By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
The Highlands softball team has an 11-0 record against 9th Region opponents this season, but one of the Bluebirds’ closest wins came against their first opponent in the region tournament.
Highlands will play a home game against Conner at 2 p.m. Sunday in one of four opening round matchups. The Bluebirds pulled out a 4-1 win in their previous game against the Cougars on April 27. That launched a 14-game winning streak that has given Highlands a 29-6 record.
The other first-round games on Sunday are Notre Dame vs. Villa Madonna at 11 a.m. and Dixie Heights vs. Holy Cross at 1 p.m. in a double-header at Thomas More University and Ryle vs. Newport Central Catholic at 2 p.m. at Holmes.
The 9th Region baseball tournament will get underway Monday with four games at Thomas More Stadium in Florence. Beechwood (29-9) has the best record in the eight-team bracket, but the Tigers lost to three of the teams during the regular season.
The Northern Kentucky Baseball Coaches Association named a Player of the Year in three divisions. They are Conner senior Brady Bushman in Division I, Beechwood junior Tyler Fryman in Division II and Ludlow senior Jackson Mays in Division III.
Fryman was named 9th Region Player of the Year. He enters the region tournament with a .560 batting average and leads the state in total hits (70) and total runs scored (59).
Region softball tournaments
9TH REGION AT MULTIPLE SITES
Sunday
Conner (19-11) at Highlands (29-6), 2 p.m.
Notre Dame (12-11) vs. Villa Madonna (16-11) at Thomas More University, 11 a.m.
Dixie Heights (15-15) vs. Holy Cross (7-19) at Thomas More University, 1 p.m.
Ryle (20-11) vs. Newport Central Catholic (10-8) at Holmes, 2 p.m.
Monday at Thomas More University
Semifinal games, 2 and 5 p.m.
Wednesday at Thomas More University
Championship game, 5:30 p.m.
8TH REGION AT MULTIPLE SITES
Sunday
Simon Kenton (19-11) vs. Woodford County (9-20) at Thomas More Stadium, 4 p.m.
Oldham County (24-10) at Henry County (17-13), 5 p.m.
Owen County at Anderson County, 4 p.m.
Grant County at South Oldham, noon
Tuesday at University of Louisville
Semifinal games, 6 and 8 p.m.
Thursday at University of Louisville
Championship game, 6 p.m.
10TH REGION AT BRACKEN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Monday
Brossart (23-11) vs. Bracken County (16-20), 10 a.m.
George Rogers Clark (33-5) vs. Pendleton County (19-11), noon
Montgomery County (17-18) vs. Harrison County (31-6), 2 p.m.
Campbell County (21-8) vs. Mason County, 4 p.m.
Tuesday
Semifinal games, 5 and 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship game, 6 p.m.
Region baseball tournaments
9TH REGION AT THOMAS MORE STADIUM, FLORENCE
Monday
Dixie Heights (19-14) vs. Covington Catholic (19-16), 10 a.m.
Highlands (22-13) vs. Ryle (23-14), 1 p.m.
Conner (22-13) vs. St. Henry (10-24), 4 p.m.
Beechwood (29-9) vs. Newport Central Catholic (13-17), 7 p.m.
Tuesday
Semifinal games, 5 and 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 8 p.m.
10TH REGION AT HARRISON COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL
Sunday
Campbell County (22-13) vs. Bracken County (12-15), noon
Harrison County (31-4) vs. George Rogers Clark (17-14), 2:30 p.m.
Montgomery County (28-7) vs. Nicholas County (19-19), 5 p.m.
Scott (16-18) vs. Mason County (14-14), 7:30 p.m.
Monday
Semifinal games, 1 and 3:30 p.m.
Tuesday
Championship game, 6:30 p.m.
8TH REGION AT MULTIPLE SITES
Sunday
Eminence (14-8) at South Oldham (24-8), noon
Simon Kenton (20-11) vs. Woodford County (14-16) at Lexington Catholic, 5 p.m.
North Oldham (21-6) at Walton-Verona (23-12), 2 p.m.
Spencer County (24-6) at Henry County (20-12), 5 p.m.
Wednesday at Thomas More Stadium, Florence
Semifinal games, 5:30 and 7:30 p.m.
Thursday at Thomas More Stadium, Florence
Championship game, 5 p.m.