The Highland Huskies were hitting the ball hard game, but in bad luck.

However, by the sixth inning, the Huskies started finding holes in the New Paltz Huguenots’ defense. They scored five runs in the sixth inning in a 5-1 win in a non-league softball game on Wednesday at Highland High School.

“It’s nice once we get the momentum going,” said Alexa Pavese, who pitched a complete game for the second straight day and started the game-winning rally. “It just takes a lot of pressure off my shoulders knowing I have people behind my back, especially after we came back in that inning before. We all were hitting, and it just felt really good to finally get some runs on the board.”

With the Huskies trailing, 1-0, in the sixth, Pavese led off with a walk. After singles by Sierra Spinelli and Violet Brienza loaded the bases, she scored on a wild pitch by New Paltz’ Gabby Torre to tie the game.

“When I got into the dugout, I just tried to hype everyone up because we had a couple base runners with no outs,” Pavese said.

Torre walked Delaney Reid to re-load the bases before giving way to Lili Tozzi, who promptly walked Abby Paserba to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead, their first of the day.

Abbie Maier and Gianna Jones each singled in a run, and Paserba was awarded home plate when New Paltz shortstop Bella Morales was called for obstruction on Jones’ hit.

“At no point did I feel like we were losing or down in that game,” Highland coach Kathelene Canosa said. “I just knew that we’re a good-hitting team, and it’ll eventually start finding some green.”

The Huguenots got their only run in the second inning. Lila DiSciullo singled off Jones’ glove at first base. Then with DiSciullo on second base, Savannah Trinkle snuck a single through the middle to give the Huguenots a 1-0 lead.

Pavese allowed five hits and struck out seven, and only allowed more than one base runner in the second inning.

“I’m just hitting my spots,” Pavese said.

“My coach and I are really good with figuring out where to place the ball, so we’re not giving them just an easy ball to hit.”

The Huskies opened the week – as well as their season – on April 9 with a 4-2 Mid Hudson Athletic League Division III win over the Ellenville Blue Devils.

Pavese struck out 13 and Jones doubled, tripled and drove in three runs.
Reid doubled and drove in a run. Reid doubled and drove in a run. Paserba doubled.

“I am shocked at how far ahead these young girls are compared to not only last year, but even the ninth graders that came in this year, we played some good pitching,” Canosa said. “Obviously, not the best, but good enough and their timing is great. They play a lot of softball. So, I think that we’re in a really good spot.”