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.

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.

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.

Tuesday Highlands Round-Up

Highlands Softball Starts Season with Convincing Victory

PHOTO: G. Michael Graham, Fort Thomas Matters. Highlands softball Head Coach Rob Coffey gives instructions at a recent practice. The Bluebirds opened the season Tuesday with a win.

The Highlands Bluebirds softball team opened the season with a convincing four-inning 16-1 win over the Bishop Brossart Lady Mustangs (1-2) at Winkler Field.

"They came out a little nervous. We came out and made a couple errors on defense in the first inning," said Rob Coffey, Highlands Head Coach. "But once we settled down, defense was super solid. Pitching was good. We really, really attacked in the box hitting-wise. We were really focused. Our base hits were clean. We've been working on that all winter being super aggressive early in the count so we can hit good pitches."

No Upsetting the Bluebirds

Convincing 36th Semifinal Wins for Highlands Baseball, Softball

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Grady Cramer delivers to to the plate in the win over Newport on Wednesday at Highland Park in the 36th District semifinals.

Nothing shows people how serious a top-seeded, heavy favorite is than a convincing shut-out.

Both the Highlands Bluebirds baseball (22-13 overall) and softball (17-10) more than continued to show why they are the teams to beat in their respective 36th District semifinal games Wednesday. The baseball team took care of the Newport Wildcats, 18-0 at Highland Park and the softball team finished off the Bellevue Tigers, 15-0 in three innings after rain Tuesday forced the postponement for day.

Rough Day for Highlands Sports

Bluebird Baseball, Softball Both Run-Ruled

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Members of the Highlands baseball team and coaches salute the flag at Great American Ballpark before facing Covington Catholic on Friday.

It did not turn out to be a good day for the Blue and White in their second appearance at Great American Ballpark in two years.

Facing the arch-rival Covington Catholic Colonels (10-4 overall) in front of about 1,000 of their fans, the Bluebirds (11-5) hoped to earn a huge 9th Region victory. Instead, the Colonels scored six runs in the fourth inning on their way to an 11-0 six-inning run-ruling Friday.

Split Results in 36th Title Games

Highlands Baseball Six-Peats as District Champs

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Josie Daley makes a play in the 36th District championship game Friday.

The start made the Blue and White faithful nervous.

Runs have not always come as easy as previous seasons for the Highlands Bluebirds baseball team so it is understandable why a 4-0 deficit in the first inning would make fans nervous. But Highlands (22-12 overall) did not flinch. Instead, the Bluebirds dominated the rest of the way en route to an 11-4 victory over the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds (16-14) in the 36th District championship Friday at Highland Park.

36th District Championship Games Pushed Back

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Baylie Ormes grabs a ground ball in a recent game.

The Highlands and Newport Central Catholic baseball and softball games will play for the 36th District championships at 5 p.m. Friday instead of Thursday because of excessive rain.

Ladybirds Extend Winning Streak to Three Straight

Bombers Halt Bluebird Win Streak

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. The Highlands baseball team celebrated Senior Day on Friday. The eight seniors are pictured here with their parents.

The Highlands Ladybirds softball team (9-13-1 overall) won its third in a row with an 11-6 win at Bishop Brossart on Friday.

Highlands handles Bellevue

The Highlands Ladybirds softball team (8-13-1 overall) handled Bellevue, 18-3 on Thursday in a make-up 36th District softball game.

Highlands Baseball, Softball Teams Run-Rule 9th Opponents

The Highlands Ladybirds softball team (7-13-1 overall) handled Covington Holmes, 11-1 in six innings for a 9th Region win at Highland Park on Thursday.

No Games Tuesday

The Highlands baseball (16-8 overall) and softball teams (6-13-1) saw their games rained out Tuesday. The softball team was scheduled to play at Dayton and Cincinnati La Salle was scheduled to come to Highland Park for baseball.

Cancellations

The Highlands baseball and softball teams had several cancellations between Thursday and Friday as a result of the cold weather.

Monday Round-Up

Bluebird Baseball takes of 36th Opponent, Softball Loses

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands outfielder Anna Greenwell makes a play Monday.

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball team (10-8 overall) saw a great beginning to 36th District action with a 10-0 blanking of the Newport Wildcats on Monday.

Highlands has won two in a row and five of its last six games. The Bluebirds moved to 6-2 in 9th Region action.

Mixed Results for Highlands Softball, Baseball

Ladybirds double up Beechwood

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands eighth-grader Caroline Class makes contact in a 9th Region game against Beechwood on Thursday.

The Highlands Ladybirds softball team (4-4 overall) followed up the win over Newport Central Catholic on Wednesday with a dominating 9th Region performance Thursday.

Tuesday Round-up

Ladybirds drop season opener

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior pitcher Jenna Martin fires to the plate in the season-opener against Campbell County on Tuesday.

The Highlands Ladybirds softball team dropped their season opener to Campbell County, 9-4. Campbell County improved to 3-0.

Region baseball, softball tournaments start Monday

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Head Coach Rob Coffey has guided the Highlands softball team to a 15-0 mark in 9th Region action this season.

The 9th Region softball and baseball pairings have been set.

The Highlands Ladybirds softball team (21-10 overall) is 15-0 against the region and opens the tournament Monday at 1 p.m. against Covington Holy Cross at Vets Field in Newport. The winner takes on either Dixie Heights or Boone County on Tuesday at 4:15 p.m.

Highlands baseball, softball earn 36th District crowns

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior pitcher Bailey Spencer struck out 11 and retired the first nine batters in the 36th District championship game against Newport Central Catholic. Highlands won 2-1.

The Highlands Bluebirds baseball and Ladybird softball teams finished what they'd done to 36th District opponents all season Thursday.

That is play solid defense. The Bluebirds (20-17 overall) took care of Newport Central Catholic, 5-0 at Bellevue for their fifth straight district championship and the Ladybirds (21-10) edged NewCath, 2-1 to win their third straight district crown. The Bluebirds have outscored district opponents, 44-0 on the season and the Ladybirds outscored district competition 76-1.