Tuesday Sports Notes

Highlands Teams Record Solid Days

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior forward Porter Hedenberg makes a move in a recent game. The Bluebirds downed Campbell County, 7-0 on Tuesday.

One of the goals this year for the Blue and White was to record victories against the teams that handed them their eight losses last year.

Highlands (5-0-1 overall) is a quarter of the way there following a convincing 7-0 win over the host Campbell County Camels (2-2-1). Campbell County came to Fort Thomas and won 1-0 last year scoring early then staying back playing defense the rest of the game. The Camels would up winning the 10th Region before losing 1-0 to Warren Central in the state quarterfinals.

"We had something to get back and prove," said Chad Niedert, Highlands Head Coach. "We came out with the eagerness to prove that last year was more of a fluke and we are a better team this year. I think we did that pretty solidly and pretty convincingly. That just speaks to the depth of this team. Everybody was on the same page to get going."

Senior Demetrius Sarakatsannis and sophomore Max Farris scored two goals each to lead the Bluebirds. Senior Cary Gorrigan, Alex Ford and junior Caymon Stevie scored the other goals. Seniors Keegan Brewer, Carter Holmes and junior Porter Hedenberg had assists.

Highlands out-shot Campbell County, 31-5 including 12-1 on goal. Senior Will Burnham made the lone Bluebird save in the first half at net for the Bluebirds.

"We have a lot of seniors so we can go pretty far, deep into our roster and always have fresh legs so that's pretty nice," said Devin Harris, Highlands senior defender. "All in all, we've just been working really hard and everyone's got their backs on the back line. We all sort of have been playing for each other for so long."

The Bluebirds face St. Henry at Tower Park on Thursday. Game time is 8 p.m.

Soccer, Girls:
Highlands 12, Bellevue 0:

The Bluebirds moved to 5-1 overall and 3-0 in 36th District action with the victory that ended after the first half via the mercy rule.

"I think a game like (Tuesday) is for us to understand that everyone is part of the team so since some games, girls don't get to play as other girls so even if you do play a lot and you don't play a lot (Tuesday), it's making sure you up off the bench cheering on your teammates," said Alex Dean, Highands Head Coach. "Then when they come off, you're up giving them a high five being in the same spiritual mindset as playing against a Notre Dame even though it's a little different atmosphere. We are always working on the team aspect because you can always get better and better at that."

Highlands out-shot Bellevue, 26-0 including 18-0 on goal. Highlands also had two corner kicks. Junior Maggie Hinegardner played the entire game in net for the Bluebirds.

Senior Hannah Hartman recorded a hat trick of three goals and an assist for a total of seven points to lead Highlands. Senior Lindsey Meyer and sophomore Maggie Stieby added two goals each. Senior Hanna Buecker, juniors Abby Stein, Maria Broering, Jordan Halpin and sophomore Kenzie Nehus had the other Highlands goals. Nehus and Halpin added two assists.

Junior Maria Wiefering led Highlands with three assists. Stein and junior Amy Herfel added one assist each.

"(The passing) was really great," Herfel said. "It really goes back to Coach Dean emphasizing passing and working together with teammates. We've been making some new, set plays for corner kicks among other things. That's really helped us out."

The Bluebirds do not play again until Sept. 5 at Dixie Heights. Game time is 7:45 p.m.

Golf, Girls:
Highlands 154, Beechwood 191:

The Bluebirds moved to 5-0 in dual matches with another big win over Beechwood at World of Golf Course in Florence. Sophomore Ellie Rowland won medalist honors shooting a 35.

Two other Highlands golfer shot in the 30s. Junior Clara Bushman shot a 38 and freshman KJ Toole shot a 39. But senior Olivia Hopper had her best nine-hole game with a 42.

Highlands had two other partake in the match. Senior Abie Wira shot a 46 and junior Megan Farney shot a 53.

The Bluebirds take on Cooper at Hickory Sticks Golf Course in California (Kentucky) on Thursday. Tee time is 3:30 p.m.

Golf, Boys:
Highlands 164, Campbell County 185:

The Bluebirds won their first dual match of the season over the county rivals on the back nine AJ Jolly Golf Course. Highlands Head Coach Bert Richey said balls were harder to control when they hit the ground on the dry, hard course.

"The good thing is you have ups and downs in a season," Richey said. "It's hard to play well the whole season. When we started off, we played really well. Then the last three weeks or so, we haven't played well. But we still managed to be near the top. Three weeks from (Tuesday) is the region tournament. We have to go to work and get our momentum back. It's going to take everybody to win the region. We have to get back to playing well, get some confidence, be mentally tough like we were at the beginning of the year and get rolling right before the regional tournament in three weeks. We have a chance to win the region if we play well."

Sophomore Justin Gabbard led Highlands shooting a 35 for one below par. Sophomore Luke Muller shot a 41 with eighth grader Joel Craft and senior Ryan Leigh both shooting 44s to round off the Bluebird scoring.

"You really have to make sure that you're not hitting over greens because when it is really hard, if you hit it on the green like that, it'll bounce really far so sometime you have to hit different types of shot like higher trajectory so they land softer on the green," Gabbard said. "You kind of put in the front of your stance and the higher you hit, the less it will bounce just because it's coming in a steeper angle."

Highlands takes on Bishop Brossart on Thursday. Tee time is 3:30 p.m.

Volleyball:
Dixie Heights 3, Highlands 0:

Highlands (5-1) overall saw its best start since 2002 stopped on the road in the 9th Region. The scores were 25-16, 25-17, 25-8.

Dixie Heights (6-1) has won 17 straight sets in its six-game winning streak after losing a tight 3-2 contest against Notre Dame to open the season.

Highlands will try to rebound at home Thursday against Dayton. Game time is 6 p.m.

Football, Freshman:
Highlands 26, Cooper 14:

The Bluebirds also moved to 2-0 in Union. Foster Schuett had two rushing touchdowns and Jake Welch had another. Will Hartman added a punt return for a touchdown.

Highlands takes on Campbell County on Sept. 6 at 6 p.m. at David Cecil Memorial Stadium.