By Terry Boehmker
NKy Tribune sports reporter
The top two fast-pitch softball teams in the Northern Kentucky coaches poll for much of the season will meet in the 9th Region championship game at 6 p.m. Thursday at Veterans Memorial Park in Newport.
In semifinal games played Tuesday, top-ranked Highlands defeated Boone County, 9-4, and second-ranked Ryle knocked off defending regional champion Notre Dame, 5-2, to set up the showdown.
Three weeks ago, Highlands beat Ryle, 8-3, in a regular-season game so the Bluebirds are favored in Thursday’s rematch. The winner will advance to next week’s state tournament in Owensboro.
Highlands had to come from behind to win its semifinal game. After Boone County took a 2-0 lead in the first inning, the Bluebirds scored nine runs on 10 hits to come out on top.
Senior catcher Shelby Graybill drove in three runs for the Bluebirds with a double and homer. Senior shortstop Haley Coffey had three hits and sophomore Brooke Dill had two RBI.
Ryle senior McKenzie Dickerson cracked a two-run homer in the fifth inning to give her team a 5-1 lead against Notre Dame. In the seventh, Notre Dame scored a run and had two players on base before Ryle got the game ending out.
The last time Ryle made it to the regional final was 2012 and the Raiders won the title that year. This is the third consecutive year that Highlands has been in the championship game. The Bluebirds won the title in 2014 and lost to Notre Dame last year.
9th Region at Veterans Memorial Park, Newport
Monday
Boone County 3, Dixie Heights 0
Highlands 9, Holy Cross 0
Ryle 3, Newport Central Catholic 0
Notre Dame 6, St. Henry 3
Tuesday
Highlands 9, Boone County 4
Ryle 5, Notre Dame 2
Thursday
Championship game: Highlands vs. Ryle, 6 p.m.