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Highland softball misses chance for 1st-place share of SEISC North
LETTS — Ranked third in Class 2A, Louisa-Muscatine is just 15-7 in the 22 softball games it has played, but 11-1 in the Southeast Iowa Super Conference North Division after Wednesday’s 10-1 win over Highland’s Huskies.
The Huskies were trying to move into a first-place tie with L-M but fell into third at 15-5, 9-3. Winfield-Mount Union is second at 10-2.
Highland started strong with a run in the top of the first inning. Starting pitcher Grace Batcheller helped her cause with a single that scored Abbi Stransky. Stransky reached on an error and stole second base.
“It was a great start, but things are contagious,” Highland coach Carrie Wieland said. “Just like hitting is contagious, not hitting can be.”
That was it for the Huskies. Highland did all it would do in that first inning. Payton Brun reached base in Highland’s third inning and Makenzie Hora was walked in the seventh inning.
Piper Brant won with three strikeouts in four innings, then Kylie Sanders threw the last three.
“I thought we would put the ball in play and score more runs,” Wieland said. “We didn’t pick good pitches.”
Batcheller pitched to nine Falcons in the first inning with five hits, two fielder’s choices, two outs and six runs. There were three Highland errors in the game.
“You make decisions as a coach, and you have to stick with them, but they are not always the best or good decisions,” Wieland said. “I think we could have done a lot better defensively.”
Jessica Kraus came in for Batcheller, getting Sanders on a ground out for the third out of the first inning. Kraus stayed in the circle the remainder of the game. She gave up six hits with no walks and two strikeouts.
“I don’t think I pulled Grace soon enough,” Wieland said. “She had a good game against them last week so I thought this would work.”
The June 17 game at Highland, the teams were tied 2-2 after a Huskies’ run in the sixth. Batcheller pitched all seven innings, giving up six runs in the seventh to lose.
“They came up with good hits, and they all run fast, but we didn’t do our job,” Wieland said.
Jenna Sands makes the throw from her knee after going to the ground to field a hard grounder Wednesday in a 10-1 loss at Louisa-Muscatine. (Doug Brenneman/Union)
Highland head softball coach Carrie Wieland asks about an interference call that was not made as the Huskies attempted to turn a double play Wednesday in a 10-1 loss at Louisa-Muscatine. (Doug Brenneman/Union)
Jessica Kraus warms up in relief of Highland starting pitcher Grace Batcheller Wednesday in a 10-1 loss at Louisa-Muscatine. (Doug Brenneman/Union)
Highland third baseman Mackinze Hora tries to get an out on a foul ball along the fence Wednesday in a 10-1 loss at Louisa-Muscatine. (Doug Brenneman/Union)
