By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Highlands softball player Brennah Dutcher was thrilled to get the key hit in the 9th Region championship game against Ryle on Friday. The unusual way she did it made it even more special.
With the score tied, 1-1, and the bases loaded in the top of the fifth inning, Dutcher stepped to the plate and sliced a ball into the gap between center and right field for a double that drove in three runs.
Highlands went on to win the game, 8-1, after that tie-breaking hit by the right-handed batter who usually pulls the ball to the left side of the field.
“I just knew I had to do my job and get at least one run in,” Dutcher said. “They gave me an outside pitch and I’m usually very bad at that. I just stuck out my bat and, luckily, it went into the gap.”
After the final out, Dutcher and her teammates had a couple of reasons to celebrate prior to the awards ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park in Newport.
They had their hearts set on taking the regional title after a disappointing 8-7 loss to Notre Dame in last year’s championship final. They also made school history. This is the first time that the Highlands softball and baseball teams have won 9th Region titles in the same season.
The softball players were so excited with their accomplishment that they decided to dump a cooler of cold water on coach Rob Coffey, who didn’t seem to mind the victory dousing.
“We controlled that game in the final last year and lost it in the last two innings,” Coffey said. “These girls had one common goal to get back into this championship game and win it this time.”
In the first inning of Friday’s game, Highlands had bases loaded with no outs and only managed to get one run across the plate. Ryle tied the score in the top of the third inning.
After Dutcher’s three-run double in the fifth gave Highlands a 4-1 lead, her team got four more runs before the inning ended. Two of them came home on a throwing error by Ryle pitcher Kenedy Carson after fielding a bunt.
That scoring outburst took the pressure off Highlands senior pitcher Bailey Spencer, who retired the last six batters she faced.
“Honestly, it’s a little nerve-racking out there when it’s a tied game,” Spencer said. “But once the runs came in it takes so much pressure off me and I feel like I throw better.”
Ryle ended up with four singles and leadoff batter Maclai Branson had two of them. Highlands had seven hits with Dutcher and freshman Rachel Gabbard both going 2-for-3 at the plate.
Highlands cleanup hitter Shelby Graybill was hit by a pitch and walked twice. Ryle was obviously not giving her anything to hit, but Dutcher had a big day batting behind Graybill.
“In close games like this, one hit can really hype everybody up,” Dutcher said. “I just like to do my job for the team and I’m definitely happy to make that happen.”
Highlands (23-10) earned a berth in next week’s double-elimination state tournament to be played at Jack Fischer Park in Owensboro. The team’s first-round opponent will be 10th Region champion Clark County (19-14) on Thursday.
When the Bluebirds went to the state tournament two years ago, they won their first game and lost the next two. Spencer expects this year’s team to do much better after playing a challenging regular-season schedule.
“I think we’ll do pretty good,” Spencer said. “We played a lot of teams that will be down there so we’ll have a good idea of the teams we’re going to play. I think that’ll help us a lot.”
RYLE 001 000 0 – 1 4 5
HIGHLANDS 100 070 X – 8 7 0
WP – Spencer. LP – Carson. HITTING LEADERS: H – Dutcher 2-3, 2B, 3 RBI; Gabbard 2-3. R – Branson 2-3. Records: Highlands 23-10. Ryle 25-9.
ALL-TOURNAMENT TEAM
Highlands – Haley Coffey (MVP), Bailey Spencer, Shelby Graybill. Ryle – Kenady Carson, McKenzi Dickerson. Notre Dame – Rachel Franzen. NewCath – Haley Meyers. St. Henry – Matti Kerwin. Boone County – Jade Collins. Holy Cross – Aleah Tucker. Dixie Heights – Samantha Yake.