By Terry Boehmker
NKy Tribune sports reporter
Beechwood senior pitcher Brayden Combs didn’t allow a hit in the first five innings of his team’s 9th Region semifinal game against Conner on Tuesday at UC Health Ball Park. But his masterful performance faltered at the end and the Tigers had to hold off a late rally to come away with a 6-5 victory.
Conner scored five runs in the sixth inning off Combs and Beechwood relief pitcher Kyle Fieger to make it a one-run game. In their final at-bat, the Cougars had runners on first and second before Fieger got the final out.
“I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t a little nervous,” Combs said of the dramatic ending. “But I know Kyle Fieger is one of the best pitchers in the state. I had full confidence he was going to go out there and shut the game down, and that’s exactly what he did.”
The win puts Beechwood in the regional final for the first time since 2009. The Tigers will face defending champion Highlands in the title game at 7 p.m. Thursday.
Highlands defeated St. Henry, 4-0, in the second semifinal game on Tuesday night. This is the third consecutive year that the Bluebirds have made it to the regional final.
Combs retired the first 14 batters he faced against Conner before one reached base on an error and another was hit by a pitch in the fifth inning. But the big Beechwood right-hander ended the threat by striking out the next batter for the third out.
In the sixth inning, Combs walked the first batter and then gave up four consecutive singles that reduced his team’s lead to 6-3. That’s when Beechwood coach Bob Mullins decided to use Fieger as a relief pitcher for the first time this season.
Conner scored two more runs on a sacrifice fly and a single to make it 6-5 before Fieger got the final out of the inning.
When he returned to the mound in the seventh, Fieger retired the first two batters and then gave up back-to-back singles. Conner was one hit away from tying the score at that point, but the next batter grounded out to end the game.
“It was a little scary, but we made it,” Combs said. “We knew this wasn’t going to be an easy game. Conner can hit the ball. They started off a little slow, but they came out in the later innings and really started swinging it.”
Fieger, who started the game in right field, led off the third inning with a triple. The next batter was hit by a pitch and stole second base. Senior outfielder Brett Slusher then stepped to the plate and drilled a single past the drawn in infield to give the Tigers a 2-0 lead. Slusher stole second, went to third on a sacrifice fly and scored his team’s third run on a single by Combs.
The Tigers picked up another run in the fifth inning and two more in the sixth to extend their lead to 6-0. It looked like that would be enough to win the game, but the Conner players didn’t quit and came on strong at the end.
“That’s a testament to our whole team, but especially our seniors,” said Conner coach Brad Arlinghaus. “That’s the attitude they’ve had all year long.”
Highlands won its semifinal game in less dramatic fashion. Sophomore pitcher Drew Rom allowed only two hits in the 4-0 shutout victory over St. Henry.
“I’d have to say this game was on the biggest stage that I’ve pitched in so far,” Rom said. “It felt good to go out there and pitch like I did.”
Highlands has several first-year starters in the lineup and ended the regular season with an 18-17 record. Some people doubted if the Bluebirds would be a serious contender when the playoffs started, but they’ve won four games without giving up a run to make it back to the regional final.
“It feels great to prove all those people wrong,” Rom said. “It’s also good for a lot of our seniors to get back to the regional final and for the sophomores and juniors who weren’t able to be part of it last year.”
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
Beechwood 6, Conner 5
Highlands 4, St. Henry 0
Thursday
Championship game: Beechwood vs. Highlands, 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
Simon Kenton 7, Henry County 3
Oldham County 8, Walton-Verona 1
Wednesday
Championship game: Simon Kenton vs. Oldham County, 6:30 p.m.
great. though