By Terry Boehmker
NKy Tribune sports reporter
Boone County junior pitcher Jeffrey Purnell allowed only one hit and his team upset Beechwood, 3-1, in the first round of the 9th Region baseball playoffs on Monday at UC Health Stadium in Florence.
Beechwood was considered a top contender for the regional title, but the Tigers weren’t able to get a hit off Purnell until the final inning of Monday’s game. Boone County advances to the regional semifinals for the first time since 2011 and plays Highlands at 5 p.m. Tuesday. Highlands defeated St. Henry, 8-1, in the opening game of the regional playoffs.
Ryle will play Newport Central Catholic in the other 9th Region semifinal game at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Ryle edged Covington Catholic, 2-1, and NewCath knocked off Dixie Heights, 11-1, in the first round.
There were no surprises in the opening round of the 9th Region fast-pitch softball tournament on Monday at Northern Kentucky University. The winning teams were defending champion Highlands and perennial powers Conner, Notre Dame and Ryle.
Here’s a rundown of the first-round scores and semifinal pairings for baseball and softball regional tournaments involving local teams:
BASEBALL REGIONAL PLAYOFFS
9th REGION at UC Health/ Florence Freedom Stadium
Monday
Highlands 8, St. Henry 1
Boone County 3, Beechwood 1
Ryle 2, Covington Catholic 1
Newport Central Catholic 11, Dixie Heights 1
Tuesday
Highlands vs. Boone County, 5 p.m.
Ryle vs. NewCath, 8 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
8th REGION at Shelby County High School
Monday
Collins 10, Carroll County 0
Simon Kenton 4, Oldham County 0
Grant County 5, Anderson County 3
South Oldham 8, Henry County 7
Tuesday
Collins vs. Simon Kenton, 6:30 p.m.
Grant County vs. South Oldham, 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship game, 6:30 p.m.
10th REGION at Clark County High School
Monday
Bourbon County 5, Bracken County 1
Harrison County 7, Campbell County 6
Scott 10, Mason County 5
Tuesday
Clark County vs. Pendleton County, 6 p.m.
Wednesday
Bourbon County vs. Harrison County, 5:30 p.m.
Scott vs. Clark County-Pendleton County winner, 8 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 6 p.m.
FAST-PITCH SOFTBALL REGIONAL PLAYOFFS
9th REGION at Northern Kentucky University
Monday
Highlands 12, Beechwood 0
Conner 7, Dixie Heights 4
Notre Dame 6, Newport Central Catholic 2
Ryle 5, St. Henry 1
Tuesday
Highlands vs. Conner, 4:30 p.m.
Notre Dame vs. Ryle, 6 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 5:30 p.m.
8th REGION at Simon Kenton High School
Monday
Oldham County 14, Grant County 0
Anderson County 12, Owen County 0
Collins 11, Henry County 7
North Oldham 10, Simon Kenton 0
10th REGION at Montgomery County High School
Monday
Montgomery County 15, Bracken County 1
Nicholas County 6, Brossart 3
Harrison County 6, Campbell County 1
Clark County 13, Mason County 1