Highlands inches closer to 20-win plateau with run-ruling

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Jake Whitford homers in a recent game. 

The home field of the Highlands Bluebirds baseball team has not been kind to 32nd District opponents this week.

Wednesday Roundup: Highlands softball moves to 11-7

PHOTO: DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Bailey Spencer connects in a recent game.

The Highlands Ladybirds softball team handled another 9th Region opponent on the road Wednesday.

Highlands (11-7 overall) took down the Beechwood Lady Tigers, 15-0 in four innings. The Ladybirds moved to 6-2 in region play with the win.

Bluebirds prepare for stretch run

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Joseph Martin connects with one in Tuesday's 11-5 win over Simon Kenton. Martin is batting .426 with four home runs on the season.

The Blue and White entered the baseball season with high expectations.

Bluebirds go yard five times in win over 2014 state runner-up

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior D.J. Mills connects for one of his two hits in Tuesday's game against Simon Kenton. Mills scored twice in the 11-5 Highlands win.

Lately, it has been bombs away for the Highlands Bluebirds baseball team.

Tuesday Roundup: Spencer makes history in Highlands win

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands eighth grader Rachel Gabbard makes a play in a recent game.

It was a banner day for Highlands softball junior pitcher Bailey Spencer on Tuesday.

Monday Roundup: NewCath softball edges Highlands in another classic

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Newport Central Catholic senior catcher Kristen Schrieber makes a play in Monday's game against Highlands.

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlads junior Brennah Dutcher catches a pop up in Monday's 36th District game against Newport Central Catholic

The games have been decided by two runs or less in the last three meetings.

Bluebirds win Reid Rizzo Classic

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Jake Whitford connects in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team moved to 16-4 with two wins in the Reid Rizzo Classic on Sunday.

Madison Central halts Highlands win streak

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Joseph Martin launches a double in the third inning.

The Highlands Bluebirds appeared headed to another victory after four innings.

Thursday Roundup: Bluebirds win eighth in a row

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Alex Veneman gets up after a steal in a recent game.

After a struggle to score Wednesday, the Highlands Bluebirds baseball team used an offensive explosion to pull away from another in-county opponent.

Highlands edges NewCath in crucial district battle

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. The Bluebirds celebrate as Austin Mayhew (3) scores the game-winning run in Wednesday's game against Newport Central Catholic.

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Newport Central Catholic first baseman Bryson Hightchew (right) extends for the ball while Highlands' Todd Ramey (44) hustles.

When the starting pitching is good and defenses play error-free behind them, it makes batters not feel good about their days offensively.

But one at-bat can quickly erase those feelings. Highlands Bluebirds baseball junior Conner Kreeger found that out Wednesday in a crucial 36th District seed game against the rival Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds.

Bluebirds make most of new field house with no spring practice

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands rising seniors Conner Welsch (5) and Cody Stamper (23) pursue Ashland's Jalon Taylor (24) during the playoff game last year. The Bluebirds will not have a regular spring practice this year because the school is replacing the turf at David Cecil Memorial Stadium.

They may not have had their annual spring practice this year.

NewCath teams aim for more 9th Region Tournament appearances

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Newport Central Catholic sophomore pitcher Haley Meyers delivers in a recent game. The Thoroughbreds are 11-5 on the season.

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbred baseball and softball teams are used to making it to the 9th Region Tournament on a regular basis.

Tuesday Roundup: Highlands baseball, softball record home wins

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Whitney Quillen makes a leaping catch in Tuesday's game against Cincinnati Colerain. The Ladybirds won 3-1.

The Highlands Bluebirds avenged the loss in last year's 9th Region baseball title game in a huge way Tuesay.

Monday Cancellations

The Highlands and Newport Central Catholic baseball teams had 9th Region games cancelled Monday because of the weather.

Saturday Round-up: Bluebirds pull away from Rebels

The floodgates opened up in the top of the fifth inning for the visiting baseball team Saturday.

Friday Roundup: Bluebirds squeeze past state-ranked opponent

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team recorded a huge win Friday in the Doc Morris Invitational at Scott.

Thursday Roundup: Highlands holds off Scott, 10-8

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Joseph Martin (21) records an out in a recent game. Highlands moved to 9-3 with a 10-8 win at Scott on Thursday.

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team won the opener of the Doc Morris Invitational on Thursday.

Highlands Briefs: Baseball, softball victorious in district action

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior catcher Kenny Ball waits on a pitch in a recent game.

The winning streak hit three in a row in an important 36th District win Wednesday for the Blue and White.

NC Briefs: Baseball run-rules Dayton

It took just five innings to dispatch their 36th District opponent Tuesday.

Monday Softball Briefs: Highlands, NewCath record wins

The Highlands Ladybirds moved to 4-5 on the season with a five-inning 13-1 run-ruling at Walton-Verona on Monday.

Weekend Briefs: Bluebirds earn huge win at Elder

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior pitcher Lou Bunning fires to the plate in Saturday's game at Campbell County. Highlands won 13-4 and moved to 7-3 going 2-1 over the weekend.

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team moved to 7-3 on the season going 2-1 in games over the weekend.

Friday Briefs: Warren East hands NC softball first two losses of year

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Newport Central Catholic senior Kathryn Schreiber takes a swipe in Friday's game against Warren East.

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbred softball team (5-2) lost its first two game of the season at home Friday.

Wednesday Baseball Brief: NewCath goes 1-1 on day

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds baseball team finished 1-1 on the day to move to 4-7 on the season.

Collinsworth sets marks in Harvard Track and Field

PHOTO: Gil Talbot, Harvard University. Harvard senior Ashley Collinsworth, a 2011 Highlands graduate, is in the school and Ivy League top performance lists in various indoor and outdoor sprints and relays. She's helped the Crimson to three indoor and an outdoor Ivy League title.

It is her final season wearing the Crimson and her name could be remembered for a long time after she graduates.

Baseball Roundup: Thoroughbreds handle Mustangs again

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds baseball team recorded its second win on the season against Bishop Brossart, 7-2 on Monday in six innings.

Baseball Roundup: Thoroughbreds handle Mustangs again

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds baseball team recorded its second win on the season against Bishop Brossart, 7-2 on Monday in six innings.

Friday Roundup: Bluebirds go 1-1 on final day of Myrtle Beach trip

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team is 5-2 after going 1-1 on the final day of the Cal Ripken Experience in Myrtle Beach.

Thursday Roundup: Bluebirds move to 4-1

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team took down Pittsford (New York) Sutherland, 4-3 to move to 4-1 on the season Thursday.

Wednesday Baseball Roundup: NewCath blitzes Newport

The Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds baseball team kicked thing into high gear in the 36th District opener Wednesday.