’Hound softball takes Highland to 3 games

Friday, May 5, 2017

HIGHLAND — Highland won a Region VI District D first-round playoff series from Fort Scott Community College earlier this week but not before the underdog Greyhounds took game two on Tuesday to force a deciding game.

The third-seeded Scotties (33-10) won the opener 13-0 in five innings. Highland hit two home runs, including a grand slam by Sydney Anderson in the second inning. Kayla Ross hit a solo shot leading off the second.

Highland pitchers Julisa Ortega and Kennadi Barron combined to pitch a no-hitter. Ortega struck out 4 in the first 3 innings. Barron struck out 1 in the final 2 innings.

Fort Scott (23-33) scored first in Game Two as Allie Rooks drove in Kylie Pfeiffer with a 2-out single. Anderson hit a 2-run shot in the third to put the Scotties ahead 2-1.

in the fifth, courtesy runner Rachel Merrick tied the game when she scored on a teammate’s single. Merrick was on base after pitched Aubrey Smith led off the frame with a single.

Highland went ahead again in the bottom of the inning when Anderson hit a 2-out RBI double. The Greyhounds took the lead when Hayley Bledsoe hit a 2-out, 3-run homer. Aimee Wimp singled with one out and Smith was hit by a pitch ahead of the home run.

Ross hit a solo homer for Highland leading off the bottom of the sixth to bring the Scotties within 5-4. Smith got the first two batters out in the bottom of the seventh. But Anderson hit a single and Aubry Hernandez doubled. Then Ross drew a walk to load the bases but Smith got Maddy Miller to fly out to left to end the game.

Smith, who was unable to make it through two innings of the opener inside the circle, bounced back in game two, allowing 2 earned runs on 9 hits. She walked one and struck out 4.

Bledsoe was 2 for 3 for the ’Hounds, driving in 3 runs. Wimp was 3 for 4 and Smith was 2 for 2.

Anderson drove in 6 runs for Highland in game one and was 3 for 4 with 3 more RBI in game two.

The win was just the 16th in the post-season in the 42-year history of the FSCC program, which began in 1976. Head coach Kristin Janes became just the eighth of the program’s 16 head coaches to win a playoff game. It was the program’s first post-season victory since 2009, having lost 16 consecutive times since then.

Fort Scott scored first on Wednesday when Bledsoe’s 2-out single brought in Aimee Wimp. Highland scored 7 in the bottom of the second. Smith drove in Wimp with one out in the top of the third to bring the ’Hounds within 7-2. Miller led off the bottom of the third with a homer for Highland.

Highland advances to double-elimination play this weekend in Topeka. The district champion advances to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament.

Game One

Fort Scott....... 000 00x x — 0 0 2

Highland........ 160 6xx x — 13 9 0

WP — Ortega (10-3). LP — Smith (11-14).

HR — Highland: Ross (1, 2nd inn., none on, none out), Anderson (11, 2nd inn., 3 on, 2 out).

Game Two

Fort Scott...... 010 013 0 — 5 11 2

Highland....... 002 011 0 — 4 9 1

WP — Smith (12-14). LP — Ortega (10-4).

HR — Fort Scott: Bledsoe (5, 6th inn., 2 on, 2 out). Highland: Anderson (12, 3rd inn., 1 on, 2 out), Ross (2, 6th inn., none on, none out).

Game Three

Fort Scott....... 101 001 x — 3 7 0

Highland....... 071 102 x — 11 10 2

One out when game ended.

WP — Barron (13-3). LP — Smith (12-15).

HR — Fort Scott: Brecheisen (3, 6th inn., none on, 1 out). Highland: Miller (5, 3rd inn., none on, none out), Degoina (1, 6th inn., 1 on, 1 out).