Okay, got a nudge (text) from a little birdy telling me to get on the ball and get Highland's preview out. So I told that little birdy that I'm only putting one thing and that is to kick NCC's butt! That's our only goal!

 

All kidding aside (well kinda)...Here's what I have for ya!

 

Highlands returns 7 starters from their 9th region championship run a year ago. Their goal will be to repeat and possibly be better prepared for the state event this year. However, we also understand that is no easy task with the talent coming back in the 9th. Conner and Notre Dame will have the best 2-3 pitchers in the region and NCC returns a very strong senior class with a pitcher that was starting to make a name for herself last year. Boone loses their all everything player (Knotts), but reloads with some really nice talent. Ryle is always strong, as well as Dixie and St Henry. So repeating will be a huge challenge! But still remains our goal!

 

Highlands said goodbye to two terrific leaders and players to graduation last year in Kendall Turner and Ashley Grosser. Both were outfielders and had been a part of the program for several years. However, they do return a very nice core, led by D1 commit (Bowling Green University) and masher Shelby Graybill. Graybill and her JR class, along with Seniors Whitney Quillen and Payton Leighty will remain the core of this 2015 team. Other JR's are SS Haley Coffey, Pitcher Bailey Spencer and 1st baseman Brennah Dutcher. Highlands will need to replace 2-3 outfield positions and will most likely have a youth movement in the outfield. Several candidates will battle it out for the 2-3 spots including Taylor Baioni, Kara Fornash, Morgan Coffey, Chloe Jansen, Brooke Dill, Josie Daley and Miranda Mason.

 

The Highlands schedule will be loaded again this year, highlighted by Mason, Loveland, Turpin and Colerain...all large schools from Ohio. East Central from Indiana. And Ky teams like Bourbon Co, Franklin Co, South Warren. They will also play in the Pete Knoll tournament in March, travel to Woodford Co's tournament in April, as well as Rockcastle Co's tournament in April.

 

Returning Starters

Seniors - Whitney Quillen, Payton Leighty

Juniors - Shelby Graybill ©, Haley Coffey (SS), Bailey Spencer (P) and Brennah Dutcher (1B)

8th Grader - Rachel Gabbard (2B)

 

Sr. Whitney Quillen - 3B - (.365 avg, 13 SB, 6 3B, 45 runs)

Whitney is the spark plug for Highlands. She makes them go. Leads off and is an exceptional base runner with extraordinary softball IQ. Outstanding defensively and can play any position (and excel) on the field. 2-time All NKY player. Whitney got off to a very slow start last year after starting late due to basketball.

Sr. Payton Leighty - RF - (.344 avg, 3 3B, 19 RBI)

Consistent! Coaches dream! Never have to worry about her or her attitude. 100% team player with a ton of experience. Strong and accurate arm. Great leader and great kid.

Jr. Shelby Graybill - C - (.540 avg, 10 HRs, 22 2B, 1 3B, 59 RBI's, 37 runs)

Exceptional talent that confirms hard work pays off. Bowling Green commit and the most feared hitter in NKY. Has improved her catching skills (since asked to take over the catching duties a year ago) and is now a great defensive asset. Can play multiple positions. Great leader and eats and sleeps softball!! Great kid as well. All State HM, 1st team all NKY, NKY Player of the Year 2014.

Jr. Haley Coffey - SS - (.311 avg, 17 BB, 6 2B, 1 3B, 40 Runs, 5 SB)

Yes, she is my daughter. So this isn't easy! I'm usually tough on her, but I have to commend her for what she does. IMO, the best SS in the 9th and would make a run at the state defensively. Incredible hands and not afraid to get dirty. Have seen her make just some ridiculous plays over the last two years. Catches everything. Her hitting...well that's another story! She's working on it and has advanced significantly in the past couple years. Haley also starts slow due to basketball. Haley was 1st team All NKY.

Jr. Bailey Spencer - P - (Record of 22-8, 172 IP, 2.7 ERA, 121 SO)

One word...workhorse! Unreal strength that typically gets stronger as the year goes on. Always wants the ball. Very tough kid. Pitched in the regional finals a week after an emergency appendectomy! She will be called upon to hit more this year. All NKY HM

Jr. Brennah Dutcher - 1B - (.457 avg, 2 HR, 8 2B, 2 3B, 52 RBI)

Brennah is coming off an unbelievable year. She had so many clutch hits for us. Her defensive skills exploded last year and is fast becoming one of the best first basemen in the region. Brennah was the MVP of the 9th region tournament last year and All NKY HM

8th Rachel Gabbard - 2B - (.290 avg, 3 2B, 1 3B, 20 RBI)

So much poise for an 7th grade starter last year. Locked down the 2nd base position with skills and softball IQ beyond her age. A good hitter that will turn into an exceptional hitter soon. Never once felt like there was a 7th graders starting at 2nd base for us last year. Incredible kid with a very bright future.

 

Others expected to make an impact:

Soph. Kara Fornash

Soph. Taylor Baioni

Fr. Josie Daley

Fr. Miranda Mason

Fr. Brooke Dill

8th Morgan Coffey

8th Chloe Jansen

Edited January 5, 201511 yr by RCC9

Do you have any 10th region teams on your schedule this year? Coming to A-town maybe???

 

Good luck this season and Go Birds! :angrybird12:

Do you have any 10th region teams on your schedule this year? Coming to A-town maybe???

 

Good luck this season and Go Birds! :angrybird12:

 

Think we go to Brossart and Campbell this year. But I don't have the schedule in front of me.

Looking forward to seeing the results from the new weight and conditioning room this year! Even more to watching that work fly out of the Bird Cage!!!

Nice read, Dutcher and Graybill's RBI total from last year is insane!!!

 

BTW, looking forward to our match-ups.....they are always great games.

These ladies are chomping at the bit to get on the dirt! Many of these young ladies are working their tail feathers off, either in the weight room, at college level camps and clinics, or on their own at the fields hitting, helping one another improve- Swinging a bat in the basement in their down time. The fire has been lit, they have tasted what's possible! This year and next will be a very driven, hard-to-beat, all out kinda team! It's a beautiful thing to watch the hard work of these girls inspire the young girls in the area to get more involved, to work hard- to play like a bluebird! Proud Bluebird FP Mom right here!!!

Some of these Birds do not fly south for the winter.

It is a regular occurrence to see Whit, Haley, and Shelby over at the BirdCage working on something together or with some of the young'uns.

Hopefully the team carries the lessons of last year forward and get right down to business.

 

I enjoy going to all sorts of sports.

But watching these Birds play fastpitch is better than all the rest. (The Breds softball is a close 2nd but don't tell lawnboy I said that. The football team might get upset about that too, but those fanatics won't be reading this thread! :sssh:)

 

Looking forward to the season starting!

Sr. Whitney Quillen - 3B - (.365 avg, 13 SB, 6 3B, 45 runs)

Whitney is the spark plug for Highlands. She makes them go. Leads off and is an exceptional base runner with extraordinary softball IQ. Outstanding defensively and can play any position (and excel) on the field. 2-time All NKY player. Whitney got off to a very slow start last year after starting late due to basketball.

Jr. Haley Coffey - SS - (.311 avg, 17 BB, 6 2B, 1 3B, 40 Runs, 5 SB)

Yes, she is my daughter. So this isn't easy! I'm usually tough on her, but I have to commend her for what she does. IMO, the best SS in the 9th and would make a run at the state defensively. Incredible hands and not afraid to get dirty. Have seen her make just some ridiculous plays over the last two years. Catches everything. Her hitting...well that's another story! She's working on it and has advanced significantly in the past couple years. Haley also starts slow due to basketball. Haley was 1st team All NKY.

Getting a ball between/past these two is tough.

Can't begin to count how many times I said "How the blank did she get that one!?!?" about these two ladies.

Well crap! I forgot to add to our preview that our All A "all star" photographer returns for a third year. He is definitely part of the core! He will be hard to replace when he graduates. Good thing he's mathematically challenged and will never pass basic math. I'm sure we'll have him around for many years to come!

Jr. Shelby Graybill - C - (.540 avg, 10 HRs, 22 2B, 1 3B, 59 RBI's, 37 runs)

Exceptional talent that confirms hard work pays off. Bowling Green commit and the most feared hitter in NKY. Has improved her catching skills (since asked to take over the catching duties a year ago) and is now a great defensive asset. Can play multiple positions. Great leader and eats and sleeps softball!! Great kid as well. All State HM, 1st team all NKY, NKY Player of the Year 2014.

 

You cannot over sell this young lady. Awesome person on and off the field.

 

She is a great argument FOR requiring infield face masks.

It is truly scary to see the corners taking a step or two IN when Shelby is at the plate.

If she miss hits (by her standards) into a line drive instead of over the fence, it could be lights out for someone.

 

Glad she is staying fairly close for college so that we'll get to see her play for a few more years beyond the Birds.

Just for RCC9's peace of mind: umpire meetings are including a discussion of last season's state tournament ruling and putting an added emphasis on crew rotation and positioning. As for strike zones, well, they are what they are !

Nine Days and counting.... Looking forward to seeing the ladies out on the turf and hearing the crack of the bat!!!

Do you have any 10th region teams on your schedule this year? Coming to A-town maybe???

 

Good luck this season and Go Birds! :angrybird12:

 

Tried to work out a trip to Falmouth for our tournament, but the good ol' prom committee put the clamps on that! :irked:

Nine Days and counting.... Looking forward to seeing the ladies out on the turf and hearing the crack of the bat!!!

 

...and hopefully the temps are up so the crack is not a shatter with the barrel flying past the shortstop. H-A-T-E composites in this area this time of year.

9 days and I'm anxiously waiting to see how many non-Ft Thomas ladies transfer to Highlands on 02/14...