Highlands, NC baseball teams drop 9th Region contests

Allen Ramsey Photo. Highlands shortstop Jake Whitford (4) smacks a three-run home run in Monday's game against Dixie Heights. The Bluebirds lost 12-7 to the Colonels.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

Things looked good after the first couple at-bats for the host baseball team.

But once the visiting bats warmed up and the errors piled up, things quickly turned. That allowed the Dixie Heights Colonels to pull off a 12-7 9th Region victory over the Highlands Bluebirds on Monday.

Dixie Heights (21-1) scored eight unearned runs off seven Highlands errors in the win. The Colonels also banged out 12 hits.

On the other hand, Dixie Heights committed just one error. The Bluebirds (14-13) earned all seven runs.

“What it comes down to is you have to make plays,” said Jeremy Baioni, Highlands Head Coach. “They made plays and we didn’t. When you allow extra runners, those big hits they got cost you two or three runs. You have to do your best to be fundamentally sound. (The Colonels) sure as heck didn’t have any issues with bad hops. We just have to get better defensively.”

The Colonels have won 14 straight and are 12-0 in region play. Longtime Dixie Heights Head Coach Chris Maxwell said this is the best start the Colonels have had since he’s been here.

“They don’t quit,” Maxwell said. “We talked to them and told them they had plenty of game still left. We got things going. They’ve been responding all year long.”

Royce McGee, Ethan Harrison, Adam Daria, Henry Kerns, Seth Caple and Nick King had two hits each for the Colonels. McGee led Dixie Heights recorded three runs batted in on a three-run home run in the fifth. Dixie Heights led 11-5 at that point. Daria, Caple, King and Hicks added doubles.

J.T. Breeden (3-0) pitched six-plus innings to pick up the win for Dixie Heights. He struck out two.

Jake Whitford and Todd Ramey led Highlands going 2-for-4 with two runs scored each. Whitford homered and doubled his way to four runs batted in.

The Bluebirds led 5-0 after two innings. Whitford homered in Brady Murray and Evan Allen in the first before Joseph Martin hit a solo shot in the bottom of the second. Highlands added another run in that inning when Alex Veneman singled, stole second and third and scored on a Dixie Heights throwing error.

But the Colonels started the rally in the fourth. McGee reached on an error and with two out, Daria doubled him to third. They both scored whenKerns singled. Kerns scored when Caple doubled before pinch-runner Luke Zajac came home on a King single.

The Colonels took an 8-5 lead in the fourth. Hicks doubled before Chris Ruedebusch, McGee and Harrison all singled and eventually scored before McGee’s home run added to the lead in the sixth.

Dixie scored one more run in the sixth before Highlands got a run back. Ramey singled, took second on a baulk and scored when Grayson Heck doubled him in.

The Bluebirds scored their last run in the seventh. Murray doubled, took third on a wild pitch and scored when Whitford doubled.

Highlands picked up a game at Mason (Ohio) on Tuesday. Game time is 5 p.m.

Baseball:

Covington Catholic 5, Newport Central Catholic 1:

The Thoroughbreds (8-20) put up a good fight against the Colonels, but fell for the 13th time in 14 games.

The Thoroughbreds banged out just three hits against winning pitcher Brian Haughey. Jake Pangallo had two of them including a double.

NewCath plays host to Simon Kenton on Tuesday. Game time is 5 p.m.