|

Highland ‘Rings’ in Home Opener with Run-Rule Win over Bobcats

ByRemington Yates

Lewistown, MO – The Highland Lady Cougars opened their home stand in style Tuesday night, first celebrating their 2024 Class 2 state championship with a ring ceremony, then rolling to a 13-3 mercy-rule win over the Bowling Green Bobcats.

Lady Cougars Celebrate their championship rings

The Bobcats struck first, putting up a run in the opening inning with a double and a pair of two-out singles. Highland needed a moment to shake off some home-opener jitters. Head coach Paul Scifres admitted, “And me included, I’ll take one. I got Kierra thrown out at home and I should have kept her.”

Sponsored Ad

But the reigning champs quickly showed why they wear the crown. After a double from Addy Abell, catcher Bailie Crist stepped up and launched a two-run home run to left field, giving Highland a lead they would not give back.

Bailie Crist after launching a two run home run

From there, pitcher Abby Lay went to work, allowing just one baserunner in the second inning while striking out two. The Cougars’ bats wasted no time backing her up, as Allie Lundberg crushed a first-pitch homer to left. Two walks and a Crist single pushed the lead to 4-1, and Hannah Ritterbusch drove in another with a sharp single. Lay then helped her own cause with a home run to left, capping a six-run frame and forcing a Bowling Green pitching change.

Lay and the Cougar defense stayed sharp in the third, and the offense kept pouring it on. With two outs, Rothweiler sparked a rally with a single and a steal. Abell, Crist, Ritterbusch, and Lay all delivered RBI hits in succession to make it 12-1.

Addy Abell makes contact with the game winning hit.

Bowling Green extended the game in the fifth with three hits and two runs, cutting the margin to 12-3. But Highland wasted no time ending it. Rothweiler singled and stole another base, and Abell lined an RBI single to bring home the walk-off run under the five-inning mercy rule.

Crist said Highland’s challenging schedule is sharpening the team for another title chase. “It helps so much, especially with us joining the Francis Howell Central Tournament. Every school we play is Class 4 or 5 — massive compared to us — and they’re going to be good at everything they do. So it really helps us go into conference play and even the postseason, because we know how to handle pressure from good teams and we know how to hit those balls.”

Abby Lay celebrates after her home run shot to left

She also noted the Cougars are fueled by last year’s success: “We used last year’s success as this year’s fuel. We know we’re going to get everyone’s number one, and we’re going to get their best offense and defense.”

Highland improves to 3-2 on the season after the win. They will continue their season in Shelbyville taking on the North Shelby Lady Raiders, 5:00 PM first pitch.

Key Stats

  • Bailie Crist (C): 3-3, 4 RBI, HR, R
  • Abby Lay (P): W, 5.0 IP, 7 H, 3 ER, 6 K; 2-3, HR, 2B, 3 RBI
  • Addy Abell (2B): 3-4, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2B

Similar Posts