The Highland softball team picked itself up off the dirt two days after a 21-run loss to the Marlboro Dukes and rode an early lead and three late insurance runs into a 6-4 victory over the Ellenville Blue Devils on Friday.

“We rebounded from a really tough loss,” Highland coach Kathelene Canosa said. “Marlboro, the other day, we took them six innings, and we came back and responded really well. We put the ball in play much better today. We played very good defense, and we minimized our mental errors. So, I was really happy with the way the girls played today.”

The Huskies got off to a fast start with two runs in the first and run in the second, taking advantage of some Ellenville miscues.

Lexi Winters led off the game by reaching on an error and then came around to score when Alexa Pavese doubled. Pavese came around with Highland’s second run. They tacked on another in the second inning when Katie Dauenheimer singled and then ran around the bases while the Blue Devils threw the ball around.

“I think it’s just when you have a lead, it’s easier to play a little bit looser and less tight,” Canosa said. “But also, it gives you confidence that ‘OK, we did here. Now we can do it again. We can repeat it.”

And repeat it they did.

In the fourth inning, with the Huskies leading 3-1, they added three insurance runs that would turn out being key.

The Huskies loaded the bases with no out, and after a fielder’s choice and strikeout, Ellenville pitcher Hannah Lutz walked Winters to plate the Huskies’ fourth run. Then, Allie Fuller blasted a two-run double to center field, giving the Huskies’ a 6-1 lead.

“She came through clutch with a beautiful line drive,” Canosa said. “She’s got a very nice swing. It’s just a matter of her being confident with herself being able to deliver and she came through big for the team.”

All the while, Pavese was keeping the Blue Devils quiet for the first three innings.

However, they broke through in the fourth inning. Adriana Andrews singled to lead off the inning and then came around to score on Amelia Nilo grounded into a fielder’s choice.

Pavese stranded the bases load.

She hit Ellenville’s Paige Manning to start the fifth and she came around on Hailey Pinkerus’ base hit.

Pavese bent but didn’t break in the seventh as the Blue Devils put the tying runs on base. Two runners – Manning and Dina Stewart – scored on a bases-loaded walk to Nilo and a sacrifice fly by Nevaeh Ruller.

However, Pavese struck out Serena Otero to end the game.

“At the end of the day, even though she pitched for us all last year as an eighth grader, she’s still a freshman,” Canosa said. “So, she’s going to battle up there and she’s going to have some times where she tightens up a little bit. But you know what? She’s doing phenomenal. She throws so hard and doesn’t let anything rattle her. She’s cool as ice out there and I couldn’t be prouder of the way she’s handled herself and accepted the responsibility of pitching as a freshman.”