Late Errors send Highland to State Game
The Highland Cougars are able to beat out the Linn Wildcats 2-1 to make an appearance at the state championship game Saturday the November the 2nd @12:15 PM. They will take on Mid-Buchanan Lady Dragons of Faucett. The Dragons beat out the Chafee Lady Devils 8-6.
The Linn Wildcats would get caught in a rundown after overrunning a base and getting out. A pass pitch would get by and allow the Cougars to score the go ahead run. Abby Lay would pitch out the last three batters and send the Highland Cougars to a State appearance. Highland has a chance to win their first state softball championship since Coach TenEyck’s 2005 championship season.
The Game
The Cougars come into the game 25-6 as Ace pitcher Abby Lay would get the start.
The Linn Wildcats would come in 23-4 as Sophia Voss would get the start.
The game would be a pitching battle as both pitchers were getting outs and giving up an occasional hit but no runs were being allow. Until the third when Abell would hit a two out line drive and get on base. Crist would follow up after Abell would steal second with a line drive to center to bring in the run to put the Cougars up 1-0.
However Linn would prove why they are in the tournament as they would respond in the 5th to keep their hopes alive. Hackmann would get on base on an error and advance to second on the error. With one out Hackman would advance to third on a wild pitch. Pitcher Voss would sacrifice ground out collecting the RBI and tying the game 1-1. Lay and Voss would play incredible ball as both pitchers faced their toughest at bats.
The Cougars would get a big break in the 7th. After walking K. Peters. A Peters would Courtesy. Hostetler would bunt and get thrown out at first. Peters would overrun 2nd and slip getting caught in a run down and make it a double play to help the Cougars get out of the inning.
However the 8th inning would seal the deal for the Cougars. Abell would pop out. Crist would get on base with a single. However she would get out on a fielders choice as the wildcats couldn’t get the double play allowing Lay to get on base. Lundberg would come in to courtesy for Lay. Winters would hit a pop fly that should have sent the game to the bottom of the 8th. However Voss would drop the ball. Lundberg would advance to third. A pass ball would allow for Lundberg to score. Lundberg would get just under the mitt and score the go ahead run. Ritterbusch would strike out sending Lay out to close the game for the team
Lay would give up a single and a walk but it wasn’t enough as two fly outs and 1 pop out would seal Linn’s fate and send the Highland Cougars to the hunt for gold.
