Haverling senior pitcher Kaili Witherell lived up to her New York Gatorade Player of the Year honor with an outstanding performance in Saturday’s state semifinals win.
Witherell’s state-ranked No. 2 Rams (21-3) are now on the verge of the softball program’s first state championship after a 6-0 win over Section IX’s Highland in the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class B semifinal Friday evening at Greenlight Networks Grand Slam Park in Binghamton.
Haverling will play Section II’s state-ranked No. 1 Chatham (21-3) — a 6-3 winner over Section VIII’s Carle Place — in Saturday’s Class B state championship game at 1:30 p.m.
Witherell pitched a two-hitter with nine strikeouts. She only walked one Highland player in the shutout, and retired 20 straight batters. Witherell helped her cause at the plate by going 4-for-4 from the leadoff spot. Natalie Williams, who was Witherell’s pinch-runner, scored three times, and nearly scored another but was called out on a double play that ended with a bang-bang play in the third.
Caydence Spears went 3-for-4 with an RBI-double in the first and a two-run double in the seventh. Abbie Whaley was 2-for-4 with a two-run triple in the fifth, then scored on Makayla Smith’s squeeze bunt. Kasandra Plewa and Emma Lafler also collected hits for coach Rachel Ratchford’s Rams, who won their first Section V title since 2016 this spring.
Haverling senior Ryleigh Laverty earned the sportsmanship award for the Rams.
For Highland, leadoff hitter Violet Brienza singled in the first, but it was coach Kathelene Canosa’s Huskies only hit until Delaney Reid singled with two down in the seventh. Pitcher Alexa Pavese struck out four batters in the loss.
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Game blouses: Haverling wins
Haverling advances to Saturday’s championship game with a 6-0 win.
Kaili Witherell was fantastic with a 4-4 day at the plate. She threw a 9 K 2-hitter, retiring 20 straight batters until Highland’s Delaney Reid singled with two-down in the seventh. Kaili also walked one batter.
T7: Haverling 6, Highland 0
The Rams get two more runs on Caydence Spears’ two-run double sent deep into right field again. Kaili is 4-4 after another single, and Williams pinch ran for her, scoring with Abbie Whaley (walk).
B6: Haverling 4, Highland 0
Highland pitcher Alexa Pavese makes quick work of Haverling with a 1-2-3 T6.
In the bottom, Highland goes down 1-2-3. Makayla Smith caught a great line drive for the third out. It was a great hit but better catch.
B5: Haverling 4, Highland 0
Haverling plates three runs this inning.
Freshman Abbie Whaley smacked a line drive triple down the first base line deep into the outfield, helping Emma Lafler (single) and Williams (pinch running for Witherell, who is 3-3 after another single) score easily.
Then Makayla Smith put down an RBI squeeze bunt that scored Whaley.
At the bottom, Kaili with a K now with 8 Ks. She hasn’t allowed a hit since the leadoff. No walks. B5 Kaili she fell behind one batter 3-0 before coming back to strike her out.
B4: Haverling 1, Highland 0
Haverling went down 1-2-3 at the top.
In the bottom, Kaili with a K Ks the side in order she has six Ks and the Gatorade.
B3: Haverling 1, Highland 0
Kaili Witherell gets another hit. She’s 2-2. Kaili with a K is what I call her. Abbie Whaley follows with a bunt single to get two on base with no outs.
However, Highland got out of the inning, using a 6U pop fly, then a beautiful 9-1-2 double play that ended with a bang-bang play at the plate.
Haverling’s Caydence Spears sent another deep shot to the fence, but right fielder Taylor Anzalone made the catch, threw a relay to pitcher Alex Pavese, who then found catcher Delainey Reid by the plate to tag Williams (pinch running for Witherell) out at the plate. I took a video of it. I’ll watch it closer later, but it was close.
Witherell retired Highland in order at the bottom. She has three Ks.
B2: Haverling 1, Highland 0
Haverling’s Kasandra Plewa got on with a single but was left stranded.
Witherell retired Highland 1-2-3 at the bottom.
B1: Haverling 1, Highland 0
Haverling got things started right away at the top with a Caydence Spears RBI-double. It was a ground-rule double that bounced over the fence that scored Natalie Williams, who was pinch running for Kaili Witherell, the New Yor kGatorade Player of the Year, who hit a leadoff single.
Highland’s leadoff hitter Violet Brienza began the side with a single but was left stranded.
When is the Haverling vs Highland (Section IX) NYSPHSAA Class B semifinal?
First pitch is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. Friday.
Where is the Haverling vs Highland (Section IX) NYSPHSAA Class B semifinal?
Greenlight Networks Grand Slam Park in Binghamton.
What to know about the Haverling softball team?
What to know at the Highland (Section IX) softball team?
Haverling softball photos
Visit MarquelSports on Instagram for Haverling photos and video.
How to watch
The only way to stream this game is by purchasing a subscription through NFHSNetwork.com. Monthly subscriptions are $13.99 per month, or $79.99 annually, and can be canceled at anytime.
— Marquel Slaughter is a journalist for the Democrat and Chronicle, specializing in high school sports. He won numerous Associated Press and NYNPA awards for his work in print and broadcasting throughout his 15-year career as a reporter. Follow him @MarquelSports and X and Instagram for exclusive interviews, photos and videos. You can email him at mslaughter1@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Rochester Democrat and Chronicle: Haverling shuts out Highland to clinch first NYS softball championship game
Reporting by Marquel Slaughter, Rochester Democrat and Chronicle / Rochester Democrat and Chronicle
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