Highlands hopes to build off last year's record-breaking season

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior Shelby Graybill blasts a home run in the state tournament last year. Graybill is one of  six returning starters in the infield for the defending 9th Region champions.

It took just one season to change the perception of the program.

Highlands Softball makes major progress

G. Michael Graham Photo. Members of the Highlands softball team watch during Tuesday's game against Newport. Entering today's season finale, Highlands owns a 16-10 record.

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Bluebirds softball team has made some great progress this season.

The Bluebirds own a 16-10 record entering Friday’s season finale at Walton-Verona. Game time is 5:30 p.m.

Highlands has not won that man games since winning 18 in 2008. The Bluebirds will also be favored to win their second 36th District championship in three years.

“The turnaround has been all them,” said Rob Coffey, first-year Highlands head coach. “It’s the attitude and aggressiveness. It’s been neat to see them take on a winning attitude rather than just participating. They’re young. But they know they can compete.”

The Bluebirds took a huge step Tuesday in putting away a nice opponent in Newport (11-7). The Bluebirds run-ruled the Lady Wildcats in six innings, 15-5 and Lloyd Memorial in four innings, 16-0 on Thursday.

Highlands has run-ruled several opponents this year. Three of the run-rulings came against district opponents. The Bluebirds finished 5-0 against district opponents with two 4-3 wins over Newport Central Catholic.

“We’ve been struggling with putting the throttle down when we had teams down,” Coffey said. “We’d have a big error or stop hitting to sink our ship. We talked in the middle of the game that we need to take one of these teams and finish them off. Newport is also young like this. We finally put a team away.”

This team has turned things in the right direction without any seniors. The Bluebirds have three juniors in Ashley Grosser, K.C. Broering and Kendall Turner and three sophomores in Emily Johncox, Payton Leighty and Whitney Quillen.

But Grosser said the team chemistry has been great. The Bluebirds have had a number of contributions from freshmen as well. Freshman Shelby Graybill ranks among the state’s hitting leaders.

“We’re really starting to come together as a team,” Grosser said. “If something like an error happens, we know to get each other up because the more fun we have, the better we play.”

The Bluebirds have lit up the scoreboard this year averaging about seven runs a contest. They’ve scored 10 or more runs in seven games this year.

“We were making solid contact in the center of your bat against this good pitcher,” said Brennah Dutcher, Highlands freshman infielder. “It’s not about swinging as hard as you can. If you do that, (the ball will go far) on its own with the speed.”

Coffey lists the Bluebirds as a darkhorse in terms of the 9th Region behind Ryle, Conner and Notre Dame. Highlands is 0-7 against those teams this year. In the loss to Notre Dame on Monday, the game was close until the sixth inning when the Pandas pulled away for an 8-1 win.

“We obviously aren’t going to take anybody lightly,” Coffey said. “We want to win the district. In the region, we have found that we can play with anybody. If the time is right and we polish up our defense and we hit a bit, we can pull off a win with anybody. We believe we can compete in region. We have to go out and prove it.”

Highlands plays at 4:30 p.m. in the district semifinals on Tuesday at Northern Kentucky University. The Bluebirds take on the winner of either Dayton or Bellevue.

  

Highlands softball coach Rob Coffey and staff to hold meeting on Oct. 8

HHS Fastpitch Softball Announcement

There is a new era in softball starting at Highlands for the 2013 season!

Whether you are a player, parent, parent of a future Bluebird star or just interested in Highlands sports, we invite you to join us for our “Meet the Coaches” night at Highlands.

·         You will hear new head coach Rob Coffey’s vision for the future of the program.

·         Get information about their plans for instructional camps, clinics and the introductions of the new “Baby Birds” program.

·         Hear updates on field improvements

·         And the official introduction of the Softball Parents Association (SPA).

The meeting is scheduled for October 8^th at 7pm in the Cafe of the high school.

Drinks and snacks will be provided.

Coffey aims to elevate Ladybirds softball program

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The belief for great things starts with the head coach.

New Highlands Ladybirds Head Softball Coach Rob Coffey has high expectations for the program and the search committee saw that enthusiasm. The committee consisted of Principal Brian Robinson, Director of Athletics Dale Mueller and Head Baseball Coach Jeremy Baioni. The hiring became official Monday.

“We think we’re in position to not only win the (Ninth) Region, but battle for state championships,” Mueller said. “There’s a lot of young girls who are fired up in Fort Thomas and are excellent, college-scholarship players. Rob is looking to have a year-round softball program so the girls can develop their skills all year. He’s looking to step up every aspect of the program to another level.”

Robinson said the committee reached out to teachers in the Fort Thomas Independent School District first, but none showed interest. They had several applicants before naming two finalists.

Coffey, 44, has 20 years of coaching experience that includes basketball and soccer in addition to softball. That may not include any high school experience. But Coffey started the Amateur Athletic Union organization called Gametime that he currently directs. Coffey played baseball, basketball and football during his high school years. He graduated from Highlands in 1986.

“I think with the young group we have right now, we have a chance to compete and start winning real soon,” Coffey said. “We have several talented players already in the pipeline. I’m not naive enough to think we’ll win the (Ninth) Region within the next two years. But with some training and creating some depth in the program, we should be able to compete with some of the top teams in the Ninth Region. Going forward, the biggest challenge I think we’ll have is keeping the pipeline wet.”