Hamilton Heights hosted the softball Sectional 24 championship game Saturday morning, and it turned out to be a microcosm of the Huskies’ season.
Heights found itself down early to Yorktown, but rallied to tie the game by the sixth inning. The Huskies were then in a position to win with the bases loaded in the seventh inning, but the Tigers were able to hold off Heights 8-7 to win the sectional title.
First-year Huskies coach Ken Olovich said this Thursday night, but repeated it on Saturday: “We battled back all year long. We were 1-11 and we battled back to winning 10 of our last 14.”
Yorktown led 5-0 going into the bottom of the fifth inning, which is when Heights scored three runs. Faith Hittle got hit by a pitch, then moved to third on Bayleigh Runner’s base hit. Alayna Baber hit a right field sacrifice fly to bring in Hittle. That brought up Hayley Green, and she smacked a home run over the center field fence, getting the Huskies within 5-3.
The Tigers scored two runs in the top of the sixth to jump ahead 7-3, then got two outs on Heights. But the Huskies rallied again, tying the game at 7-7. Alayna Baber drew a bases-loaded walk to bring Hittle home again, then Greene’s walk scored Sydney Buffum. Adyson Baber singled in Runner, then Belle Neiling hit a single to score Kylie Wooldridge, who was running for Alayna Baber.
“This game here, we were down 5-0, we could’ve quit,” said Olovich. “We don’t do that.”
In the seventh inning, Yorktown again jumped on top by scoring a run. Heights loaded the bases with two outs: Hittle was walked to lead off the inning, then moved to second on Runner’s base hit. Alayna Baber drew a walk to move Hittle to third and Runner to second, but the Tigers got a strikeout to finish the game.
“From where we are at 1-11 to perhaps one pitch away from winning the sectionals, I’m pretty happy with these girls,” said Olovich.
Adyson Baber had three hits for the Huskies, while Runner got two hits. Heights finished its season 10-16, and while it graduates seniors Adyson Baber and Lia Williams, that means everyone else returns for next year’s team.
“We’re going to be something to deal with next year,” said Olovich.
Yorktown 8, Hamilton Heights 7
Heights AB R H RBI
Bayleigh Runner 4 2 2 0
Alayna Baber 2 0 0 2
Hayley Greene 3 1 1 3
Adyson Baber 4 0 3 1
Belle Neiling 4 0 1 1
Sydney Massicotte 3 0 0 1
Meredith Diller 4 0 0 0
Faith Hittle 1 2 1 0
Kat Cox 1 0 0 0
Kelsie Albright 3 0 1 0
Kylie Wooldridge 0 1 0 0
Sydney Buffum 0 1 0 0
Totals 29 7 9 8
Score by innings
Yorktown 102 202 1 – 8 12 0
Heights 000 034 0 – 7 9 1
HR: Greene. SB: Ad. Baber, Greene, Massicotte. SAC: Al. Baber. HBP: Hittle.
Heights pitching IP R ER H
Ad. Baber 3.1 5 4 7
Albright 3.2 3 2 5
Strikeouts: Ad. Baber 2. Walks: Ad. Baber 2, Albright 1.
The Hamilton Heights softball team gathers around home plate to congratulate Hayley Greene after she hit a two-run home run during the Huskies’ sectional game with Yorktown Saturday at the Heights’ field. The Huskies rallied to tie the game after being down 5-0 before the Tigers won 8-7. (Richie Hall)