By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
The Conner baseball team that had problems scoring in a 2-1 loss to Cooper in the 33rd District final last last week had a big day at the plate Monday and defeated Covington Catholic, 7-4, in the first round of the 9th Region tournament at UC Health Stadium.
The Cougars scored in six of the seven innings and got 12 hits in Monday’s game. After CovCath tied the score, 3-3, in the bottom of the fourth inning, the Conner players responded by getting four runs in the final three innings to nail down the victory.
Conner (26-9) moves on to the semifinals and plays Dixie Heights at 7 p.m. Tuesday. The first semifinal game will be St. Henry vs. Highlands at 5 p.m.
The leading hitters for Conner were seniors Griffen Henry and Tim Sherman with three hits each. Sherman and senior catcher Max Sims drove in the two runs in the top of the seventh inning that gave their team a 7-4 lead.
After Conner starting pitcher Nick Craddock gave up a lead-off single in the bottom of the seventh, relief pitcher Noah Litke took the mound and got the final three outs. Craddock picked up his ninth win of the season, giving up three runs on seven hits with six strikeouts.
CovCath’s starting pitcher, Ben France, was replaced in the third inning with Conner ahead, 2-0. The Colonels put Thomas Cody on the mound and he gave up the final five runs to take the loss.
CovCath scored three runs in the fourth inning on a bases loaded walk, a single by Matt Thiel and a sacrifice fly by Michael Schaefer that tied the score at 3-3. In the sixth inning, Justin Colvin led off with a triple and scored the Colonels’ final run on a single by Thiel.
In the 10th Region tournament, two-time defending champion Campbell County was upset by Bourbon County, 5-1, in the first round on Monday. Earlier in the day, Brossart defeated Nicholas County, 7-4, to advance to the semifinals.
Simon Kenton defeated Oldham County, 7-4, in the first round of the 8th Region tournament, but Walton-Verona’s season ended with a 7-1 loss to Anderson County.
Baseball regional tournaments
9th Region at UC Health Stadium, Florence
Monday
St. Henry 8, Cooper 3
Highlands 6, Beechwood 4
Dixie Heights 4, Newport Central Catholic 3
Conner 7, Covington Catholic 4
Tuesday
St. Henry vs. Highlands, 5 p.m.
Dixie Heights vs. Conner, 7 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 7 p.m.
10th Region at Harrison County High School
Monday
Brossart 7, Nicholas County 4
Clark County 11, Bracken County 3
Harrison County 10, Mason County 8
Bourbon County 5, Campbell County 1
Tuesday
Brossart vs. Clark County, 5:30 p.m.
Harrison County vs. Bourbon County, 8 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship game, 6:30 p.m.
8th Region at Anderson County High School
Monday
Simon Kenton 7, Oldham County 4
Collins 10, Carroll County 0
South Oldham 11, Owen County 6
Anderson County 7, Walton-Verona 1
Tuesday
Simon Kenton vs. Collins, 6 p.m.
South Oldham vs. Anderson County, 8 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship game, 6 p.m.