High school softball: Kate Muri pitches Highland to win over Buckeye

YORK TWP. — In search of a change of direction, the Highland softball team got what it was looking for Thursday in the form of a standout pitching performance by Kate Muri and plenty of timely hitting. The Hornets pulled away from returning Division II regional finalist Buckeye for a 9-3 non-league win that was much closer than the final score indicates. "I think we definitely needed it," Muri said. "When we get our energy up it's so much fun. Now we just need to keep it going throughout the whole season. "We just need to focus on winning the small innings, not so much the game, and hyping each other up after each good play." Muri picked up her first win of the season with a complete game in which she allowed only one earned run on four hits and four walks. After allowing doubles to Faith Shaw and Kelsey Metter in the first inning, Muri didn't give up another hit until Eleanor Shaw doubled with two outs in the fourth. Sarah Michaels added a two-out double in the fifth. "Kate did amazing," Highland catcher Kiley Martin said. "All her pitches were on and she hit her spots well." Martin had three hits, including a double, and scored twice. Buckeye briefly took a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the first when Ava Piovarchy and Metter scored on a two-out error. Despite two errors, Highland made a series of fabulous plays behind Muri, who didn't record a strikeout. In the third, Alexis Mutch robbed Shaw with a leaping catch at shortstop. Third baseman Michayla Oyler took another hit away from Shaw in the fifth with a great backhanded stop, and right fielder Arisa Murray made a diving catch against Eleanor Shaw in the sixth. "I really have to rely on my defense," Muri said. "I trust them 100% and I know they have my back." Metter's double in the first, which scored Faith Shaw, was Buckeye's only hit in seven chances with runners in scoring position. That was a big part of why the Bucks were held off the scoreboard for the final six innings. "I feel like we got the momentum, but we just didn't use it," Metter said. "I think that will come in time. We're still early in the season, so I think it's just about building chemistry. "We're all working on how to play behind each other, and I think we're just as good (as last year) and can come back just as strong." LaRyssa Hartshorn (3-1) took the loss for the Bucks, allowing five runs, four earned, on four hits and five walks with one strikeout over two innings. Kwynn Czerwony pitched five innings of relief, allowing four runs on eight hits. Three runs came in a four-run seventh for Highland before Hartshorn returned to the circle. Martin and Oyler doubled ahead of a base hit by Paige Kramer to start the rally. Kramer and Caelan Carmody, running for Muri, then scored on a wild pitch and error on the same play. Highland scored twice in the top of the first on a double by Elsa Riedy. The Hornets tied at 3 in the second on a bloop single by Murray, who scored the go-ahead run on a wild pitch after a double by Mutch. Kramer then doubled home Martin after the first of three hits in the third inning. "We did a great job keeping the energy up in the dugout," Martin said. "Everyone stayed focused and that helps the batters." Contact John Urchek at jurchek@medina-gazette.com. Highland 9, Buckeye 3 HIGHLAND 221 000 4 — 9 12 2 BUCKEYE 300 000 0 — 3 4 1 WP — Kate Muri (1-4) 7 innings, earned run, 4 walks, 0 strikeouts. LP — LaRyssa Hartshorn (3-1) 2 innings, five runs, four earned, four hits, five walks, strikeout. Highland (2-4) — Alexis Mutch double, walk, run; Elsa Riedy double, 2 RBIs; Kiley Martin 2 singles, double, 2 runs; Michayla Oyler single, double, run, RBI; Paige Kramer single, double, walk, run, RBI; Muri 2 walks; Caelan Carmody 2 runs; Arisa Murray 2 singles, walk, run, RBI. Buckeye (4-2) — Faith Shaw double, walk, run; Sarah Michaels double; Ava Piovarchy 3 walks, run; Eleanor Shaw double.