It was another great, one-run game by to very evenly matched foes tonight at Northern Kentucky University, as the Breds defend their 36th District Title. During the regular season Highlands won both games by the same 4-3 score, and as this one kept going it looked like whoever scored a run would win.

 

Both teams had an EXCELLENT opportunity to score in the 1st, but neither did. The Breds get back to back singles from Kohls and Zimmerman and move up on a PB, however Schreiber flys out to short center and Burkart goes down swinging to end the threat. For the Birds, Quillen leads off with a HBP, one out later Dutcher walks, folowing a pop-out Grosser walks to load the bases, but Turner goes down swinging.

 

It would remain that way till the top of the 6th. Schreiber leads off with a double to the fence in dead center, Burkart moves her to 3rd with a sac-bunt and then Martini with a RBI single to center. After Enzweiler groundsout Mertle hits one that hugs the 1st base line and goes all the way to the fence in right for an RBI double.

 

In the Birds half of the 6th with 2 out, Coffey sends a deep drive to center that Martini makes an UNBELIEVABLE effort on, however the ball goes off the tip of her glove and her momentum takes her to the ground. Coffey would have been stopped at 3rd, however the relay is kicked away by Kohls, she recovers the ball, but Coffey barely scores on a strong throw.

 

Congrats to Sarah Neace on throwing a very nice 2 hitter. Both teams played very good "D" tonight.

 

I'm sorry I was a little busy and didn't get all the names for the All-Tourney Team, but NewCath's Sarah Neace, Morgan Martini, & Kristen Schreiber made the team, with Schreiber taking home MVP. :ylsuper:

 

NewCath 1st - FO9, Kohls single to right, Zimmerman single to left (both advance on PB), FO8, K.

 

Highlands 1st - HBP, FO9, BB, PO3, BB, K.

 

NewCath 2nd - K, GO1-3, BB, BB, FC4.

 

Highlands 2nd - K, K, FO9.

 

NewCath 3rd - GO1-3, K, LO4.

 

Highlands 3rd - GO6-3, PO4, GO4-3.

 

NewCath 4th - K, BB(SB), PO3, LO3.

 

Highlands 4th - FO8, PO5, FO8.

 

NewCath 5th - K, Ware reaches on E5 on throw, FC6 (Ware out 6-4), K.

 

Highlands 5th - GO6-3, Broering single to rightcenter, PO2, PO9.

 

NewCath 6th - Schreiber double to center, Burkart sac-bunt 1-3 (Schreiber to 3rd), Martini RBI single to center, GO6-3, Mertle RBI double to right, K. NewCath 2-0.

 

Highlands 6th - PO6, GO5-3, Coffey triple to center (scores on E4), GO4-3. NewCath 2-1.

 

NewCath 7th - GO4-3, FO9, GO1-3.

 

Highlands 7th - PO2, K, GO4-3. Ballgame.

 

NewCath (15-13) 0-0-0-0-0-2-0---2-5-1

Highlands (17-11) 0-0-0-0-0-1-0---1-2-1

 

Hitting

 

NewCath - Schreiber double. Martini RBI single. Mertle RBI double.

Highlands - Coffey triple.

 

Pitching

 

NewCath - Neace 7 innings, 2 hits, 1R, 0ER, 4K's, 2BB, 1HBP

Highlands - Spencer 7 innings, 5 hits, 2R, 2ER, 7K's, 3BB.

Congrats to NCC on winning the 36th in typical one-run fashion. :thumb:

Congrats to NCC,

 

Great HS softball game to watch both teams played very well on defense, each team had and error but neither of them were bad errors in my book. Both coaches had a good game IMO HHS had their second baseman positioned perfectly on a couple plays and NCC didn't have their RT fielder playing to deep and she was able to come in and make some plays, Kohls for NCC also had a very nice game on D. The ball Coffey hit was smoked but NCC's centerfielder almost came up with it, would have been the play of the game. Seemed like the Birds pop out in foul ground a lot today. HHS had 2 hits and it seemed like those were about the only 2 balls they were able to hit hard. Hats off to NCC pitcher for throwing a great game.

 

Very impressed with Spencer even though she is an avg HS pitcher!! She has a chance to be right in the converstation with the top pitchers in the region.

Rules question?

 

In the 5th there was a pop out in foul ground that NCC catcher made a nice play on and caught it for the out. HHS had a runner going on the pitch and would have been out by 15 steps. What happened was when the catcher made the catch she didn't realize how much time she had and didn't make a great throw, I thought NCC's first baseman would have had a chance to make the catch or possible knock it down for the double play but the batter (who bunted the ball foul for an out) was still running and slightly interfered with NCC first baseman. So the question was would that be interference and could they have called the baserunner out? Neither team argued the call and it had zero affect on the game I was just wondering.

Rules question?

 

In the 5th there was a pop out in foul ground that NCC catcher made a nice play on and caught it for the out. HHS had a runner going on the pitch and would have been out by 15 steps. What happened was when the catcher made the catch she didn't realize how much time she had and didn't make a great throw, I thought NCC's first baseman would have had a chance to make the catch or possible knock it down for the double play but the batter (who bunted the ball foul for an out) was still running and slightly interfered with NCC first baseman. So the question was would that be interference and could they have called the baserunner out? Neither team argued the call and it had zero affect on the game I was just wondering.

 

Great game by both teams! NCC wins by 1 run again-just weird. I thought both pitchers pitched very well. I have seen Neace for NCC throw a few times, and tonight she had the Bluebirds off balance for whatever reason. She doesn't throw hard, but when the girls behind her make plays NCC plays well.

 

Bailey throws hard for Highlands and her best days are ahead of her. For Highlands tonight, just an off night at the plate. Depending on the draw, they will be tough to beat in the Region. They can certainly play with St. Henry.

 

As to the play JMU, I think the catchers throw for NCC was so far off that really interference couldn't have been an option. I was shocked that the catcher hurried that much because she could have run down to first to double off the Highlands Baserunner, and the NCC catcher is a great player. Oh well it happens.

 

Good luck to both teams next week.

Great game by both teams! NCC wins by 1 run again-just weird. I thought both pitchers pitched very well. I have seen Neace for NCC throw a few times, and tonight she had the Bluebirds off balance for whatever reason. She doesn't throw hard, but when the girls behind her make plays NCC plays well.

 

Bailey throws hard for Highlands and her best days are ahead of her. For Highlands tonight, just an off night at the plate. Depending on the draw, they will be tough to beat in the Region. They can certainly play with St. Henry.

 

As to the play JMU, I think the catchers throw for NCC was so far off that really interference couldn't have been an option. I was shocked that the catcher hurried that much because she could have run down to first to double off the Highlands Baserunner, and the NCC catcher is a great player. Oh well it happens.

 

Good luck to both teams next week.

 

Agreed the throw was bad.

 

For arguements sake if the throw would have been closer could the batter been called for interference, I just don't ever remember seeing that happen like that, wouldn't the batter be entitled to run to first or could they have called interference for the double play?

Agree with History on the play at 1st. If the throw would of been remotely close then NCC might of had a claim but it was nowhere near the bag. The 2nd baseman might of had a better chance at it. Lol! Hats off to NCC for the win. Again I agree with History that Birds just didn't have a very good night at the plate. HHS will be a tough out....IMO! It's one and done now ladies.

Great game by both teams! NCC wins by 1 run again-just weird. I thought both pitchers pitched very well. I have seen Neace for NCC throw a few times, and tonight she had the Bluebirds off balance for whatever reason. She doesn't throw hard, but when the girls behind her make plays NCC plays well.

 

Bailey throws hard for Highlands and her best days are ahead of her. For Highlands tonight, just an off night at the plate. Depending on the draw, they will be tough to beat in the Region. They can certainly play with St. Henry.

 

As to the play JMU, I think the catchers throw for NCC was so far off that really interference couldn't have been an option. I was shocked that the catcher hurried that much because she could have run down to first to double off the Highlands Baserunner, and the NCC catcher is a great player. Oh well it happens.

 

Good luck to both teams next week.

 

I agree with this, No disrespect to NCC but I was glad to see them win bc even though I feel like NCC and Highlands are about the same but with the potential first round match up I think HC would match up a little better vs NCC. We lost to both teams by 2 I believe but I think HC would have to many strike outs vs Spencer. Doesn't mean NCC wouldn't run rule us and I am sure they are hoping to draw us but sometimes its about matchups as much as the better team. Hell Holy Cross may decide to pitch a JV pitcher so it might not matter.

Agreed the throw was bad.

 

For arguements sake if the throw would have been closer could the batter been called for interference, I just don't ever remember seeing that happen like that, wouldn't the runner be entitled to run to first or could they have called interference for the double play?

 

Yeah that's a tough one but I think the batter(within) the baseline trying to run out a fly ball has every right to that bag than the fielder. Everywhere else on the field I could see interference but from home to 1st in my opinion it's open game. I'm probably wrong though!

NKU was filled tonight with a bunch of past NKY softball legends to watch this matchup. I haven't seen some of these guys in quite some time. I thought for a moment Al Lowe was going to pop out from around the corner with a bucket of wings.....Cue it "Al your wings are ready"....Just wish my better half would of allowed me to play just a few more years. Miss it really bad!

I agree with this, No disrespect to NCC but I was glad to see them win bc even though I feel like NCC and Highlands are about the same but with the potential first round match up I think HC would match up a little better vs NCC. We lost to both teams by 2 I believe but I think HC would have to many strike outs vs Spencer. Doesn't mean NCC wouldn't run rule us and I am sure they are hoping to draw us but sometimes its about matchups as much as the better team. Hell Holy Cross may decide to pitch a JV pitcher so it might not matter.

 

I think this pretty much describes the 9th region this year. It seems as if its all about match ups.

Agreed the throw was bad.

 

For arguements sake if the throw would have been closer could the batter been called for interference, I just don't ever remember seeing that happen like that, wouldn't the batter be entitled to run to first or could they have called interference for the double play?

 

It's pretty hard to have interference on a runner on a non-batter bad (non-batted as in on a secondary play where a throw of field is involved). Since the throw came in commission of the play (player wasn't doing out of the ordinary and didnt intentionally interfere) and furthermore it was on an errant throw, this is simply a no call and a live ball. Only way you would have interference on that play is if she was hit running out of the baseline (in fair territory) or intentionally tried to put herself in the play which I would find hard for a player at any level to figure out.

 

I used to hate when plays like this happened when I umped because usually someone would freak out saying there should be a call when they're really just arguing for argument sake.

 

Great game Breds............think both teams are talented enough to steal a game or two in the regional.

This was a good game for sure. All three games this season were decided by 1 run each. Will be fun heading into the next few years.

Rules question?

 

In the 5th there was a pop out in foul ground that NCC catcher made a nice play on and caught it for the out. HHS had a runner going on the pitch and would have been out by 15 steps. What happened was when the catcher made the catch she didn't realize how much time she had and didn't make a great throw, I thought NCC's first baseman would have had a chance to make the catch or possible knock it down for the double play but the batter (who bunted the ball foul for an out) was still running and slightly interfered with NCC first baseman. So the question was would that be interference and could they have called the baserunner out? Neither team argued the call and it had zero affect on the game I was just wondering.

 

My daughter would have needed "Stretch Armstrong" arms to haul that one in. :lol2: With all due respect to Tourney MVP Kristen Schreiber, she just didn't set her feet and rushed the throw. That being said, the young lady can flat out get it done behind the "dish". :ylsuper:

Congrats to NCC on winning the 36th in typical one-run fashion. :thumb:

 

We did it all for you. Know you would get a kick out of this.