Ryle.........0-0-1-0-0-0-0---1

Highlands 1-0-0-0-7-0-x---8

 

On a beautiful evening for softball, a packed house showed up to see a dandy off a game. Some great defense in this by the two best shortstops in the region, Haley Coffey of Highlands and Maclai Branson of Ryle. Both teams had opportunities to score in multiply innings, but it was the Birds who capitalized on 4 Ryle errors in the 5th to put this one away. Brennah Dutcher with the big hit in the inning, a bases loaded drive to the right-center gap to clear the bases.

 

For more details see the update thread.....http://bluegrasspreps.com/ky-softball-high/highlands-ryle-9th-328151.html

 

Thanks to all who showed up to make this a very successful event, no way NKU would have accommodated this many folks.

 

Congrats to both teams for a great tourney, and wish the Birds the best of luck down state....make the 9th Region/NKY proud.

 

Other photos from the championship game:

 

2

Congrats to Coach Coffey, the assistants and certainly all of the girls on a job well done. Now go down to the state tourney and prove that you belong with the other elite teams in the state.

Sister never want to share

 

 

Ricochet off Spencer's glove and awesome barehanded grab by Haley Coffey......for the out.

 

 

The Coffey sisters with a nasty collision.

 

Details shortly Internet issues after I typed the whole thing... Ughhhh

It's tough to beat a quality team three times but the Ladybirds did just that tonight at Bartlett Field, home of the Newport Central Catholic Thoroughbreds.

 

1st Inning

Ryle's Branson singled on an infield single to the pitcher, Spencer then stole second. Spencer then struck out the next batter. Branson moved to third on a sac fly to right but thats as far as she would get as Spencer added another K to end the half inning.

The Birds sent 6 hitters to the plate in the bottom of one. H Coffey reached on an error. M Coffey singled to the pitcher. Graybill HBP. Dutcher pops one foul off third but the umpires confer and call Coffey out at third to offensive interference. (poor call in my judgement) Dutcher reaches on a FC-5 forcing M Coffey at third. Gabbard gets a line drive single to right loading the bases. Then Daley gets HBP to force in the first run of the game. The inning ended with a K.

 

Score 1-0 Birds

 

2nd Inning

Ryle goes down in order GO-6, FO-5 (Great over the shoulder catch by Barth) Then another FO-3 in foul ground with another back to the plate catch by Dutcher (Reminiscent of her Region Final catch against NDA a couple years ago)

The Birds return the favor going down in order in the bottom, GO-6, FO-1, FO-8.

 

3rd Inning

Ryle knots the game at 1 with a FO-5, Morgan BB then advancing to second on a Passed ball. Branson singles to left moving Morgan to third, Irons get an rbi go-1-3. Dickerson BB, K

 

In the Birds half, M Coffey go-6, Graybill BB, Dutcher FC-4, GO-6

 

Score 1-1

 

4th Inning

Ryle gets one on but none in in a FO-5, Couch 1B Center, Jessup running for Couch advances to 2nd on a passed ball, FO-6, FO-8

 

Birds basically do the same in the bottom half. FO-3, FO-4 Pinch hitter Rust 1B to Center, K.

 

5th Inning

Ryle FO-4, GO-6 Irons Single to Right, FO-8

 

This is when the Birds take over... With the top of the order up Haley Coffey singles to left, Morgan Coffey puts down a beautiful sac bunt that causes an errant throw allowing her to reach, H Coffey to 3rd. M Coffey steal second and opens up first base... Ryle intentionally walks Graybill to get to Dutcher... DUH bad mistake as after hitting a bomb just foul down the left field line, the Highlands top hitter then triples to RC clearing the bases. Gabbard then singles to score Dutcher. Pinch runner Johnson for Gabbard. Ella Grimm reaches on an error moving Johnson to 2nd. Zoie Barth then puts down another perfect sac bunt and reaches on an error allowing Johnson and Grimm to score on a throw down the line. Barth advanced to third. Rust then grounds out to second scoring Barth. FO-8 H Coffey singled to the pitcher. K to end the inning.

 

Score HHS 8 Ryle 1

 

6th Inning

Ryle goes down in order FO-4, LO-6, FO-6

 

The Birds go FO-3, Dutcher single to left, Gabbard single to Left, FO-3, FC-1-5

 

7th Inning

 

The Birds close the Lady Raiders out in order GO-5, K, GO-3

 

 

The Ladybirds match their brothers bringing home the Regional Title. First time in HHS history that Softball and Baseball have won Region the same year.

 

This had to be a tough call for the coaches to pick All-Tournament members with all four seniors contributing to the Region Crown.

 

Haley Coffey MVP Region Stats 6 for 12 2-2bs 3 runs scored at least 6 web gems as LB calls them

 

Bailey Spencer 16 Ks 4 Earned Runs

 

Shelby Graybill 5 for 8 3-2Bs, HR 5 rbis

 

 

Our other Senior

 

Brennah Dutcher 6 for 12 2B, 3B, 4 RBIs two of them of the Game Winning variety (Holy Cross and Ryle) As Fox19 says "Dutcher is Clutcher" whatever that means

Congrats to the Highlands Lady Birds and best of luck at state. Congrats to Ryle one heck of a season. This Highlands team can play some serious defense, just don't see any weakness.

The wife and I spend a lot of time in the gyms but this was a real diamond treat! When Hayley made the barehanded play at short she said your right Wow! I agree with others hard to pick all tournament as all 4 seniors are special. Brennah had two foul balls that were no doubters. Shout out to Gabbard for a fine game! I am sure many in the region are glad these Seniors are gone but they had fun led by example and still have some work to do! Good luck in state!

Congrats to the Highlands Lady Birds and best of luck at state. Congrats to Ryle one heck of a season. This Highlands team can play some serious defense' date=' just don't see any weakness.[/quote'] we said the same thing, this group has pitching, solid defense, and what little I have seen the youth is growing and getting better at the plate. I do want to add Ryle has a dandy at shortstop as well.

The wife and I spend a lot of time in the gyms but this was a real diamond treat! When Hayley made the barehanded play at short she said your right Wow! I agree with others hard to pick all tournament as all 4 seniors are special. Brennah had two foul balls that were no doubters. Shout out to Gabbard for a fine game! I am sure many in the region are glad these Seniors are gone but they had fun led by example and still have some work to do! Good luck in state!

Rachel had an awesome game... 3 for 4 with an RBI. She has really turned it on this second half, especially in the post season

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Other photos from the championship game:

 

216 Fastpitch 9th Region HHS v Ryle | Facebook

 

Thats a great photo! You can see a lot of personality there. Congratulations!!

Congratulations Birds! Good luck at state!

Thats a great photo! You can see a lot of personality there. Congratulations!!

 

That group? They are about as boring and mundane as you can get. Rob finally got them to loosen up a little... Lol

Another angle of Haley's "Bare Handed Gem"