By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
The Boone County fast-pitch softball team that hasn’t won a 9th Region championship since 2002 has the best record in Northern Kentucky going into this year’s post-season playoffs.
The Rebels won 14 of their last 15 games and will take a 24-3 record into a 33rd District playoff game against Conner at 3:30 p.m. Monday. Boone County’s only loss during the final five weeks of the regular season was to defending regional champion Ryle. Those teams will meet again if Ryle gets past Cooper in the second 33rd District game at 6:30 p.m. Monday.
Boone County sophomore Karys Black is one of the top pitchers in the area with a 19-3 record, 1.72 ERA and 166 strikeouts in 134 innings. She’s also one her team’s best hitters with a .419 average and 12 home runs.
All of the baseball district playoffs in Northern Kentucky begin this weekend with the two leading contenders for the 9th Region title –Beechwood and Highlands — taking the field on Saturday.
Beechwood (32-1) finished the regular season with the state’s best record and was ranked No. 2 in the final Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association poll. Highlands (25-9) has won the 9th Region championship the last four years and was ranked No. 12 in the statewide coaches poll.
Beechwood is averaging 8.8 runs per game and has a team batting average of .381 that’s first in the state among teams that have played at least 20 games. The leading hitters for the Tigers are seniors Logan Castleman (.639), Devin Johnson (.500) and John Odom (.490).
The other 9th Region baseball teams that finished the regular season with 20 wins or more are Cooper (25-7), St. Henry (22-9), Covington Catholic (21-15). Cooper senior pitcher Blaine Walters enters the playoffs with an 8-1 record and 0.29 ERA that’s best in the state.
Baseball district tournaments
32nd District at Simon Kenton
Saturday
Simon Kenton vs. Williamstown, 11:30 a.m.
Walton-Verona vs. Grant County, 2 p.m.
Monday
Championship game, 6 p.m.
33rd District at Ryle
Sunday
Cooper vs. Boone County, 1 p.m.
Conner vs. Ryle, 3:30 p.m.
Monday
Championship game, 5 p.m.
34th District at Dixie Heights
Saturday
Ludlow vs. Villa Madonna, 1 p.m.
Dixie Heights vs. Lloyd, 4 p.m.
St. Henry vs.. Ludlow-Villa Madonna winner, 7:30 p.m.
Monday
Championship game, 6 p.m.
35th District at Meinken Field, Covington
Saturday
Beechwood vs. Holmes, 1 p.m.
Covington Catholic vs. Holy Cross, 3:30 p.m.
Monday
Championship game, 5 p.m.
36th District at Highland Park, Ft. Thomas
Saturday
Newport vs. Dayton, 10 a.m.
Newport Central Catholic vs. Bellevue, 12:30 p.m.
Highlands vs. Newport-Dayton winner, 3 p.m.
Monday
Championship game, 5 p.m.
37th District at St. Mary’s Field, Alexandria
Saturday
Calvary Christian vs. Silver Grove, 3 p.m.
Monday
Campbell County vs. Calvary Christian-Silver Grove winner, 3:30 p.m.
Brossart vs. Scott, 5:45 p.m.
Tuesday
Championship game, 5 p.m.
Softball district tournaments
32nd District at Williamstown
Monday
Simon Kenton vs. Grant County, 5:30 p.m.
Walton-Verona vs. Williamstown, 7:30 p.m.
Tuesday
Championship game, 5:30 p.m.
33rd District at Ryle
Monday
Boone County vs. Conner, 4:30 p.m.
Ryle vs. Cooper, 6 p.m.
Tuesday
Championship game, 5:30 p.m.
34th District at Lloyd
Saturday
Ludlow vs. Lloyd, 1 p.m.
St. Henry vs. Villa Madonna, 3 p.m.
Dixie Heights vs. Ludlow-Lloyd winner, 5 p.m.
Monday
Championship game, 5:30 p.m.
35th District at Beechwood
Sunday
Holmes vs. Covington Latin, 2 p.m.
Holy Cross vs. Beechwood, 4 p.m.
Monday
Notre Dame vs. Holmes-Covington Latin winner, 5 p.m.
Tuesday
Championship game, 5 p.m.
36th District at Winkler Field, Ft. Thomas
Monday
Bellevue vs. Newport, 4:30 p.m.
Dayton vs. Newport Central Catholic, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday
Highlands vs. Bellevue-Newport winner, 4:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 5 p.m.
37th District at Alexandria Community Park
Monday
Calvary Christian vs. Campbell County, 5 p.m.
Tuesday
Scott vs. Brossart, 5 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship game, 5 p.m.