By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Boone County’s fast-pitch softball players had a quick batting practice session after school on Monday before they went to play Cooper in the opening game of the 33rd District playoffs at Conner High School.
The Rebels hit the ball so well during that impromptu practice that coach Andy Petridis wasn’t too surprised when they scored nine runs on nine hits in the first two innings against Cooper and came away with a 10-0 victory in five innings.
“We went to batting practice at our school before we came over here and I could tell by about the third girl I pitched to that we’re going to be all right (in the game),” Petridis said. “They were all pretty locked in. It was one of those days when you could see they were ready to go.”
Boone County (21-6) ended up getting 13 hits in five innings. Eight of the nine players in the starting lineup had at least one hit. Senior center fielder Ryley Grau went 3-for-3 with two RBI and eighth-grade left fielder Karys Black had a pair of doubles that drove in three runs.
“We came in focused for this game and we all hit the ball,” Grau said. “We had very good pitch selection. We waited for our pitch and drove the ball. There were no bad hits in the game. Every hit was a very hard hit ball.”
Cooper’s starting pitcher was seventh-grader Amber Chaney, but she didn’t make it through two innings. Her replacement was junior Alex Dummit, who gave up one run on five hits in 3 1/3 innings. After a run-scoring single by Boone County senior Jayda Collins gave her team a 10-run lead through five innings, umpires applied the mercy rule and ended the game.
Boone County junior pitcher Olivia Jackson allowed only two hits in the shutout victory that lifted her season record to 17-3. Two of her six strikeouts came against Cooper freshman shortstop Kayara Suganuma, who entered the game with a .563 batting average.
The Rebels clinched a berth in next week’s 9th Region tournament by making it to the district final. They will play Conner or Ryle in the district championship game at 5 p.m. Wednesday.
Last year, Boone County lost in the semifinals of the regional tournament. This year’s team is determined to do better.
“We wanted to come back (this year) and show who the best team is in this region,” Grau said. “If we play like we did (Monday), we will for sure be in the regional final.”
Boone County has a 10-1 record against 9th Region teams this season with the one loss coming to Dixie Heights. The Rebels will be considered a top contender in the eight-team regional tournament, especially if they win the 33rd District title.
“These kids know that they’ve got a good team,” coach Petridis said. “It’s just a matter of making sure the energy’s there. If they all bring it like they did (Monday), we’ll be a tough out.”
COOPER 000 00 — 0 2 2
BOONE CO. 450 01 — 10 13 0
WP — Jackson (6 Ks). LP — Chaney. HITTING LEADERS: BC — Wright 3B; Smith 2-2; Collins 2 RBI; Jackson 2 RBI; Grau 3-3, 2 RBI; K. Black 2 2B, 3 RBI; Huff 2-3. RECORDS: Boone County 21-6, Cooper 16-15.
Baseball district playoff games
32nd District at Grant County
Tuesday – Simon Kenton vs. Williamstown, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday – Grant County vs. Walton-Verona, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday – Championship game, 5:30 p.m.
33rd District at Conner
Monday – Conner 5, Boone County 1
Wednesday – Ryle vs. Cooper, 5:30 p.m.
Thursday – Championship: Conner vs. Ryle-Cooper winner, 5 p.m.
34th District at Dixie Heights
Monday – Ludlow 7, Lloyd 4
Tuesday – Dixie Heights vs. Ludlow, 5 p.m.
Tuesday – St. Henry vs. Villa Madonna, 7:45 p.m.
Wednesday – Championship game, 5 p.m.
35th District at Covington Catholic
Monday – Covington Catholic 4, Holy Cross 2
Tuesday – Beechwood vs. Holmes, 5 p.m.
Wednesday – Championship: CovCath vs. Beechwood-Holmes winner, 5 p.m.
36th District at Highlands
Monday – Newport Central Catholic 10, Bellevue 0
Tuesday – Newport vs. Dayton, 5 p.m.
Wednesday – Highlands vs. Newport-Dayton winner, 5 p.m.
Thursday – Championship: NewCath vs. opponent to be decided, 5 p.m.
37th District at Scott
Tuesday – Campbell County vs. Calvary Christian, 5 p.m.
Tuesday – Scott vs. Brossart, 7 p.m.
Wednesday – Championship game, 6 p.m.
Softball district playoff games
32nd District at Walton-Verona
Monday – Simon Kenton 2, Walton-Verona 1
Tuesday – Grant County vs. Williamstown, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday – Championship: Simon Kenton vs. Grant County-Williamstown winner, 5:30 p.m.
33rd District at Conner
Monday – Boone County 10, Cooper 0
Wednesday – Ryle vs. Conner, 5 p.m.
Thursday – Championship: Boone County vs. Ryle-Conner winner, 5 p.m.
34th District at Villa Madonna
Monday – St. Henry 6, Lloyd 5
Monday – Villa Madonna 5, Ludlow 2
Tuesday – Dixie Heights vs. Villa Madonna, 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday – Championship: St. Henry vs. Villa Madonna-Dixie Heights winner, 5:30 p.m
35th District at Holy Cross
Sunday – Holy Cross 17, Holmes 7
Sunday – Beechwood 18, Covington Latin 1
Monday – Notre Dame 25, Beechwood 0
Monday – Championship: Notre Dame 10, Holy Cross 0
36th District at Newport Vets Field
Monday – Newport 16, Bellevue 1, 5 p.m.
Tuesday – Dayton vs. Newport Central Catholic, 5 p.m.
Wednesday – Highlands vs. Newport, 5 p.m.
Thursday – Championship game, 5 p.m.
37th District at Scott
Tuesday – Campbell County vs. Calvary Christian, 5 p.m.
Tuesday – Scott vs. Brossart, 7 p.m.
Thursday – Championship game, 6 p.m.