It was all Highland Huskies in Monday’s softball installment of the KCII Area Game of the Week, as they rode the strength of 14 punchouts and no walks from eighth grade pitcher Jillian Stransky en route to a controlling 11-4 win over rival Hillcrest.
Highland jumped on top early with a run in the first and three more in the second to lead 4-0 after two frames. After Stransky would strike out the Raven side in both the first and second, Hillcrest would finally strike when senior Delaney Shaw reached on an error, plating teammate Morgyn Nafziger for their first score of the night. Highland would have their largest offensive output of the evening in the third, plating five runs on four hits, aided by a two-run bomb to right field by senior Lilly Barre that also brought in Kamryn Fink to push their lead to 9-1. With her back against the mercy rule wall in the fifth, Raven junior Claire Withrow delivered a two-RBI single to draw the game back within five after the inning was complete. However, that would prove to be their final strike of the game, as the Huskies added on two more runs for a comfortable home conference victory.
Unofficially, Highland scored 11 runs on eight hits and committed four errors. Hillcrest scored four runs on eight hits and had five errors. Barre and Fink combined for three hits, two singles, the home run off the bat of Barre to score Fink and four RBI. Stransky pitched the complete game, allowing four runs, three earned, on eight hits, no walks and her 14 Ks. Co-Washington County Hospital and Clinics Player of the Game, Fink, joined KCII Sports postgame to talk about the win and the team chemistry.
“(On the team hitting), I was really proud of the way that we got on the board in the beginning. We truly decided to hit the gas from the start. That kind of has been something we’ve been struggling with the whole season, but tonight we came out and we were ready to go from the start,” Fink said. “(On Stransky and the team defense), Having a defense at your back allows you to pitch at even a higher level, knowing that if you do happen to miss a spot, you have a defense behind you who can make plays as well. I’m truly so proud of her [Stransky] and the way she’s stepped up to the plate.”
Withrow led the Ravens on a 1/3 night with her two-RBI single. Malia Yoder pitched all six innings in the loss, allowing 11 runs, two earned, on eight hits, six walks and five punchouts.
Highland now improves to 7-6 on the year, while the Ravens drop to 9-10. The Huskies travel to Lone Tree tonight, while Hillcrest hosts Columbus. The Area Game of the Week returns to the baseball diamond with another rivalry matchup between Highland and Lone Tree tonight on the KCII3 Stream with pregame slated for 6:30 p.m.