By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
The four teams that qualified for the 9th Region fast-pitch softball tournament as district champions won first-round games on Monday at Newport Veterans Park.
In the first two games, defending regional champion Notre Dame rolled to a 20-0 win over Dayton and Ryle knocked off Dixie Heights, 8-4, to post its 10th straight win. The winners will meet in a semifinal showdown at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday at Newport Veterans Park.
Highlands will face St. Henry in the other 9th Region semifinal game at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Highlands scored a run in the 10th inning to beat Boone County, 1-0, and St. Henry defeated Holy Cross, 8-4, on Monday.
Walton-Verona made it to the final four of the 8th Region tournament with a 2-0 win over Carroll County, but Owen County eliminated Simon Kenton, 5-1, in one of the other first-round games. The Bearcats face Collins in a semifinal match-up at 8 p.m. Tuesday at Henry County.
Paris posted its fourth consecutive shutout in a 3-0 win over Campbell County in the 10th Region semifinals on Monday. The Camels had won 15 games by 10 runs or more, but they couldn’t cross the plate against the Greyhounds.
REGION AT NEWPORT VETERANS PARK
Monday scores
Notre Dame 20, Dayton 0
Ryle 8, Dixie Heights 4
St. Henry 8, Holy Cross 3
Highlands 2, Boone County 1
Tuesday
Notre Dame (16-13) vs. Ryle (22-5), 4:30
St. Henry (17-17) vs. Highlands (19-10), 6 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 6 p.m.
10th REGION AT PENDLETON COUNTY
Monday scores
Paris 3, Campbell County 0
Bourbon County 13, Harrison County 4
Wednesday
Championship: Paris (17-11) vs. Bourbon County (27-10), 6 p.m.
8th REGION AT HENRY COUNTY
Monday scores
Oldham County 1, Shelby County 0
Owen County 5, Simon Kenton 1
Walton-Verona 2, Carroll County 0
Collins 14, South Oldham 0
Tuesday
Oldham County (34-4) vs. Owen County (11-8), 6 p.m.
Walton-Verona (15-15) vs. Collins (16-12), 8 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship game, 7 p.m.