Waters’ walk-off lifts Huskies

RIVERSIDE — It was a pitchers’ duel at Highland High School on Monday, but it was one swing of the bat that had everyone talking at the game’s end.

Highland sophomore Katelyn Waters sent a two-out RBI single to left field, which capped off a 3-2 comeback victory for the Huskies, who earned revenge over WMU for a loss earlier this season.

“I tried not to think about the nerves,” said Waters. “I knew that I needed to put the ball in play and beat it out, like I’ve been doing all season.”

And put it in play she did. With the game tied at 2-2 after an RBI bunt single by Kayla Cerny, Waters sent a line drive to left to send the Huskies into a frenzy.

“I’m just super excited and super proud of them,” said Highland head coach Carrie Wieland. “I don’t think they ever doubted themselves.”

The bottom of the seventh began with a leadoff double by Grace Batcheller. Mackinze Hora followed with a bunt single and stole second to put two runners in scoring position.

“Carrie is known for bunting, slapping and dragging,” said Winfield-Mount Union head coach Walt Jackson. “We practiced it this week worked on it, and we just didn’t execute there at the end.”

Winfield-Mount Union ace Madie Anderson was able to get a pair of outs, sandwiched around Cerny’s RBI single, but Highland still had one big swing left in its bats.

“I knew this was our inning to come back and beat them because we had our bats going,” Waters said. “I guess that was a good time to do it.”

Hora finished the day 2-for-3 to lead the Huskies in hits. Sarah Burton was 1-for-3 with a run scored.

For the Wolves, it was just another heartbreaking loss. WMU has been leading in the final inning of its last three losses, and four of the Wolves’ five losses this year have come by one run.

The Wolves had the bases loaded with nobody out in the first inning but only pushed one across on a Jobey Malone ground out. Burton scored in the bottom of the first to tie the game up.

WMU took the lead again in the top of the fourth when Emma Haines scored on a double steal.

Jessica Kraus and Batcheller combined in the pitcher’s circle for Highland. Kraus gave up two runs (one earned) over four innings, and Batcheller threw three innings of one-hit ball to earn the win. Anderson took the loss for WMU.

Highland moved to 16-6 overall and 10-4 in the North Division with the win. WMU fell to 14-5 overall and with 10-4 in the North.