More Region Wins for Bluebird Softball, Baseball

Softball Celebrates Senior Day in Style

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Baylie Ormes waits during a break in the action against Newport on Thursday. All nine Bluebird seniors started Senior Day in a 17-2 win over Newport.

The coaching staff made sure the nine Highlands softball seniors had a memorable day Wednesday.

All nine started, played the entire game and had at least one hit in the 17-2 four-inning run-ruling of the Newport Ladycats in 36th District play. Highlands moved to 11-8 overall and 2-0 in district play with the victory.

"It was great. They all contributed," said Rob Coffey, Highlands Head Coach. "You want Senior Night to be perfect for these kids that have put their time in. A majority of our seniors have been there since sixth grade. The weather held off. It didn't rain enough to rain us out. We did get a little bit of a downpour right as we were ending the ceremonies. But everybody stuck around. We got to eat some good food, have some good stories and have fun with them. It turned out to be a joyful day."

Highlands had 13 hits and six walks and no errors defensively. On the other side, Newport committed just one error.

Senior Ella Greiwe pitched a complete game striking out three, walking three and allowing three hits and two earned runs to pick up the win. Griewe also had two hits and four runs batted in at the plate.

"It was pretty cool to get the experience in, especially have all nine of us (seniors) out there," Greiwe said. "It was fun to go out there and show what we got. For me to be back out on the mound for the first time in a while was cool. I was nervous at first. But it was a fun time. It was good being out there and see everyone else succeed as well."

Seniors Baylie Ormes, Alyssa Dixon and Ella Grimm had two hits each. Grimm had a double and Ormes batted one in. Senior Brooke Dill had five runs batted in and a triple with Josie Daley and Becca Breen hitting in two on one hit. Liz Mairose drove in one on one hit and Maleah Abner added a single.

Highlands plays host to Bellevue on Thursday. Game time is 5 p.m.

Baseball:
Highlands 4, Ryle 0 (Five Innings):

The Bluebirds (18-10 overall) took care of business in a 9th Region match-up. They are 11-2 in region games.

Highlands junior Grady Cramer pitched a complete game striking out seven. He walked one and allowed one hit.

"Whenever you play a team from the 33rd District and you get a win over them, it's a quality win," said Jeremy Baioni, Highlands Head Coach. "It's a really good district. Ryle has some really good ball players. They threw a side-armer. We needed to adjust to that because we don't see it very often. Some guys made the adjustment rather quickly and other guys took a little bit of time to make the adjustment. But it was good to be able to see good pitching again, play a quality opponent and get a win."

The Bluebirds pounded out eight hits. Seniors Joe Steiden and Drew Rom both went 2-for-2 and stole one base each. Steiden hit a solo home run for one run and one run batted in. Rom doubled, scored twice and had one RBI. Senior Tyler Gulley also doubled before scoring. Seniors Hunter Dreves and Evan Lewin each drove in one.

"We're buckling up on all the little things," said Cooper Schwalbach, Highlands junior. "Practice makes perfect. We're doing our best right now. It's about making adjustments as the game goes on and playing from the dugout."

Highlands plays in the Coach Conner Classic at Covington Catholic on Friday. Game time is 5 p.m.