Holy Cross 0:

The Ladybirds (16-11) are two wins away from last year’s win total with their eighth straight win Thursday.

Highlands run-ruled the visiting the Lady Indians, 11-0 in five innings. The Ladybirds scored nine runs in the bottom of the fourth.

Bailey Spencer pitched another great game picking up the win for Highlands. She struck out six, walked three and allowed just two hits.

Highlands banged out 13 hits. Whitney Quillen led the way going 3-for-4 with two runs scored. Shelby Graybill, Ashley Grosser and Rachel Gabbard had two hits each. Graybill and Grosser had two runs batted in each and Brennah Dutcher added a double and scored twice.

Highlands continues action Friday at home against Lloyd Memorial. Game time is 5 p.m. at Winkler Park.

Newport Central Catholic 18, Cooper 2:

The Thoroughbreds (17-7) busted out 18 runs on 18 hits in the 9th Region road win Thursday.

NewCath scored four in the first and never looked back. The Thoroughbreds led 11-2 entering the seventh before scoring seven runs.

Michaela Ware led the way for NewCath going 5-for-5 with a double and two runs batted in. Kristen Schrieber followed going 3-for-4 with a double and two runs batted in. Morgan Martini had a double, triple and three runs batted in with teammates Taylor Burkart and Casey Kohls recording two hits each. Burkart had three runs batted in with Kohls adding a double and two RBI.

The Thoroughbreds do not play again until Monday. They take on Notre Dame at 5 p.m.