By Terry Boehmker
NKy Tribune sports reporter
The team that scored first went on to win in each of the four first-round games of the 9th Region baseball tournament on Monday at UC Health Ball Park in Florence.
St. Henry pulled off the biggest upset of the day with a 4-3 win over Ryle, the top-ranked team in the Northern Kentucky coaches poll. The Crusaders took a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning and senior pitcher Collin Johnson went the distance to pick up the win.
Ryle tied the score by getting three runs in the top of the second inning. But St. Henry regained the lead on a run-scoring double by Kevin Flaherty in the bottom of the second.
After finishing the regular season with a 13-11 record, St. Henry has now won three straight games in the playoffs to make it to the regional semifinals for the first time since 2013.
Conner scored five runs in the first inning and knocked off Dixie Heights, 8-2, in the first game of the regional tournament. Alec Garnett drove in the first two runs for the Cougars and Brian Manning ripped a two-run triple later in that same inning.
“It was huge,” Conner coach Brad Arlinghaus said of his team taking a 5-0 lead in the first inning. “We were going against their ace, (Griffin) Smallwood, who’s one of the best pitchers up here, so to jump out on them like that gave us all the confidence in the world.”
Beechwood took a one-run lead in the second inning and went on to defeat Newport Central Catholic, 7-1, to also advance to the regional semifinals for the first time since 2013.
Senior outfielder Ethan Stringer blasted a two-run homer over the right field fence that put Beechwood ahead, 4-0, in the fourth inning. Brett Slusher and Kyle Rowe both went 3-for-4 and drove in a run for the Tigers.
Highlands pitcher Ricky Raisor didn’t allow a hit in six innings and the defending regional champs defeated Covington Catholic, 7-0, in the final first-round game.
Highlands scored six runs on just four hits in the first three innings by taking advantage of CovCath errors. Raisor was replaced before the start of the seventh inning after throwing 68 pitches. He could return to the mound in the championship game on Thursday if his team needs him.
The semifinal matchups on Tuesday will be Conner vs. Beechwood at 5 p.m. and Highlands vs. St. Henry at 7:30 p.m. The winners will meet in the title game at 7 p.m. Thursday.
BASEBALL REGIONAL TOURNAMENTS
9th Region at UC Health Ball Park, Florence
Monday
Conner 8, Dixie Heights 2
Beechwood 7, Newport Central Catholic 1
St. Henry 4, Ryle 3
Highlands 7, Covington Catholic 0
Tuesday
Conner vs. Beechwood, 5 p.m.
St. Henry vs. Highlands, 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
10th Region at Bourbon County High School
Monday
Scott 2, Mason County 0
Harrison County 4, Montgomery County 3
Campbell County 24, Augusta 0
Clark County 12, Nicholas County 2
Wednesday
Scott vs. Harrison County, 5:30 p.m.
Campbell County vs. Clark County, 8 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
8th Region at Carroll County High School
Monday
Henry County 6, South Oldham 1
Simon Kenton 5, Shelby County 1
Walton-Verona 7, Owen County 2
Oldham County 6, Collins 0
Tuesday
Henry County vs. Simon Kenton 6 p.m.
Walton-Verona vs. Oldham County, 8:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship game, 6:30 p.m.