Sunday, May 16, 1999
NewCath wins state softball
Slow-pitch title is its second in three years
BY RAY SCHAEFER
Enquirer contributor
HEBRON — The Newport Central Catholic girl's slow-pitch softball team needed two games to defeat Louisville Holy Cross for the state title at RiverShore Sports Complex.
After a 5-2, nine-inning loss, NewCath came back with a 5-3 win in the finale.
The title was NewCath's second in three years — it won in 1997. The team also finished 1999 with a 27-4 record that included 17 straight victories. Sophomore pitcher Amy Meyers said some still didn't respect her team.
“I think we're a great team, a really great team,” said Meyers, the tournament's most valuable player.
NewCath coach Jenny Mertle said it was tough to compare the '97 and '99 teams.
“That (1997) team had eight seniors; this team had three,” she said.
In the first game of the finals, Holy Cross took a 2-1 lead in the third inning when senior right center fielder Jennifer Hines scored on senior first baseman Julie Gillespie's single to right.
NewCath tied the game at 2 in the sixth when sophomore second baseman Megan O'Hara scored on an error. NewCath left the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth.
Then came the comeback Holy Cross wanted. The Cougars scored three times on three NewCath errors.
In between games, Mertle taught a brief history lesson. The subject: How NewCath won the '97 title coming out of the losers' bracket
“I told them we'll have to do it the same way we did it two years ago,” she said.
The Thoroughbreds scored three first-inning runs on five hits and three Cougar errors.
STATE CHAMPIONSHIP (GAME 2)
Holy Cross (Louis.) ....... 000 020 1-3 8 7
Newport CC ....... 310 010 X-5 1 3
WP-Meyers; LP-Conder. 2B-Crigler (HC), Beuchel (NCC), Heister (NCC). 3B-Heister (NCC).
(Game 1)
Holy Cross (Louis.) ....... 010 100 003-5 12 3
Newport CC ....... 100 001 000-2 11 4
WP-Conder; LP-Meyers. 2B-Heister (NCC).
Winner's Bracket
Dayton ....... 000 000 0—0 3 4
Holy Cross (Louis.) ....... 010 200 X—3 7 2
WP-Condor; LP-Brickler.
Newport CC ....... 001 010 1—3 12 1
Newport ....... 000 000 0—0 5 3
WP-Meyers; LP-Mills. 2B-Meyers (NCC). 3B-Buechel (NCC).
Winner's Bracket Final
Newport CC ....... 020 001 0-3 8 4
Holy Cross (Louis.) ....... 101 000 0-2 5 1
WP-Meyers; LP-Condor. 2B-Gardner (NCC).
Consolation Bracket
Second Round
Jackson County ....... 000 010 5—6 8 5
Villa Madonna ....... 012 130 X—7 13 5
WP-Humphrey; LP-Lynch. 3B-Pavel (VM).
Holmes ....... 000 000—0 5 1
Rockcastle County ....... 030 002—5 12 3
WP-Stamper; LP-Krumpleman. 2B-Brown (RC).
Silver Grove ....... 100 00— 1 10 0
Highlands ....... 254 2X—13 19 0
WP-Hughes; LP-Steidel.
Consolation Bracket
Third Round
Rockcastle County ....... 305 000 2—10 13 4
Villa Madonna ....... 010 121 2— 7 10 10
WP-Stamper; LP-Humphrey. 3B-Stamper (RC).
Highlands ....... 003 124 4—14 24 1
Lloyd Memorial ....... 501 011 0— 8 20 2
WP-Hughes, LP-Eades. 2B-Boothe (H), Dickerson (H), Stefanopolous (H). 3B-Eades (LM), Fields (LM).
Consolation Bracket
Fourth Round
Dayton ....... 038 210 0-14 19 6
Rockcastle County ....... 024 005 2-13 17 1
WP-Brickler; LP-Stamper. 3B-Hollingsworth (D).
Newport ....... 116 000 1— 9 15 6
Highlands ....... 020 531 X—11 15 4
WP-Hughes; LP-Mills. 2B-Leftin (H), Sheanshang (H). 3B-Dickerson (H), Pompilio (H).
Consolation Bracket
Fifth Round
Highlands ....... 710 032 0—13 16 3
Dayton ....... 003 004 3—10 11 6
WP-Hughes; LP-Brickler. 2B-Leftin (H), Huebner (D)2, Velosky (D). 3B-Leftin (H), Boothe (H).
Consolation Final
Highlands ....... 000 100 0-1 7 4
Holy Cross (Louis.) ....... 150 000 X-6 9 3
WP-Condor; LP-Hughes. 2B-Crigler (HC).
All-Tournament Team
Jenny Uhling (Villa Madonna), Ashley Mills (Newport), Erin Conder (Louisville Holy Cross), Kristi Eades (Lloyd Memorial), Angie Tullis (Newport Central Catholic), Whitney Heister (Newport Central Catholic), Stephanie Atkins (Newport), Krissi Pavel (Villa Madonna), Jennifer Huebner (Dayton), Crystal Crigler (Louisville Holy Cross), Tara Boothe (Highlands), Kristie Holland (Louisville Holy Cross).
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