By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Photos of four seniors on the Highlands softball team gathered around the championship trophy were in high demand after the 9th Region tournament final on Friday at Thomas More University.
The veteran players were happy to oblige the photo-seekers after defeating Ryle, 9-2, to take the title for the fourth time in five consecutive 9th Region championship game appearances with them in the varsity lineup.
That’s a legacy that needed to be recorded for seniors Kaitlyn Dixon, Payton Brown, Cam Markus and Morgan Pompilio. So family members and friends were on the field clicking away with smart phones and digital cameras.
“Credit to the seniors because they led us here,” said Highlands coach Milt Horner. “These seniors have now played in five region championship games, so they don’t get freaked out.”
Even Ryle coach Dave Meier complimented the steady leadership Highlands seniors have displayed during a successful playoff run that has lifted the Bluebirds’ record to a best-ever 33-6.
“Hats off to Highlands,” Meier said. “They do everything fundamentally right. When you’ve got girls that have started varsity for close to six years, their cohesiveness is amazing.”
Dixon has developed into a top-notch pitcher since joining the Highlands varsity team as an eighth-grader. In the region final, she had 15 strikeouts with no walks and gave up only three hits. Both of Ryle’s runs were unearned because they scored off a fielding error in the fourth inning.
“To see it come out the way we wanted it to is super exciting,” Dixon said of winning the tournament after getting upset in last year’s region final. “And its a great thing that we got to do it with the team that we did. We’re all so close.”
The Bluebirds’ leading hitter in Friday’s game was Brown with two doubles and three RBI. She has also been a varsity starter for five years, along with Markus and Pompilio.
Brown took over the catching duties last year and enjoys working with Dixon from behind the plate. The talented pitcher has a 27-3 record and more than 300 strikeouts this season.
“It’s been awesome catching Kaitlyn,” Brown said. “It’s really amazing having a pitcher who hits her spots because it’s really easy for me to set up and frame really well. We’re the power duo, and it’s awesome.”
The Bluebirds return to the state tournament next week with an 0-4 record in first-round games over the last five years. They hope to end that losing streak when they face 13th Region champion South Laurel (35-5) in the opening game at 10 a.m. Thursday at the University of Kentucky’s Cropp Stadium.
Coach Horner said he put together a tough schedule this season to prepare the Bluebirds for a state playoff run.
“I think this team is more seasoned to be able to do something,” he said. “That was my objective when I put together the schedule over the summer. We lost three straight games down in Florida (in April) and were 7-5. And I said to my coaches, ‘Did I overdo this,’ but we’ve won 26 out of 27 since then, so I guess I made the right call.”
RYLE 000 200 0 — 2 3 0
HIGHLANDS 050 130 x — 9 8 2
WP — Kaitlyn Dixon (15 Ks). LP — Addison Farmer.
HITTING LEADERS: R — Korlin Rechtin 2B, Leah Broussard 2-3, 2B. H — Peyton Brown 2-3, 2 2B, 3 RBI; Kate Class 2-3, Katherine Hellman 2-3. RECORDS: Highlands 33-6, Ryle 22-12.
ALL TOURNAMENT TEAM
Highlands — Kaitlyn Dixon (MVP), Peyton Brown, Kate Class. Ryle — Brooklyn Roland, Kiley Patterson. Notre Dame — Lucy Dillon. Dixie Heights — Sydney Schumacher. Conner — Bre Meredith. NewCath — Emma Kevill. Villa Madonna — Cam Kratzer. Holy Cross — Zoey Baker.