Highlands, Beechwood survive thrillers to advance to 9th Region championship

Much like their basketball counterparts in March, the Ninth Region baseball tournament semifinals gave fans at Thomas More Stadium everything they wanted and more. Highlands, Conner, Beechwood and Dixie Heights had all faced each other previously this season but Monday night's games were the ultimate grudge match.

Here's who will be playing in Wednesday night's championship game.

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Highlands 1, Conner 0

The fans in attendance may have expected more offense than they got.

The previous three meetings this season between Conner and Highlands produced 12.7 runs per game. With the Cougars winning all three games, the Bluebirds were hunting for the ultimate revenge.

Conner pitcher Oliver Kerns and Highlands thrower Jack Hendrix, who play on the same summer ball team, gave the crowd a different reason to cheer.

"I knew he was going to come out and try to shove it, and he sure as hell did and it was a good battle," Hendrix said.

Kerns made the only real mistake of the game by allowing two hits and two walks in the first inning. Hendrix got on base with a one-out single before scoring on J.P. Donelan's grounder into center field. From the first inning on, Kerns only allowed three total baserunners.

"We had to make some type of adjustments and just try to put some barrels on balls," Highlands head coach Jeremy Baioni said.

Conner had its chances. Brayden Stidham led off the second inning with a single but only advanced to second. Brody Mangold, who shut down Covington Catholic on Sunday, doubled in the fifth but did not advance. The Cougars never got a runner past second base as Hendrix continued to stifle them at the plate.

"We hoped, at least, it was going to be a low-scoring game because that means we were throwing well and were playing good defense,"

The Bluebirds advance to their first Ninth Region championship game since they went to five straight from 2015-2019. They won four of those five championship games with the one loss coming to Beechwood in 2019.

Player of the game

This one is obvious. Hendrix had pitched 24.1 innings all year but had a 2-1 record and 1.44 earned run average. Baioni said that despite his lack of innings, it was the extra bullpen sessions that prepared him for the moment.

"I just wanted to come out and compete. That's what I'm trying to do every day," Hendrix said.

In the biggest start of his career, Hendrix scattered four hits and one walk while striking out 12 Cougar batters. He only allowed the leadoff hitter to reach base three times, a stat that gave him added confidence as the innings went on.

"I build off stuff like that a little bit and let the crowd kind of feed me," Hendrix said.

At the plate, Hendrix went 1-for-3 with a single and scored the game's lone run. He may be the frontrunner for tournament MVP after going 3-for-3 with a walk in the Bluebirds' win against St. Henry.

Play of the game

Despite Kerns and Hendrix dominating the headlines with their pitcher's duel, the Highlands defense flashed the leather in a tight spot. In the bottom of the sixth, Conner threatened with a runner on third and only one. Hendrix induced a ground ball into the glove of Ryan DeBurger. He checked the runner at third before throwing to first, keeping the Cougars off the scoreboard in a one-run game.

Senior shoutout

Conner was a senior-heavy team this year and that roster experience gave them a competitive edge. They were in the weekly conversation for the state top 25, thanks to Zander Allen, Jackson Bucks, Cody Henson, Cory Henson, Luke Hubbard, Oliver Kerns, Ayden Lohr, Brody Mangold, Layne Masters, Brayden Stidham, Logan Tucker, Jeffrey Vest and Carson Wood.

Beechwood 4, Dixie Heights 2

The cardiac cats shocked the Colonels again.

The Tigers have made the most of their nine lives this season, coming back to beat St. Henry, Mason County, Oak Hills and Dixie Heights (twice) in memorable fashion.

"I've never seen a team with this much heart and determination," Beechwood head coach Kevin Gray said. "They just never feel like they're out of a game."

For the first 75 minutes, the game was a pitchers' duel, then the floodgates opened. Colonels starter Brach Rice and Beechwood hurler Sam Stacy continued the mound dominance from the first semifinal, not allowing a run through five and a half innings.

But the Tigers played with fire, allowing Dixie Heights' leadoff batter to reach in three of the first four innings. Beechwood, meanwhile, could only muster two hits and a walk through six innings.

"You've got to give Brach Rice a ton of credit. He threw his butt off. He had us so off balance," Gray said about Rice.

The upset threat became serious in the bottom of the sixth. Owen Lawrence worked a walk after being behind in the count 0-2. Rice singled, then Brayden Runion put the Colonels on the board with a single to score pinch runner Owen Stulz. A third straight single from Carson Pullum scored Rice.

Down to their final three outs, Beechwood did what they had done all season.

"Coach told us at the beginning of that inning, he said, 'We've been here before. We can do this,'" Beechwood senior Landon Johnson said.

Ben Meier led off the seventh with a double. Tyler Fryman singled to put runners on the corners before Shawn Sowder brought Meier home with a sacrifice fly. Mason Preston walked and Carson Welch grounded into a fielder's choice to put runners on the corners with two outs.

Gray sent senior Johnson to the plate as a pinch-hitter. After working the count full, he lined a ball off the center field wall to give the Tigers a 3-2 lead.

"I was taking a lot of time out of the box just taking deep breaths, talking to myself, saying, 'Not too early. This isn't too much for you,'" Johnson said.

Nazario Pangallo followed with a single to score Johnson, completing the comeback.

Beechwood advances to its fourth straight Ninth Region championship game looking to extend its title streak to four. The game carries a little extra meaning since Highlands is in the other dugout. The Bluebirds won four straight trophies from 2015-2018 before falling to Beechwood in the 2019 championship game.

"I think it's kinda cool it's us and them. If you beat them, you're going to earn it," Gray said.

Beechwood will have every pitcher besides Stacy at their disposal in Wednesday's championship game.

Player of the game

Could it be anyone else but Johnson? There was more than meets the eye when he came to bat in the ninth inning. He has a 5-0 record on the mound but had been in and out of the lineup as an outfielder with Fryman, Pangallo and Cameron Boyd plugged into the outfield.

Gray told Johnson all day leading up to the game that he had a feeling Johnson would have an impact and that he would appear in a big spot.

"He told me the inning before to get loose and swing the bat. I didn't know who I was hitting for," Johnson said.

Senior shoutout

Dixie Heights is a young team that overcame a rough season to win their first regional tournament game since 2017. The team only has three seniors, Ethan Bosley, Caleb Hinkle and Brayden Runion. The Colonels finished the season with a 15-22 record but should return to the Ninth Region tournament next year and beyond.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: KHSAA baseball: Beechwood, Highlands deliver thrilling postseason wins