Monday Sports Briefs

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The third time was not the charm on Monday for the Highlands Bluebirds softball team Monday.

The Notre Dame Pandas (20-7) beat the Bluebirds (14-10) for the third time this season, 8-1 in Fort Thomas. Bailey Spencer took the loss for Highlands.

Highlands faces Newport at 5:30 p.m. today to conclude District 36 action.

Ryle baseball 7, Newport Central Catholic 6:

A dropped pop-up in the seventh inning allowed the Raiders to pull out the win in Union. Ryle scored twice in that frame to pull off the win Monday.

The Thoroughbreds (17-12) had taken the lead in the top of the seventh after battling back from a 5-0 deficit. They scored three in the fourth and two more in the fifth to tie the game at five.

Colin DuPont absorbed the tough loss on the mound and Josh Bellew took the win. Bellew struck out three in three innings of work. Michael Bueter struck out four in five innings for NewCath.

Ryle outhit NewCath, 10-9. Kevin Hoffstedder led the Thoroughbreds at the plate going 3-for-4 with four RBI.

Jackson Breennan and Mason Forbes went 3-for-4 to lead Ryle and Eric Clarkson finished 2-for-4. Forbes had two RBI and Brennan had two RBI and scored twice. Forbes doubled and Thomas Baumann added a triple for the Raiders.

NewCath plays host to Scott today. Game time is 5 p.m.

Conner softball 8, NewCath 3:

The Thoroughbreds (12-11) saw their six-game winning streak snapped Monday in Hebron.

Sophomore Elisabeth Sims pitched a gem for Conner. She struck out 13 and surrendered only four hits for the victory.

NewCath did not do itself any favors defensively. Five errors and two wild pitches led to two Cougar runs.

No one had more than one hit for the Thoroughbreds. Michaela Ware, Taylor Burkart, Molly Mertle and Casey Kohls all had singles for NewCath.

Sarah Neace pitched five innings to take the loss for NewCath and Haley Meyers pitched the sixth. The two combined for three strikeouts.

Conner scored three in the second before NewCath tied the game in the third. The Cougars took the lead for good with two runs in the bottom of the third.

NewCath plays host to Beechwood on Wednesday. Game time is 5 p.m.