By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
The first-round showdown between two teams with the best records in the 9th Region softball tournament lived up to expectations for six innings on Monday at Veterans Memorial Park in Newport.
The score was tied, 1-1, going into the seventh inning when Boone County scored three runs on three hits to come away with a 4-1 win over Newport Central Catholic.
Boone County (22-7) advances to the semifinals to play Notre Dame (18-8) at 7 p.m. Tuesday. NewCath ends the season with a 24-11 record.
The other semifinal game will be Dixie Heights vs. Conner at 5 p.m. Tuesday.
“It was just a matter of keep fighting, keep plugging until we find that spot, and we did,” Boone County coach Andy Petridis said of his team’s three-run rally with two outs in the seventh inning.
“We know we’re going to keep the (opponent’s) run total down against us, it’s just a matter of us hitting,” Petridis added. “Finally, at the end, we started making some adjustments (at the plate) and found some holes.”
A two-out single by freshman Star Smith got the big inning started for the Rebels. Senior third baseman Jada Collins broke the tie with a run-scoring single and went to second on the throw to the plate.
“I’ve been in that situation before and have confidence in myself that I could do it,” Collins said of her key hit. “I just didn’t over-think it. I saw the ball and hit it where it’s pitched.”
The next batter was intentionally walked and a double steal put runners at second and third. Then senior outfielder Ryley Grau stepped to the plate and lined a single in the left-center field gap that knocked in two more runs to give her team a 4-1 lead.
NewCath wasn’t able to get a hit off Boone County junior pitcher Olivia Jackson in the bottom of the seventh. The win gives her an 18-4 record in the circle this season.
The Thoroughbreds took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when senior pitcher Haley Meyers jacked a home run over the outfield fence. Boone County tied the score in the top of the third inning on a run-scoring double by junior Shelby Wright.
Going into the seventh inning, both teams had one run on three hits before Boone County’s strung together the hits it needed to jump ahead.
“The games we’ve lost we didn’t hit a ton,” coach Petridis said. “Our biggest thing is as long as we’re scoring runs we know we’re going to be in every game.”
The loss closed the book on Denny Barnes’ coaching career at NewCath. He started the program in 2006 and his teams won more than 200 games in 12 seasons.
Brossatt and Campbell County won first-round games in the 10th Region tournament on Monday. Simon Kenton advanced to the semifinals in the 8th Region playoffs.
Softball regional tournaments
9th Region at Veterans Memorial Park, Newport
Monday
Dixie Heights 5, Highlands 1
Conner 10, Holy Cross 0
Boone County 4, Newport Central Catholic 1
Notre Dame 11, St. Henry 4
Tuesday
Dixie Heights vs. Conner, 5 p.m.
Boone County vs. Notre Dame, 7 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 6 p.m.
10th Region at Clark County High School
Monday
Brossart 7, Mason County 5
Harrison County 10, Montgomery County 0
Campbell County 14, Bracken County 1
Bourbon County 14, Nicholas County 4
Tuesday
Brossart vs. Harrison County, 6 p.m.
Campbell County vs. Bourbon County, 8 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship game, 6 p.m.
8th Region at Collins High School
Monday
Collins 4, Owen County 0
Simon Kenton 3, North Oldham 2
Anderson County 20, Henry County 0
Oldham County 16, Grant County 1
Tuesday
Simon Kenton vs. Collins, 5:30 p.m.
Anderson County vs. Oldham County, 7 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship game, 6 p.m.