Highlands, Ryle advance to title game in 9th Region baseball

By Terry Boehmker
NKy Tribune sports reporter

The Highlands baseball team that lost in the 9th Region championship game two of the last three years will get another shot at the title.

Highlands will play Ryle in the regional final at 7 p.m. Wednesday at UC Health Stadium in Florence with the winner advancing to next week’s state tournament in Lexington.

In regional semifinal games played Tuesday, Highlands defeated Boone County, 4-2, and Ryle knocked off Newport Central Catholic, 8-2. The Bluebirds are riding an 11-game win streak that raised their overall record to 31-6. Ryle has a 21-16 record that includes a 7-0 loss to Highlands in March.

In other baseball playoff games on Wednesday, Scott will face Clark County in the 10th Region semifinals and Simon Kenton will play Collins in the 8th Region semifinals.

The semifinal round of the 9th Region fast-pitch softball tournament will also be played Wednesday at Northern Kentucky University. The matchups are Highlands vs. Conner at 4:30 p.m. and Notre Dame vs. Ryle at  6:30 p.m.

Here are scores and schedules of regional baseball and softball tournaments that still have local teams involved:

BASEBALL REGIONAL PLAYOFFS

9^th REGION at UC Health/ Florence Freedom Stadium

Monday
Highlands 8, St. Henry 1
Boone County 3, Beechwood 1
Ryle 2, Covington Catholic 1
Newport Central Catholic 11, Dixie Heights 1
Tuesday
Highlands 4, Boone County 2
Ryle 8, Newport Central Catholic 2
Wednesday
Championship game: Highlands vs. Ryle, 7 p.m.

8^th REGION at Shelby County High School

Monday
Collins 10, Carroll County 0
Simon Kenton 4, Oldham County 0
Grant County 5, Anderson County 3
South Oldham 8, Henry County 7
Wednesday
Collins vs. Simon Kenton, 6:30 p.m.
Grant County vs. South Oldham, 8:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 6:30 p.m.

10^th REGION at Clark County High School

Monday
Bourbon County 5, Bracken County 1
Harrison County 7, Campbell County 6
Scott 10, Mason County 5
Tuesday
Clark County 5, Pendleton County 0
Wednesday
Bourbon County vs. Harrison County, 5:30 p.m.
Scott vs. Clark County, 8 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 6 p.m.

FAST-PITCH SOFTBALL REGIONAL PLAYOFFS

9th REGION at Northern Kentucky University

Monday
Highlands 12, Beechwood 0
Conner 7, Dixie Heights 4
Notre Dame 6, Newport Central Catholic 2
Ryle 5, St. Henry 1
Wednesday
Highlands vs. Conner, 4:30 p.m.
Notre Dame vs. Ryle, 6 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 5:30 p.m.