By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Ladybirds softball team opened the season with an impressive 17-3 five-inning win Monday over the host St. Henry Lady Crusaders.

Highlands outhit St. Henry, 12-10.

Sophomore Bailey Spencer threw a complete game for Highlands. She struck out seven and walked just one.

Shelby Graybill went 3-for-3 with four runs batted in and two runs scored to lead Highlands. She had a home run and double.

Seventh-grader Rachel Gabbard and Ashley Grosser also had two hits each for Highlands. Grosser had a double and two runs batted in and Gabbard scored once and plated a run. Kendall Turner followed with a home run and three RBIs with Whitney Quillen tripling in two. Payton Leighty added two runs batted in for the Ladybirds.

Teresa Urban, Carlie Roark, Molly Dietz and Carlie Townsend had two hits each for the Lady Crusaders. Kramer took the pitching loss.

Highlands does not play again until Thursday. The Ladybirds face Newport Central Catholic on their new field at 6 p.m.

 

Fort Thomas Sports: Highlands softball opens year with bang

By G. MICHAEL GRAHAM

Fort Thomas Matters Sports Reporter

The Highlands Ladybirds softball team opened the season with an impressive 17-3 five-inning win Monday over the host St. Henry Lady Crusaders.

Highlands outhit St. Henry, 12-10.

Sophomore Bailey Spencer threw a complete game for Highlands. She struck out seven and walked just one.

Shelby Graybill went 3-for-3 with four runs batted in and two runs scored to lead Highlands. She had a home run and double.

Seventh-grader Rachel Gabbard and Ashley Grosser also had two hits each for Highlands. Grosser had a double and two runs batted in and Gabbard scored once and plated a run. Kendall Turner followed with a home run and three RBIs with Whitney Quillen tripling in two. Payton Leighty added two runs batted in for the Ladybirds.

Teresa Urban, Carlie Roark, Molly Dietz and Carlie Townsend had two hits each for the Lady Crusaders. Kramer took the pitching loss.

Highlands does not play again until Thursday. The Ladybirds face Newport Central Catholic on their new field at 6 p.m.

 

Fort Thomas Sports: Highlands softball opens year with bang

 

HHS isn't messing around this year...

 

Looks like it could be a long year for the Cru....

Inside the park homers:

Last pitch:

 

 

 

"Looks like it could be a long year for the Cru.... "

 

I think it will be a long beginning of the year for sure. However, when a couple of girls come back and get some playing time they might surprise some. They had 10 hits against a good pitcher in the first four innings with three good bats not playing. Improved baserunning and defense will make a big difference. Time is on their side.

"Looks like it could be a long year for the Cru.... "

 

I think it will be a long beginning of the year for sure. However, when a couple of girls come back and get some playing time they might surprise some. They had 10 hits against a good pitcher in the first four innings with three good bats not playing. Improved baserunning and defense will make a big difference. Time is on their side.

 

Also their deep fences hurt them. With bases loaded a shot was hit and on a field with 200ft fences its an easy grand slam. At the time the score was 2-0 Birds. Good defense held them to one run on that hit. a 4-2 lead would definitely have switched momentum. I still believe HHS would have won but the score didn't show how close it could have been.

Shout out to 7th grader Rachael Gabbard on her 1st varsity start! Proud mama and papa, I'm sure! Go Birds!

And the 2 inside the park HRs you guys hit would have been well over the 200ft fence as well. So sort of a double edged sword. But chicks dig the long ball.

Shout out to 7th grader Rachael Gabbard on her 1st varsity start! Proud mama and papa, I'm sure! Go Birds!

 

She had her first hit and rbi as well!!!

Congrats to the LadyBirds.

 

Way to go Kendell Turner with the HR !!! She should have a big year at the plate.

Nice win for the Birds! I really think St. Henry has a good thing going over there. Surprised by the margin a little. It's early!

Nice win for the Birds! I really think St. Henry has a good thing going over there. Surprised by the margin a little. It's early!

 

Could be a long year for St. Henry. Starting out 0-3 and run ruled in each contest and schedule does not get any easier.

Injuries are not ever a good excuse but their top two pitchers have been out, which explains to some degree the run ruled games. Out of 17 innings, 12 have been pitched by their third pitcher who has really never thrown before. She is a great player and has done a good job considering. They have faced Spencer, Simms and Thacker in the three games and have hit pretty well. I think better things will be on the horizon if/once health is regained.

Injuries are not ever a good excuse but their top two pitchers have been out, which explains to some degree the run ruled games. Out of 17 innings, 12 have been pitched by their third pitcher who has really never thrown before. She is a great player and has done a good job considering. They have faced Spencer, Simms and Thacker in the three games and have hit pretty well. I think better things will be on the horizon if/once health is regained.

I thought Jordan Kramer pitched this year and is a junior with experience.

I thought Jordan Kramer pitched this year and is a junior with experience.

 

Jordan started/pitched parts of the first 2 games but had an injured a quad before 1st game. She has been playing thru the pain as best as she could but has been shut down for at least a week now. Thanks

Jordan started/pitched parts of the first 2 games but had an injured a quad before 1st game. She has been playing thru the pain as best as she could but has been shut down for at least a week now. Thanks

 

I hope she gets healthy quick. She would be a help to any team