Highlands Dominates Dayton

Bluebirds Play for District Title on Wednesday

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham. Highlands knocked off Dayton, 11-0 on Monday to move on in the 36th District Tournament.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls soccer team (13-3-5 overall) dominated the Dayton Lady Devils, 11-0 in the semifinals of the 36th District Tournament at Tower Park on Monday.

Highlands Volleyball Victorious in District Play

Bluebirds Take Care of Business at Dayton

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. The Highlands volleyball team knocked off Dayton on Wednesday to move to 3-0 in 36th District play,

The Highlands Bluebirds volleyball team is playing three straight days and won the most important of the three Wednesday in 36th District play.

Highlands (17-2 overall) ventured to Dayton and defeated the Lady Devils, 2-0 (25-6. 25-20) in a best-of-three match. The Bluebirds have won seven in a row. They are 3-0 in district play and 8-1 against 9th Region opponents.

Highlands Dominates 36th District Opener

Twelve players scored in the convincing 36th District opening win for the Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (3-0 overall) Tuesday.

Highlands jumped out to a 26-5 advantage after one period, stretched it to 43-11 at halftime and wound up winning 64-25 over the host Dayton Lady Devils (1-3). The Bluebirds have won 25 straight against district opponents.

Wednesday Sports Briefs

Meyer Moves Into Sole Possession of Most Goals in School History with 65th of Career

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior forward Maria Wiefering (middle) makes a move in a recent game. Wiefering scored twice in the 10-0 win over Dayton.

Four days after perhaps their biggest win of the season, the Highlands Bluebirds girls soccer team took the field at Tower Park wanting to wrap up a convincing top seed in the 36th District Tournament in a few weeks.

The Bluebirds (12-4 overall, 8-0 9th Region) did just that with a 10-0 win over the Dayton Lady Devils (2-8-1, 2-2 district) in one half. Highlands won all four district seed games by a combined 35-0.

More District Championships Added to Highlands Trophy Case

Bluebird Baseball, Softball Claim Crowns in Different Ways

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands sophomore Taylar Lorenzen receives a five from Head Coach Rob Coffey after a three-run home run in the second inning. The Bluebirds beat Dayton, 10-7 to win the 36th District championship.

Both Blue and White squads smashed their way into the district championship games.

It turned into a matter of the heavily favored Highlands Bluebirds baseball and softball teams bringing home more 36th District gold trophies and earning the best possible seeds in the 9th Region Quarterfinals on Thursday. Both teams did it in two completely different fashions bringing the total to six district championships out of the the seven 36th District sports for the most in an academic calendar year since the soccer teams went to that format starting in 2012-13.

Great Wednesday for Highlands Baseball, Softball

Bluebirds Softball Completes 4-0 Run in 36th District Seed Play

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Maleah Abner takes a swing in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds softball team finished up the regular season on a positive note with four straight wins.

Highlands (16-10 overall) took care of the Dayton Lady Devils, 12-2 in five innings earning a convincing top seed in the 36th District at 4-0 in seed play. Highlands outscored the four district opponents, 49-5. The Bluebirds also finished 11-1 in 9th Region action.

Bluebirds Cruise to District Championship Game

Highlands to Face NewCath in 36th Title Game

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Zoie Barth (10) goes down the middle against Dayton in the 36th District semifinals Tuesday.

It almost seems automatic for the Blue and White because it has been rare for it not to happen.

But the Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team (23-7 overall) came into the post-season fully aware that upsets do happen. But Highlands made sure that did not happen on its home court scoring 11 points in the final 2:30 of the first quarter and cruising to a sound 69-35 36th District semifinal win over the Dayton Lady Devils (14-17) on Tuesday.

Highlands Uses Defensive Pressure to Win District Game

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Zoie Barth goes up for a score in a recent game. Barth scored 11 points in the 68-13 win over Dayton on Tuesday.

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team struggled against a zone defense in the loss Saturday.

Different results in Region play

Ladybirds win district opener; Bluebirds drop tight one

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands sophomore Zoie Barth (14) goes in for the score during Friday's 36th District game at Dayton. Barth scored nine points and had seven assists in the 76-33 victory.

The Highlands Ladybirds basketball team (1-1 overall) dominated the Dayton Lady Devils, 76-33 in the 9th and 36th District opener Friday.

Ladybirds cruise in 36th semifinals

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands freshman Morgan Coffey (35) goes up for a shot against Dayton's Mallory Kubala in the 36th District semifinals Wednesday. Highlands won 78-33.

The Highlands Ladybirds basketball team had no problem punching its fifth straight ticket to the 9th Region Tournament with a sound 78-33 victory over the Dayton Lady Devils in the 36th District semifinals on Tuesday at Bellevue.

Ladybirds record first district win of season

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Taylor Baioni makes a move in Wednesday's junior varsity game against Dayton.

The Highlands Ladybirds basketball team (2-1 overall) recorded its first 36th District win of the season with a 57-22 decision over the Dayton Lady Devils (3-1) Wednesday at Highlands Middle School.

Highlands cruises in 36th opener

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey DWCPhoto.com. Highlands guard Haley Coffey (center) goes up for a score in Thursday's 36th District contest at Dayton. Highlands won 82-30 to move to 2-0 on the season.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Ladybirds basketball team avoided a letdown with a convincing 82-30 win over the host Dayton Lady Devils on Thursday.

Highlands dominates Dayton, 69-23

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds girls basketball team earned its first win of the year Thursday.

Highlands (1-1) knocked off the host Dayton Lady Devils, 69-23 to open 36th District action. The teams played for seeding purposes in the postseason.

Highlands led 23-9 after one quarter and 46-15 at halftime. The Bluebirds held the Lady Devils to 30.8 percent (8-of-26) from the field while making 48.3 percent (28-of-58) overall. They also had nine assists to one for the Lady Devils.

NC girls thrash Dayton, 81-20

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Newport Central Catholic girls basketball team opened the season Monday with a convincing win.

The Thoroughbreds downed the host Dayton Lady Devils, 81-20 scoring 60 points in the first half. The two teams played this year for 36th District Tournament seeding purposes.

NewCath senior standout post Nikki Kiernan played in just the first half and scored 17 points. She added nine rebounds and two blocks.

Three other NewCath players reached double-digits. They were Alexus Mayes with 13 points, Lydia Stetler and Imani Lankheit with 10 each.

Dayton did see one player reach double-figures. That was Nicole Schowalter with 10.

NewCath plays host to St. Henry on Wednesday. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Highlands softball blasts Dayton, 15-0

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS – It is just a matter of putting solid offense and defense together consistently for the Highlands Bluebirds softball team.

When the Bluebirds do that, chances of winning dramatically increase. In the case of Tuesday’s game, it let them put the game away early in a 15-0 three-inning run-ruling of the Dayton Lady Devils in the 36th District semifinals at Northern Kentucky University.

“We’re continuing our progression toward finishing games,” said Rob Coffey, Highlands head coach. “We took a little dip in the middle of the season. We’re back on the momentum high. We’re confident and feel like we’re playing pretty decent. It’s starting to come together. The coaching staff is really excited about that.”

Defensively, Bailey Spencer threw a no-hitter striking out two and the defense did not make any errors behind her. Dayton’s lone base runner came in the second inning when Alicia Hornsby walked.

On the other side, top-seeded Highlands constantly hit the ball into open parts of the field going 14-of-22 for a .636 average against Dayton pitchers Aubry Donelan and Kilee Donelan. Every slot in the order scored once for Highlands except for the second one.

The Bluebirds also took advantage of two Dayton errors. The Bluebirds scored eight in the first before adding four in the second and three in the third.

Haley Coffey and Whitney Quillen played for the Highlands district championship basketball team that struggled in the title game against Newport in the first quarter before pulling away. Haley Coffey and Quillen helped make sure that did not happen in this game.

“We had to come to this park knowing we’re going to win, but with class,” Haley Coffey said. “We can’t laugh in the dugout among other things. We just need to get the job done. With the right attitude, we should be good.”

Brennah Dutcher led Highlands at the plate going 3-for-3 two runs batted in and a run scored. Whitney Quillen, Shelby Graybill and Ashley Grosser all added two hits each. Quillen had a grand slam inside the park home run in the second. Turner added a triple and Spencer doubled. Quillen led everyone with five RBI and K.C. Broering scored a game-high three runs.

Highlands had to make some adjustments at the plate. The speeds were slower than what they’d seen against teams like Ryle and Notre Dame.

“You just have to step up in the box and wait for the ball,” Broering said. “That’s something we’ve struggled with throughout the season, but we’re doing a lot better now.”

The Bluebirds (17-10) take on Newport Central Catholic (14-13) for the district championship on Thursday. Game time is 5 p.m.

“(Tuesday) starts a whole new season,” Coach Coffey said. “Whether you hit good or bad, you have to flush it away. We know we’re a darkhorse to go to state. But anything can happen in a one-game matchup.”

Highlands Baseball to battle Newport:

The top-seeded Bluebirds (17-17) will take on Newport at 5 p.m. at Morscher Field in the 36th District semifinals today. Newport beat Dayton, 9-0 Tuesday.

The winner faces host Newport Central Catholic (20-12) at the same time on Thursday.