Highlands Handle Struggling Conner

Bluebirds Beat Lady Cougars in Rematch

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Alyssa Dixon records an out in a recent game.

It marked the second time this season these two teams faced off.

But the result did not change much as the Highlands Bluebirds softball team (14-10 overall) handled the host Conner Lady Cougars, 12-5 in Hebron on Monday. Highlands also beat Conner (2-14) by an 8-2 count in Fort Thomas on April 11. Highlands led 6-0 after two innings and cruised to the win.

"We've been talking about reality sitting in. We have nine seniors and we're three weeks away from a lot of those girls' careers ending and being done," said Rob Coffey, Highlands Head Coach. "It's easy sometimes to cruise through the season and just go game by game by game. All of a sudden, you look up and the season is over. We've been telling them we don't want that to all of a sudden happen to these girls because we have a chance to make a run if we focus and do the right things and finish off games. We cleaned the slates (Monday). That's good because we've had a couple kids in slumps. If you give them the opportunity to clean the slate, that takes that pressure away from them."

Highlands outhit Conner, 16-4 and both teams committed one error each. Senior Liz Mairose had three hits including a double and three runs batted in with sophomore Abby Rust collecting two doubles and three RBI. Senior Josie Daley also had two hits including a triple and RBI with eighth grader Addie Mack collecting two hits including a double. Eighth grader Anna Greenwell had two singles and one RBI and junior Rachel Gabbard had two RBI on two hits with senior Brooke Dill collecting two RBI on one single.

"The seniors have been here for so long and we know that they're depending on us to make their last year their best for them," Greenwell said. "The seniors motivate us a lot. They help us do better when we do something wrong or make a mistake in the field. They always pick us up and say something funny to make us laugh. That immediately powers our team as a whole."

Junior Corin Crawford had a triple and sophomore Kaitlyn Becknell had two hits including a double and RBI to lead Conner. Sophomore Emily Blaker added one hit and an RBI.

Both pitchers threw complete games. Highlands eighth grader Gracie Schlosser struck out seven, hit three batters, walked four and allowed five earned runs. Conner senior Victoria Connley allowed 12 runs with eight of them earned, walked one and hit two batters.

Highlands travels to Notre Dame on Tuesday. Game time is 5 p.m.