Thursday Sports Briefs

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Ladybirds softball team earned its 20th win of the season Thursday with a comeback 12-4 victory over the visiting Beechwood Lady Tigers.

Highlands trailed 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth before scoring eight runs. Shelby Graybill started the rally with a double and Brennah Dutcher hit her first career home run to left center at Winkler Park.

Highlands outhit Beechwood, 15-8. Payton Leighty led the Ladybirds going 3-for-4 with a stolen base, run batted in and run scored. Whitney Quillen, Graybill, Dutcher, Rachel Gabbard and Bailey Spencer added two hits each. Quillen stole two bases with Haley Coffey and Kara Fornash recording two RBI each.

Spencer pitched another complete game. She struck out eight and has 105 on the season.

Highlands travels to Dixie Heights on Friday. Game time is 7:15 p.m.

Baseball:

Newport Central Catholic 6, Covington Holy Cross 1:

The Thoroughbreds moved to 11-22 with their second straight win.

NewCath scored three runs in the second inning and never looked back. The Thoroughbreds added two in the fifth and another in the sixth.

NewCath outhit Holy Cross, 8-7. Jake Pangallo led the way going 2-for-4 with a double, run batted in and run scored. Mitch Pangallo and Clint Bartels added doubles for the Thoroughbreds.

Jake Yeager pitched the first six innings to pick up the NewCath win. He struck out three.

NewCath finishes the regular season at Campbell County on Friday. Game time is 7 p.m.

Covington Catholic 2, Highlands 1:

The Bluebirds (17-16) fell in the pitcher’s dual.

Highlands scored in the first inning. But the host Colonels scored one in the fourth and scored the game-winner in the sixth.

Ben Heppler picked up the win in the complete game for Covington Catholic. He allowed just three hits and went 2-for-4 at the plate to lead the Colonels.

Joey Cochran threw a complete game for the Bluebirds. He struck out four and allowed eight hits.

The Bluebirds play host to Conner on Friday at 5 p.m. It is Senior Night.