Weekend Sports Briefs

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

They hoped for another big win entering the postseason and earned it.

The Highlands Ladybirds ventured to Union on Saturday and knocked off the perennial 9th Region power Ryle Lady Raiders, 6-4 for their 13th straight win. Ryle won the first two meetings earlier this year.

Highlands broke a 3-3 deadlock in the fifth with a run then added insurance runs in the sixth and seventh. The Ladybirds outhit the Lady Raiders, 11-7.

Brennah Dutcher led Highlands going 3-for-4 with two runs batted in. Shelby Graybill doubled twice with Ashley Grosser adding two singles. Kendall Turner added two runs batted in and Whitney Quillen had a triple for Highlands.

Bailey Spencer pitched another complete game for Highlands. She struck out three and walked two.

Highlands earned the top seed in the 36th District Tournament and does not play until Wednesday at Winkler Park. The Ladybirds take on either Dayton or Bellevue at 6 p.m.

Baseball:

Highlands finishes regular season at 18-17:

The Bluebirds split their games Friday and Saturday. They lost 2-0 against Conner on Friday before beating Simon Kenton, 9-5 in extra innings on Saturday in Independence.

Highlands scored four times in the top of the eighth to record the win. The Bluebirds scored twice in the seventh to tie the game.

Highlands and Simon Kenton pounded out 10 hits each. Brady Murray and Alex Veneman went 3-for-4 with a double each to lead the Bluebirds. Veneman batted in two and scored once with Murray scoring twice and batting in one.

Jacob Noe picked up the win in relief. He struck out four and walked one in four innings pitched.

The Bluebirds earned the top seed in the district tournament and do not play until Wednesday at Morscher Field. They take on either Newport or Dayton at 5 p.m.