A solid game from Huskie pitcher Grace Batcheller kept Highland within striking range of No. 7 Twin Cedars in the regional semifinal on Friday. But the Huskies could not generate enough offense to match the Sabers in the 4-1 loss. 

Batcheller allowed four unearned runs on just three hits and two walks over 5 and 2/3 innings. The Sabers (25-3), who lead class 1A in batting average, on-base-percentage, and total triples, managed just three singles against Batcheller. 

Highland won 10 of its last 11 games entering the matchup and finished the season with a record of 21-9-1.

“I’m just really proud of them,” Highland coach Carrie Wieland said. “I just thought they did a really good job — except for the fact that we didn't get on base enough and make them nervous. We just got a little more nervous than they did.”

The Huskie defense made some great plays on Friday. Sarah Burton, Mackinze Hora, and Lilly Barre snagged line drives. Batcheller made a great play on a ball rolling down the third baseline, throwing for force out at third. Batcheller and  Burton turned a 1-6-3 double play to end the fifth inning. MyLei Smith was solid in center field, catching everything that was hit her way. 

The Highland defense also made some critical errors. 

A leadoff walk and two errors from the Highland infield in the third inning allowed the Sabers to take a 2-0 lead on the game’s first hit, a softly hit grounder that rolled just past the infield into right field. 

Highland also had its first baserunner in the third inning, as Burton was awarded first base after her swing was obstructed by the Sabers' catcher. Burton advanced to second on a groundout from Payton Brun and scored on Batcheller’s single to cut the lead to 2-1. 

Barre reached base on an error in the fifth inning, and Brun had Highland’s second hit of the game in the sixth. The Sabers’ senior pitcher Grace Bailey did not walk a batter and struck out nine. The Huskies had four baserunners on two hits and one was erased by a double play. 

While the Sabers finished with just four hits, they did not strike out once and put pressure on the Highland defense by consistently putting the ball in play. 

A pair of two-out singles again put pressure on the Highland defense again in the fourth. A ground ball gave the Huskies a chance to end the inning, but it was not fielded cleanly and the Sabers would add a run on a bases-loaded walk. 

“We had some really key errors that we don't ever have,” Wieland said after the game. “They just played their game and we just didn't play our game today.”