HIGHLAND SOFTBALL

Burton's record-tying home run helps send Huskies to regional semis

Highland has won 10 of 11 games, faces 7th-ranked Twin Cedars on Friday

By Paul D. Bowker
Posted 7/7/22

RIVERSIDE

Sarah Burton’s home run swing in the sixth inning Wednesday night delivered the crushing blow.

As she rounded the bases with her sixth home run of the season, tying a school …

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HIGHLAND SOFTBALL

Burton's record-tying home run helps send Huskies to regional semis

Highland has won 10 of 11 games, faces 7th-ranked Twin Cedars on Friday

Posted

RIVERSIDE

Sarah Burton’s home run swing in the sixth inning Wednesday night delivered the crushing blow.

As she rounded the bases with her sixth home run of the season, tying a school record, her Highland teammates ran out to home plate to greet her with high-fives and hugs and shouts.

The home run polished off a night in which the Huskies scored two runs in the fifth inning and one run in the sixth on the way to a 5-1 victory over English Valleys in the Class 1A Region 8 quarterfinals.

The Huskies (21-8-1) will face seventh-ranked Twin Cedars (24-3) in the regional semifinals at 7 Friday night in Bussey.

Highland has won five straight games and 10 of its last 11, losing only to Davenport Assumption, which is ranked No. 2 in Class 3A.

“We’re just working really well as a team,” said junior pitcher Jessica Kraus, who struck out five and is within eight of her 200th career strikeout. “We have a schedule with our practice. We’re going in and lifting every day and I think it’s just the consistency, all of us, just being there for everyone all the time.”

Burton had consecutive stolen bases in the fifth inning, stealing second and third before being thrown out at home on an infield grounder.

She had plenty of help in Wednesday’s win.

Kraus gave up just two hits in 5.1 innings while the Huskies played errorless defense behind her.

“I can really trust them to make plays behind me,” Kraus said. “I can throw whatever pitch I want and know that they’ll be behind me to make plays.”

Grace Batcheller, a senior who replaced Kraus in the sixth inning, emerged with bruises on her foot and upper arm following a play at home in the sixth and a line drive that smashed into her shoulder in the final inning. She still picked up the ball and threw the English Valleys hitter out at first base.

“Great pitching, great defense,” Huskies coach Carrie Wieland said. “Even if you have to use your body.”

Kraus had two hits and drove in two runs. Payton Brun also had two hits and scored once. Junior outfielder MyLei Smith drove in a run in the two-run fifth.

“Just super proud of the way it went and how we hit,” Wieland said.

Highland, softball, Sarah Burton, English Valleys, 1A regionals