By Terry Boehmker
NKy Tribune sports reporter
Junior pitcher Ricky Raisor protected a one-run lead with the help of a key defensive play and Highlands went on to defeat North Bullitt, 3-1, in the quarterfinals of the Rawlings/KHSAA State Baseball Tournament on Wednesday at Whitaker Bank Ballpark in Lexington.
After the Bluebirds took a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third inning, Raisor was able to shut out North Bullitt in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings even though the Eagles had runners in scoring position.
The key defensive play came in the sixth inning when North Bullit had runners on first and second base with one out. Raisor struck out the next batter and catcher Luke Hennigan gunned down a base runner trying to steal third for an inning-ending double play.
Highlands had a 3-1 lead going into the bottom of the seventh inning. After Raisor hit North Bullitt’s leadoff batter with a pitch, he was replaced by sophomore Ethan Doty. The Eagles managed to load the bases against Doty, but he got a strike out to end the game.
Highlands scored its first two runs on a single by DJ Mills that allowed Todd Ramey and Brady Murray to cross the plate. In the top of the seventh, Alex Veneman scored from second base on a ground out by Murray to give Highlands a 3-1 lead.
Raisor picked up the win and now has a 9-1 record. He gave up five hits, all singles, and had five strikeouts with one walk.
The Bluebirds had seven hits with Mills going 2-for-3 with two RBI. The game’s only extra-base hit was Veneman’s double in the seventh inning.
Highlands (34-6) will play Greenup County (33-10) in a semifinal game at 6 p.m. Friday. The winner will advance to the state championship game at 7 p.m. Saturday.
The Bluebirds have never won a state championship in baseball. The last Northern Kentucky team to take the title was Covington Catholic in 2002.
RAWLINGS/KHSAA STATE BASEBALL TOURNAMENT
(at Whitaker Bank Ballpark, Lexington)
WEDNESDAY’S SCORES
HIGHLANDS 3, North Bullitt 1
Greenup County 8, Collins 6
THURSDAY’S QUARTERFINAL GAMES
SCOTT vs. South Warren, 6 p.m.
West Jessamine vs. Elizabethtown, 8:30 p.m.
FRIDAY’S SEMIFINAL GAMES
HIGHLANDS vs. Greenup County, 6 p.m.
Scott-South Warren winner vs. West Jessamine-Elizabethtown winner, 8:30 p.m.
SATURDAY
Championship game, 7 p.m.