UNION, Ky. — Dixie Heights senior Troy Kenning picked the perfect time to come out of his hitting slump.

        In the bottom of the eighth inning, Kenning lined a double to left center field, scoring John Brockman from first to give Dixie Heights a 1-0 victory over Covington Catholic in the Ninth Region championship game.

        The victory advances Dixie into Wednesday's sectional semifinals against Franklin County at Pulaski County High School in Somerset beginning at 7:30 p.m.

        “I didn't have a hit in the two regional games or in two times up today,” Kenning said. “I was looking for a fastball, and that's what I got. I've been a good hitter all my life, but this slump has been hard to shake.”

        When the ball left Kenning's bat, Brockman was off and running.

        “I knew when Troy hit it, I would score,” Brockman said. “That's why I raised a clinched fist when I rounded second base.”

        In a game dominated by pitching, Covington Catholic's Ron Harmon took a no-hitter into the eighth inning. Dixie junior left-handher Graham Taylor gave up only three hits.

        “Graham was outstanding,” Dixie coach Chris Maxwell said. “A lot of people wanted me to pull Jay Johnson out in the semifinals and pitch him today. But I knew Covington Catholic doesn't like hitting left-handed pitchers.”

        Taylor vividly remembers losing to Covington Catholic early in the season.

        “They beat me 5-2 and overall four times this season,” Taylor said. “This was probably to our advan tage, because they thought it would be easy again today.”

        Maxwell, the victim of an ice bath complement of the players, was confident going into the game.

        “We had nothing to lose,” said Maxwell, whose Dixie team last won a regional championship in 1993. “We battled them the previous four games, and I knew if we cut down on mistakes, we could do it.”

        Johnson, Dixie's ace, will start for Dixie Heights on Wednesday.

        CovCath ....... 000  000  00—0  3  1

        Dixie Heights ....... 000  000  01—1  2  1

        WP—Taylor (7 Ks, 8-3). LP—Harmon (6 Ks). Hitting leaders: D—Brockman 1-3, RS; Kenning 2B, RBI. C—Kunkel 1-4; Rose 1-3; Ryan 1-3 Records: DH—22-16-1.

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