Bluebirds ready for challenge against top-ranked Mustangs

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior second baseman Grayson Heck (left) applies the tag on Ryle's Brady Ast in the 9th Region championship game on Wednesday while Jake Whitford (center) backs up. Highlands faces McCracken County at 10 a.m. in the state tournament at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington.

It is near the top of the biggest games, if not the biggest game they've ever played in during their high school athletic careers.

Ladybirds fall run short of 9th Region repeat

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Whitney Quillen connects for one of her four hits in the 9th Region Softball championship game Thursday against Notre Dame.

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior shortstop Haley Coffey (bottom) and Notre Dame left fielder Lindsey Meier (top) collide in the top of the fifth while Coffey tried to grab a ground ball.

This game may linger until the start of next season.

Highlands earns elusive 9th Region crown in convincing fashion

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. The Highlands players celebrate after winning the 9th Region title Wednesday. The Bluebirds will make their first state tournament appearance since 1973.

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior and Tournament Most Valuable Player Jake Whitford (4) goes up to make a play.

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands senior Brady Murray slides in safely in the third inning to score the game's first run. He came all the way around from first base on the play.

FLORENCE - From the last out in last year's title game, the returning players primed up to come back and ram through the doors to that elusive 9th Region baseball crown.

Highlands shuts out Conner in 9th Softball Semifinals

PHOTO: Allen Ramsey, DWCPhoto.com. Highlands junior catcher Shelby Graybill blasts a home run in Wednesday's 9th Region semifinal contest against Conner. Highlands won 6-0 and will play for its second straight region title Thursday at 5:30 p.m. back at Northern Kentucky University.

HIGHLAND HEIGHTS - It seems to be a new Highlands tradition.

Ryle stops NewCath momentum

The underdogs needed another big performance to make a surprising return to the 9th Region baseball title game.

Bluebirds earn another shot at 9th Region Baseball crown

PHOTO: Jennifer Jones. Highlands senior Mitch Jones (2) delivers home in a recent game while D.J. Mills (left) waits at first base. Jones moved to 7-2 with the pitching win for the Bluebirds in Tuesday's 4-2 9th Region semifinal win over Boone County. Jones retired the side in the seventh inning.

FLORENCE - This is the spot they have been aiming for since their season ended about a year ago.

Softball semifinals delayed one day

All four 9th Region softball teams that qualified for the semifinals stayed alive another day thanks to Mother Nature.