9th Region Pairings Set

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team (27-9 overall) drew the Boone County Rebels (12-18) in the 9th Region Quarterfinals starting Saturday at 2:30 p.m. at UC Health Stadium.

Highlands and Boone County had a game cancelled during the regular season. Highlands finished 14-3 in region play including 6-2 against teams in the region tournament.

The Bluebirds have won four straight region championships and went on to finish state runner-up in 2015 and 2018. The semifinals take place at UC Health Stadium on Monday at 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. The championship game is Tuesday at 7 p.m.

Highlands Baseball Records 25th Win

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team recorded its 25th win of the season against just nine defeats in a 4-2 9th Region win over the visiting Ryle Raiders on Wednesday.

Highlands Rallies Past Campbell County on Senior Day

Bluebirds Push Though in Final At-Bat

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. The Highlands Bluebirds beat the Campbell County Camels, 6-5 on Senior Day.

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team (24-9 overall) rallied past the Campbell County Camels, 6-5 on Tuesday on Senior Day honoring the 11 seniors.

Highlands Monday Roundup

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team (23-9 overall) held a 5-3 lead going into the seventh inning at Highland Park on Monday.

But the Cooper Jaguars (23-7) scored seven runs in the top of the frame to record a 10-5 9th Region victory. The loss stopped the four-game Highlands winning streak and left the Bluebirds 11-3 in region play.

Highlands Rallies Past Simon Kenton

Bluebirds Have Won Four Straight

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands rallied past Simon Kenton for a 6-4 non-region victory on Friday.

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team (23-8 overall) rallied past the Simon Kenton Pioneers (15-10), 6-4 in Independence on Friday. Highlands has won four in a row.

Bluebirds Smash Colonels

Highlands Puts 10 on Scoreboard in Win over Arch-Rivals

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands defeated Covington Catholic, 10-1 on Wednesday to move to 11-2 in 9th Region play.

The arch-rivals may be down some compared to usual.

But their uniforms still say Covington Catholic on them. Therefore, the Highlands Bluebirds baseball team (22-8 overall) did not let the guard down pulling away late for a 10-1 9th Region victory at Highland Park over the Colonels (16-14). Highlands has won three straight to move to 11-2 in region play.

Tuesday Highlands Briefs

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball and softball teams wrapped up undisputed top seeds in 36th District play.

Monday Highlands Sports Briefs

Bluebird Softball, Baseball Teams Record Region Wins at Cooper

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. The Highlands baseball team beat Cooper, 5-0 to end a two-game losing streak on Monday.

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team (20-8 overall) ended its 9th Region two-game losing streak with a road 5-0 shutout of the Cooper Jaguars (19-5).

Thursday Rainouts

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball and softball teams had games rained out.

Highlands Baseball Loses for First Time in Region Play

Bluebirds Edged on the Road

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands lost 2-1 at Dixie Heights on Wednesday.

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team (19-7 overall) came into the game Wednesday undefeated in 9th Region play at 7-0.

The Bluebirds had done well in recent games taking great approaches at the plate and manufacturing runs. But Dixie Heights sophomore pitcher Zachary Harris limited the Bluebirds to just four hits in 25 at-bats for a .160 batting average in a 2-1 Colonel win. Harris had 11 strikeout and no walks.

Highlands Baseball Records Road Shutout

Bluebirds Move One Win shy of 20th of Season

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. The Highlands baseball team defeated Scott County, 6-0 in Georgetown on Tuesday to move to 19-6 on the season.

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team (19-6 overall) ventured to Georgetown on Tuesday and came home with a 6-0 non-region win over the Scott County Cardinals (14-9) from the 11th Region.

Highlands Rebounds with Win over Upper Arlington

The Highlands Bluebirds had to win a shoot-out to conclude the Reid Rizzo Classic at Highland Park on Sunday.

Highlands (18-6) beat the Upper Arlington Golden Bears, 21-16. The Bluebirds took third place in the classic originally hosted by Cincinnati La Salle. Saturday rains forced the postponement of the game for a day. Highlands is 2-3 against Ohio opponents.

Highlands Loses on Road

Bluebirds Lose in Bottom of Seventh

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands lost on the road Saturday at Cincinnati La Salle.

For the second time in three days, the Highlands Bluebirds lost a tight one against a Greater Catholic League South squad Saturday.

The Bluebirds (17-6 overall) rallied to tie the game, 4-4 in the top of the sixth. But La Salle (9-7) won the game in the bottom of the seventh in the Reid Rizzo Classic, 5-4.

Moeller Shuts Out Highlands

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team (16-5 overall) saw its seven-game winning streak come to an end in a 2-0 loss to the Cincinnati (Ohio) Moeller Crusaders at UC Medical Center Stadium in Florence on Thursday.

Wednesday Highlands Results

Highlands Baseball, Softball Teams Victorious

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team defeated Bishop Brossart, 20-4 in four innings.

It may look like a pure run-ruling in favor of the Highlands Bluebirds baseball team (16-4 overall).

But after two innings, Highlands led just 8-4 before pulling away to beat the host Bishop Brossart Mustangs (12-10), 20-4 in four innings.

"Bishop Brossart kept fighting. (The Mustangs) put together some good at-bats," said Jeremy Baioni, Highlands Head Coach. "We left a couple balls up. We had a big inning in the third and really settled down on the mound. We made some really good defensive plays later in the game. They put pressure on us early on."

Highlands Monday Round-Up

Bluebirds Run Winning Streak over NewCath to 12 Games 

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands sophomore Jacob Gulley fires to the plate in the 7-1 win over Newport Central Catholic on Monday.

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team (15-4 overall) has dominated the 9th Region Tournament so much in recent years that the stat has flown under the radar.

"I didn't even know we were 12-0 in the series to be honest," said Ethan Kavanagh, Highlands junior shortstop. "We just come out and play hard every single day. (Newport Central Catholic) is just another opponent that we have to beat. It's a big game in the season. We come come out playing the game like we always do."

Highlands ran its winning streak to that many wins in a row over the Thoroughbreds (8-10) with a 7-1 win at Highland Park. The Bluebirds moved to 3-0 in 36th District play with their 39th straight win over district opponents and 7-0 in region play. NewCath was the last district team to beat Highlands, 3-1 in the region championship on May 31, 2012.

Wednesday Highlands Results

Bluebirds Win 36th District Battles

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands junior Piper Macke (6) looks to square up a pitch against Newport Central Catholic on Wednesday. Highlands won 13-3 in five innings.

For the second straight day, the balls erupted off the bats of the Highlands Bluebirds softball team.

Highlands (3-4 overall) batted .476 (10-for-21) scoring eight runs in the first inning and run-ruling the 6-9 Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds, 13-3 at Winkler Field. It marked the first 36th District game for the Bluebirds this year.

"It's big for us. As I've mentioned, we're just starting to come around with the bats," said Rob Coffey, Highlands Head Coach. "To keep that rolling and keep that consistent is our message. The girls have really bought into putting the ball in play. They're reaping the benefits now. It makes the game fun, too."

Tuesday Highlands Results

Highlands Baseball, Softball Teams Record Non-Region Wins

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands senior Rachel Gabbard (55) lays off the pitch in a recent game.

The Highlands Bluebirds softball team (2-4 overall) snapped a four-game losing streak with a 19-7 win over the Cincinnati (Ohio) McNicholas Rockets (10-4) on the road Tuesday in six innings.

Highlands Baseball Run-Rules Holmes in Five

Juett No-Hits Bulldogs

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands junior Brennan Haigis sets up prior to a pitch against Holmes on Monday.

The big inning came in the bottom of the first for the hosts.

When it ended, the scoreboard blinked 1 then 1 signaling 11 runs scored in that inning. That's all the Highlands Bluebirds baseball team (12-4 overall) needed to knock off the 5-10 Covington Holmes Bulldogs, 11-1 in a 9th Region game Monday at Highland Park in five innings. The Bluebirds moved to 5-0 in region play with the victory.

Highlands Wins State Quarterfinal Rematch

In a rematch of last year's state quarterfinals, the Highlands Bluebirds baseball team (10-4 overall) defeated the Paintsville Tigers (10-6) by a 7-2 score at Campbell County on Friday in the Doc Morris Invitational.