Now that the 2013 9th Region season is officially in the record books lets take a look back.

 

The season starts off with a very :poop: start due to Mother Nature rearing her ugly head, as most teams are relegated to practicing in the gym and most not seeing the field until their 1st game. However, thanks to Brossart AD Mel Webster, the season opens with the very well run Uncle Pete Noll Tourney up at Softball City with many local teams getting 4 or 5 games in over the weekend. Although the weather (bitter cold) was not the best at times, the event had that "travel ball" type atmosphere where you just went and watched game after game while "chewing the fat" with coaches and parents.

 

As usual, pitching was the name of the game in the 9th, as Ali Crupper-Ryle, "Biz" Sims-Conner, Haley Smith-ND, Dallis Knotts-Boone Co. & Noelle Butts-St. Henry had the regions best pitchers. On more than one occasion we saw many of the the top teams in the region playing close games with teams they were expected to beat soundly, however the top teams got the "W", but in most cases not in convincing fashion. It seemed that the hitting was starting to catch up with the pitching.

 

Once again the 33rd District was the "toughest" district in the region, with Boone Co. Conner, Cooper, & Ryle. With the transfer of Ryle superstar Haylee Smith to Notre Dame, the Raiders lost quite a bit of offense and defense, thus losing the #1 seed in the district in quite some time. Boone Co. rode the arm of Jr. Dallis Knotts to claim that #1 seed. For the 1st time since gas was $1.09 a gallon , the Boone County Rebels made it to the regional tourney, the Conner Cougars couldn't escape Haylee Smith and settled for #2, and the Ryle Raiders had to see the regional tourney from a fans perspective.

 

The 34th District again came down to St. Henry and Dixie, however as the season was about to start, many in NKY were wondering if St. Henry was even going to field a team. No coach was named for quite some time, but they "hit a homerun" when it was announced that Freedom Fogt was taking the helm for the Cru. :thumb: Fogt and NKSCA P.O.Y Noelle Butts took their team to the Semi-Finals of the All "A" State Tourney and in the process handed Gallatin Co. it's 1st of only 2 losses of the season. Dixie head man, Roddy Stainforth, with the loss of 3 starters that transferred, as usual took what he had in the dugout and was an extra inning loss to Conner away from the Regional title game. IMO, Roddy and his staff gets the absolute BEST out of their players. :notworthy:

 

The 35th District saw the emergence of a new power in the 9th, as the Notre Dame Pandas staked their claim as the regions #1 team. While the Pandas already had a solid team, when Haylee Smith enters the equation, it takes that team to a whole new level and that was proven as the season went on. The Pandas "steamrolled" their way to an impressive 27-7 regular season record and undefeated in the region. They won 3 close games to claim the regional title and in the state tourney had a nice come from behind victory in the 1st game, then playing the 3rd ranked team in the country in (at the time) 40-0 Greenwood and took their worst loss of the season :eek:, before losing a "heartbreaker" to Livingston Central.

 

The 36th District again came down to Newport Catholic and Highlands. Birds new head coach Rob Coffey, guided his young team to a 18-12 record against a very competitive schedule. The Birds added a very nice addition to their team a day before practicing began in the form of ex-Dixie pitcher, Fr. Bailey Spencer. The Birds are loaded with young talent much to coach Coffey's liking. NewCath on the other hand was a mystery, looked good for a 3-4 game stretch and then the "wheels fall off the bus" for 2-3 games. IMO, the best game of the season, even though it was a loss, was the All "A" Regional Final at NKU vs. St. Henry in 8 innings. In the District finals the Breds prove it's hard to beat a team 3 times in the same season as they claim their 4th district title in 5 seasons by beating the Birds 2-1.

 

The season concluded with Northern Kentucky Softball Umpires Association All-Stars game. Honoring Gary Huhn and donating the proceeds to the Special Olympics, Kevin Rengering and crew put on an excellent event, and from all that I spoke with, they are hoping it continues. :ylsuper:

 

Even though it's a 9th region thread, will have to include all of NKY in the following.

 

We also say goodbye to a couple of head coaches who will no longer be on the base paths, but let their mark on NKY softball: Patti Oliverio-Ryle, Johnny Anderson-Walton-Verona and Dale McMillan-Holmes.

 

We also say farewell to some seniors that many head coaches are happy to see moving on.

 

Erica Lang & Jamie Draud - Simon Kenton

Noelle Butts & Jamie Maley - St. Henry

Julie Morehead & Erin Snyder - Dixie

Madyson Moran & Grace Herman - Holy Cross

Emily Greis & Tricia Kramer - Brossart

Maddie Blevins - Bellevue

McKell Oliverio - Ryle

Miranda Ladanyi - Ludlow

Erica Stein - Boone County

Lauren Willett - Cooper

 

We say THANK YOU to the following in the press and media:

Richard Skinner - Enquirer

Marc Hardin - Enquirer

James Weber - Enquirer/Recorder

John Lachmann - kypost.com

Terry Boehmker - kypost.com

G. Michael Graham - Ft. Thomas Matters

 

As always BGP's own paNDA for the wonderful pictures, although he now has competition from AllenR.

 

Finally it was great meeting and chatting with many BGP'ers during the season.

Great recap LB13! Only one omission, the most improved team in the Region-the Holy Cross Indians!

Great recap LB13! Only one omission, the most improved team in the Region-the Holy Cross Indians!

 

I had all intentions of mentioning Holy Cross, however in my "long winded" dissertation above they got lost.

 

The Indians did make a big improvement from last season. A healthy Madyson Moran and the return to catching duties by Grace Herman made everyone take notice of the Indians. Anna Clements did a very fine job in the circle and the Holy Cross team had quite a few of the top teams in the region "on the ropes" late in ballgames.

 

What is Coach Meeks going to do without JMU31 in the cheering section next season? :woot:

You should of been a sports writer!

Good stuff, Lawnboy. Really good.

You should of been a sports writer!

 

I'll stick with my amateur status. :lol2:

 

Good stuff, Lawnboy. Really good.

 

Thank you sir!

Your the best Lawnboy, Glad you will be around the softball scene in NKY for years to come.

Your the best Lawnboy, Glad you will be around the softball scene in NKY for years to come.

 

With a Sr, Fr, & 6th grader next year, I've got quite a few years ahead of me. I'm sure we'll be hearing from you as well.

With a Sr, Fr, & 6th grader next year, I've got quite a few years ahead of me. I'm sure we'll be hearing from you as well.

 

Not sure about that the JMU recruitment thread wasn't a big hit, I had no takers!

Not sure about that the JMU recruitment thread wasn't a big hit, I had no takers!

 

Didn't Highlands offer to build a beer garden?

Didn't Highlands offer to build a beer garden?

That would pay for itself in no time!

Another ommission (Seniors) that was brought to my attention, and I meant to include her...........Mickey Terry - Notre Dame.

That would pay for itself in no time!

 

It would do more than pay for itself it probably pay for all female sports at the school. If they sold nachos there is an asst coach on HHS team that would spend his whold check there.