Wednesday, May 30, 2001
N.Ky. baseball highlights
CovCath charges into region semis
PARK HILLS — For the second time in 16 days, Covington Catholic junior center fielder Adam Kunkel's offense resulted in a win over Beechwood.
Kunkel's attack Tuesday knocked the Tigers out of the Ninth Region tournament. He had two doubles and five RBI in the Colonels' 7-0 shutout at CovCath.
CovCath (28-7), the defending region champion, meets Highlands in the semifinals at 5p.m. today at Ryle.
“I was seeing perfect,” Kunkel said. “I saw the seams coming out of the pitcher's hand.”
CovCath (28-7) is the only team in the tournament with fewer than 10 losses.
“We've been rated first in the region all year,” coach Bill Krumpelbeck said. “I expected to be here. We talk about winning a state championship.”
The Colonels backed up Krumpelbeck's words early in the game. They scored two runs in the first inning off losing pitcher Andrew Smith, and they made it 4-0 after two.
Kunkel's offense almost overshadowed junior pitcher Rob Harmon's work. He struck out six in six innings and gave up just two hits.
“I think my control was off a little,” Harmon said. “Early on, I spotted my fastball. I couldn't find my curveball the first couple innings; by the fourth, I found it.”
Beechwood finished 18-12.
Beechwood ....... 000 000 0-0 2 0
CovCath ....... 220 003 x-7 7 1
WP-Harmon (6 strikeouts). LP-Smith. Hitting leaders: CC-Kunkel 3-4, 2 2B, 5 RBI; Brass 2-3. Records: B 18-12, CC 28-7.
• Highlands 8, Ryle 0, Ninth Region at Highland Park — Senior Matt Fath pitched six shutout innings to improve to 6-1 on the season. Brett Hamblen and Mike Conley powered the offense with three hits each.
Ryle ....... 000 000 0—0 2 0
Highlands ....... 122 210 x—8 11 2
WP—Fath (6-1). LP—Green. Hitting leaders: H—Fath 2RBI; Hamblen 3-3, 2RBI, 2B, HR; Conley 3-3, 2 2B; Mulroney 2B; Hudepohl 2-3, 2B. Records: R 17-20, H 21-11.
• Dixie Heights 10, Holmes 6, Ninth Region at Dix ie Heights — Dixie Heights scored six runs in the bottom of the sixth to seal the outcome. John Brockman singled in a run and Jeff Stallkamp drove in two more with a single to power the rally.
Brockman, a senior, also hit his first career home run in the third inning.
Dixie Heights advances to face Bellevue Thursday at Ryle.
Holmes ....... 100 011 3— 6 7 4
Dixie ....... 013 006 x—10 11 3
WP—Taylor (7 K's, 7-3). LP—Mills (6-4). Hitting leaders: H—Payne 2-4, HR; Johnson 2-3, 2B; Frazier 2-3, 2B. D—
Johnson 3-3; Brockman 2-4, HR, 3RBI; Taylor 2B; Stallkamp 2 RBI. Records: H 16-15-1, D 20-16-1.
• Bellevue 8, St. Henry 5, Ninth Region at St. Henry — Bellevue overcame a 5-0 deficit with three runs in the third and fifth innings. St. Henry scored five in the bottom of the second before Tony Hurtt entered in relief. Hurtt pitched 5 1/3 innings of one-hit baseball to earn the victory.
Freshman Mike Bays drove in Jay Grainger for the go-ahead run in the top of the fifth.
Bellevue ....... 003 230 0—8 7 2
St. Henry ....... 050 000 0—5 5 3
WP—Hurtt (3-1). LP—Smith. Hitting leaders: B—Bays 2-4. SH—Lux 2-4, 2B; Pierce 2B. Records: B 13-16, SH 19-13.
N.Ky. baseball schedule
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N.Ky. baseball highlights
