From the Principal's Desk: Ryle defeats Dixie Heights in the regional semifinal

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Ryle defeats Dixie Heights in the regional semifinal

By John Lachmann Kypostsports@yahoo.com

ERLANGER, Ky. – How good is Ryle’s pitching?

In 2011, the Raiders rode Haylee Smith’s arm to a regional title, as she allowed just three runs in the three-game tournament and won a pair of games at state.

This season, Smith – now a freshman – is playing shortstop for Ryle and sophomore right-hander Ali Crupper is the Raiders’ regular starter in the circle.

Crupper struck out 11 for the second straight night as the Raiders beat Dixie Heights, 7-1 in a Region 9 semifinal at St. Henry on Tuesday.

“I love pitching, it’s one of my favorite things to do in the whole world,” Crupper said. “Haylee does a great job too, so it’s just been a lot of fun.”

Ryle will face Conner in the regional final for the sixth straight year at 7 p.m. on Thursday. The Cougars beat Newport Central Catholic, 10-1 on Tuesday.

“We started out the season, we knew we had two good pitchers and we knew we had to fill a hole at shortstop,” Oliverio said. “We were just going back and forth with them, and Haylee makes us a better team at shortstop and Ali stepped up and has done the job on the mound.”

In addition to playing outstanding defense, Smith – hitting in the No. 3 hole – is 4-for-7 in the regional tournament. She drove in a run and scored twice on Tuesday.

“I do whatever it takes to get us back to state,” Smith said. “By moving to shortstop it makes us stronger, so I’m fine with it.”

Crupper faced the minimum through three innings, striking out six the first time through the Colonels’ lineup.

Dixie Heights eighth-grade right-hander Bailey Spencer matched zeroes through the first two innings, but the Ryle offense came to life in the third inning.

With two outs and no one on, Raiders senior center fielder Kate Rouse – who struck out in her first at-bat – worked the count for a walk. Junior second baseman McKell Oliverio followed with a base hit.

Smith gave Ryle the lead with a line drive single up the middle, scoring Rouse. The next batter, sophomore left fielder Katelyn Stephens, pounded a double into the right center field gap, plating Oliverio and Smith to make it 3-0.

Dixie Heights trimmed the lead to two in the top of the fourth on a two-out RBI double to left center by freshman right fielder Haley Schulte.

In the bottom of the fifth, the Raiders put the game out of reach. Smith walked and was bunted to second, and sophomore first baseman Kelsey Hammes lined a double down the left field line to score Smith.

Hammes eventually scored on a wild pitch to give Ryle a 5-1 lead. Senior right fielder Sydney Langsdale lifted a sacrifice fly later in the inning, and a base hit by sophomore designated player Hannah Brumbach extended the Raiders’ lead to six.

Crupper allowed five hits and did not issue a walk. In 12 innings in the regional tournament thus far, Crupper has allowed nine hits and fanned 22.

“Ali – she’s doing a great job for us,” Ryle coach Patti Oliverio said. “She’s getting big strikeouts when we need them, which take a lot of pressure off of our defense.

Ryle has won consecutive regional titles and six of the last seven. Conner won a Region 9 championship in 2009.

D.HEIGHTS 000-100-0—1 5 0
vs. RYLE 003-040-X—7 8 0

WP: Crupper (16-6, 11 K’s). LP: Spencer. HITTING LEADERS: R—Stephens 2-3, 2 RBI; Hammes 2B; Crupper 2-3. DH—Schulte 2B. RECORDS: Ryle 20-13, Dixie Heights 20-14.