By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
A Covington Catholic tennis player made it to the boys state tournament singles final for the third straight year, but junior Blake Hussey wasn’t able to take the title.
Kentucky Country Day senior Charles Lewis upset top-seeded Hussey, 6-4, 6-4, in the championship match on Wednesday afternoon in Lexington. It was Hussey’s first appearance in the singles final after winning the state doubles title last year.
Two years ago, Hussey’s older brother, Brady, was state runner-up in singles. Last year, Alex Yeager won CovCath’s fourth state singles title.
In state semifinals matches on Wednesday morning, Hussey defeated Haris Shahbaz, 6-1, 7-6 (7-3) to become the third member of his family to reach the boys singles final. His oldest brother, Austin, was state champion in 2013 and state runner-up in 2014.
The CovCath doubles team of juniors William Tribble and Jacob Kramer lost in the state semifinals for the second straight year on Wednesday. Louisville St. Xavier seniors Logan Elliott and Aditya Shaw won that match, 6-1, 7-5, and then lost the championship final on a third tiebreaker to teammates Derek Abrams and Jacob Ray.
Louisville Sacred Heart swept the girls state tennis championships with Claire Rueff and Claire Christie taking the doubles title after Bailey Scott won the singles final.
Simon Kenton loses 8th Region baseball semifinal game
A bunt down the first base line brought home the winning run in the bottom of the eighth inning and South Oldham edged Simon Kenton, 6-5, in an 8th Region baseball semifinal game on Wednesday at Thomas More Stadium in Florence.
The Pioneers took a 4-3 lead in the top of the fourth on a two-run single by senior Caleb Uhl. In the sixth, they extended it to 5-3 on a pinch-hit single by senior Charlie Overton.
South Oldham got a run in the sixth and tied it in the seventh on a solo home run by senior Luke Belardo. The deciding run scored on a bunt by junior Joe Closrudo with one out in the eighth.
Simon Kenton ends the season with a 21-12 record. Over the last five years, the Pioneers have a 1-4 record in region semifinal games. The only win came in 2024 when they won the region title.
Ryle will play Beechwood in the 9th Region championship game at 8 p.m. Thursday at Thomas More Stadium. The 10th Region semifinals were moved back to Saturday with both games at Brossart High School. The winners will return for the championship game at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Region softball tournaments
9TH REGION AT THOMAS MORE UNIVERSITY
Thursday
Dixie Heights (16-15) vs. Ryle (21-11), 3 p.m.
Notre Dame (13-11) vs. Highlands (30-6), 5:30 p.m.
Friday
Championship game, 5:30 p.m.
10TH REGION AT BRACKEN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Thursday
Brossart (24-11) vs. George Rogers Clark (34-5), 5 p.m.
Harrison County (32-6) vs. Campbell County (22-8), 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Championship game, 1 p.m.
Region baseball tournaments
9TH REGION AT THOMAS MORE STADIUM
Thursday
Championship game: Ryle (25-14) vs. Beechwood (31-9), 8 p.m.
10TH REGION AT BROSSART HIGH SCHOOL
Saturday
Campbell County (23-13) vs. George Rogers Clark (18-14), 11 a.m.
Montgomery County (29-7) vs. Scott (17-18), 1:30 p.m.
Sunday
Championship game, 2 p.m.