Highland bats heat up late in 10-1 win over Comets

By Jeff Yoder
Posted 6/11/21

Through three innings, Cardinal’s freshman pitcher kept the Huskies off balance and off the basepaths. 

But in the fourth, Highland broke through. 

The Huskies scored 10 runs on …

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Highland bats heat up late in 10-1 win over Comets

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Through three innings, Cardinal’s freshman pitcher kept the Huskies off balance and off the basepaths. 

But in the fourth, Highland broke through. 

The Huskies scored 10 runs on nine hits over the last four innings to leave with a 10-1 victory. 

“I think the key was pitch selection,” said Huskie pitcher Jessica Kraus, who drove in two runs. “Making sure that you see the right pitches, and take the one that's yours because you want to be able to drive your favorite pitch.”

Highland was just 2-12 at the plate when Kinze Hora stepped into the batter’s box with two outs in the top of the fourth. Abbi Stransky, who had both Highland hits, stole third base and Hora singled to score the game’s first run. Jenna Sands reached base on an error to keep the inning going. Kraus doubled to score Hora and put Highland up 2-0. 

“Kinze has been doing an awesome job,” Highland coach Carrie Wieland said. “It's clicked for her, in where to put the ball, how to get on base to score runs, and then she has fun with it, too. I'm really proud of both of them. They did a great job of scoring with two outs and we’ve just got to keep doing that.”

As a junior and one of just four upperclassmen in the lineup, Hora has provided vital leadership for the Huskies. And her defense at third base has been fantastic through 11 games. 

“She's just a brick wall over there,” Wieland said. 

Stranksy batted 1.000 for the day and tied a school record with her four-hit game. She scored a run, drove in a run and played a solid game at catcher as well. 

Highland used both of its pitchers in Wednesday’s game. Kraus allowed a run on five hits and two walks. 

“I feel really confident when my defense is behind me strong,” Kraus said. “Because if I strike someone out, that’s something me and Abbi work together on, and Sam (Cox) calls the pitches. But then I can also rely on the defense behind me. If a ground ball gets hit, I'm like, ‘OK, I know they're gonna get it.’ ”

Grace Batcheller came into the game with a 6-1 lead and did not allow a hit or a walk over the final two innings.

“We have a lot of games and we play again tomorrow, so we didn’t want them to go too long in a non-conference game,” Wieland explained. “They don't have to strike people out, because our defense takes care of it.” 

Highland 7, Central Lee 2

The Huskies broke open a 1-1 game with six runs in the fourth inning at Central Lee on Thursday. 

Katelyn Waters and Sarah Burton each had one out singles and then took advantage of an error to put the Huskies up by two. With two outs, the Huskies got four straight singles from Grace Batcheller, Kinze Hora, Jenna Sands and Jessica Kraus to increase the lead to 7-1. 

Sands finished 3 for 3 at the plate with two RBIs. Kraus was 2 for 4 and drove in a pair of runs as well. Payton Brun was 3 for 5 with an RBI and Sarah Burton was 2 for 5. 

Batcheller earned victory number seven on the season, allowing one earned run on seven hits and three walks over seven innings.