By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Highlands senior Kaitlyn Dixon will receive her diploma during graduation ceremonies on Tuesday, but her record-setting high school softball career isn’t over yet.
Dixon holds the Bluebirds’ all-time record in strikeouts and she added 14 to her total during a 3-1 win over Conner in the first round of the 9th Region tournament on Monday at the Holmes High School field.
If Highlands (30-6) wins its semifinal game against Notre Dame (13-11) on Wednesday, the team will return to the region final for the fifth consecutive year.
Dixon and her senior teammates want to take the title in their final season after getting upset in last year’s championship game.
“After last year, we knew that wasn’t us the way we ended the season, so we were willing to do whatever it takes this time,” Dixon said. “We’re taking it one game at a time, but our end goal is to make it to state, and beyond.”
This is Dixon’s sixth season as a varsity pitcher. She has 1,117 career strikeouts with 864 coming over her last three seasons in the circle. Her experience was evident during Monday’s win-or-go-home playoff game.
In the fourth inning, Conner’s leadoff hitter got a double off the fence. Dixon ended that scoring threat by getting strikeouts against the next three batters.
Highlands had a 3-0 lead in the top of the seventh when Dixon’s first pitch was jacked over the right centerfield fence by Conner senior Breanna Meredith.
After Dixon struck out the next two batters, Conner senior Ryanne Carter singled and was awarded second base on an umpire’s obstruction ruling. Once again, Dixon maintained her composure and ended the game with her 14th strikeout.
“We just knew whether the (obstruction) call went our way or not, we could play through it.” Dixon said. “We’ve been practicing all season for this, so if the call was she’s was safe, we were just going to get the next batter out.”
Conner’s eighth-grade pitcher Bayli Bell had no strikeouts and gave up six hits. Highlands reached 30 wins for the first time with sophomores scoring all three runs.
After sophomore Bailee Class smacked a leadoff home run in the bottom of the third, her classmate, Layla Zepf, was hit by a pitch. A throwing error on a bunt got Zepf across the plate.
Class fouled off three pitches before connecting on the home run that broke the scoreless tie.
“It was definitely a big moment of change for our team,” Class said. “The energy level definitely went up and that was just really important for us.”
Highlands extended its led to 3-0 in the sixth. Sophomore Kate Class doubled, went to third on a long fly out and scored on a pop out behind first base by sophomore Katherine Heilman.
Conner was limited to one run on four hits. The top four hitters in the Cougars’ batting order went 2-for-12 with seven strikeouts against Dixon.
“Kaitlyn does a pretty good job,” said Conner coach Shawn Sproles. “Up here, you don’t see a lot of pitchers that have her spin and hit their spots and everything else. I don’t want to say she’s dominant, but she’s been pretty good for quite a while.”
The first 9th Region semifinal game will be played Tuesday when Dixie Heights will take on Ryle at 5:30 p.m. at Thomas More University’s field. The Highlands vs. Notre Dame game is set for 5:30 Wednesday with the championship final at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.
The scores of the other 9th Region games on Monday were Notre Dame 5, Villa Madonna 0; Dixie Heights 15, Holy Cross 7; Ryle 15, Newport Central Catholic 0.
In the 10th Region, Brossart got past Bracken County, 8-5, and Campbell County run-ruled Mason County, 17-7, in six innings. Woodford County knocked off Simon Kenton, 10-6, in the 8th Region tournament.
HIGHLANDS. 002 001 — 3 6 0
CONNER 000 001 — 1 4 1
WP — Kaitlynn Dixon (14 Ks). LP — Bayli Bell.
HITTING LEADERS: H — Cam Markus 2-3, Bailee Class HR, Kate Class 2B. C — Breanna Meredith HR, Averie Lightner 2B. RECORDS: Highlands 30-6, Conner 19-12.
Region softball tournaments
9TH REGION AT THOMAS MORE UNIVERSITY
Tuesday
Dixie Heights (16-15) vs. Ryle (21-11), 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Notre Dame (13-11) vs. Highlands (30-6), 5:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 5:30 p.m.
10TH REGION AT BRACKEN COUNTY MIDDLE SCHOOL
Tuesday
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.
Wednesday
Championship game, 6 p.m.
Region baseball tournaments
9TH REGION AT THOMAS MORE STADIUM
Tuesday
Dixie Heights (20-14) vs. Ryle (24-14), 5 p.m
Conner (23-13) vs. Beechwood (30-9), 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 8 p.m.
10TH REGION AT BROSSART HIGH SCHOOL
Tuesday
Campbell County (23-13) vs. George Rogers Clark (18-14), 5 p.m.
Montgomery County (29-7) vs. Scott (17-18), 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday
Championship game, 6:30 p.m.
8TH REGION AT THOMAS MORE STADIUM
Wednesday
Simon Kenton (21-11) vs. South Oldham (25-8), 5:30 p.m.
North Oldham (22-6) vs. Henry County (21-12), 7:30 p.m.
Thursday
Championship game, 5 p.m.