By Terry Boehmker
NKy Tribune sports reporter
The Highlands fast-pitch softball team pulled ahead in the late innings and defeated Clark County, 5-1, in the first round of the state tournament on Thursday at Jack Fischer Park in Owensboro.
But the Highlands baseball team had a defensive breakdown in the bottom of the sixth inning and lost to Johnson Central, 6-2, in the opening game of the state tournament at Whitaker Bank Ball Park in Lexington.
In the softball game, Highlands scored two runs in the fifth inning and two more in the seventh to pick up the win and advance to the quarterfinal round of the double-elimination state tournament.
The Bluebirds ended up with had 13 hits. Senior shortstop Haley Coffey was 2-for-4 with a triple and scored twice. The other Highlands players with two hits were Shelby Graybill, Brennah Dutcher, Rachel Gabbard and Brooke Dill.
Highlands senior pitcher Bailey Spencer gave up one run on four hits with six strikeouts and two walks. None of the top four batters in the Clark County lineup got a hit.
Highlands (25-10) will play Daviess County (34-7) in a quarterfinal game at 10 a.m. Friday in Owensboro.
In the state baseball tournment, Johnson Central scored five runs on two hits and two errors in the sixth inning to take its first lead of the game. Two of the runs crossed the plate due to Highlands throwing errors and another came home on a bases loaded walk.
It was a disappointing way for the Bluebirds to end the season after giving up only one run in their previous five playoff games. They finish with a 23-18 record.
Neither team scored until the fifth inning when Highlands took a 1-0 lead on a single down the left field line by Trey Bowden that knocked in Drew Rom. But Johnson Central got a run in the bottom of the fifth to tie it.
The Bluebirds regained the lead in the top of the sixth on a bunt by Sam Hennigan that allowed Joe Steiden to score. But errors created problems for Highlands starting pitcher Ricky Raisor and reliever Nathan Doty in the bottom of the inning.
Highlands was the state runner-up last season and hoped to make another run at the title after repeating as 9th Region champion. But the Bluebirds were limited to four singles in Thursday’s first-round game.
Campbell County, the 10th Region winner, will play Ohio County in the final first-round game of the state baseball tournament at 8:30 p.m. Friday at Whitaker Bank Ball Park. This is first time since 1989 that Campbell County has earned a berth in the season finale.