Highland Makes One Run Stand

All-tournament selection Keri Pulifer singled to right field in the first inning to score Katy Gonzales and the Highland High softball team defeated Hart, 1-0, in the championship of the Hart tournament Saturday at Newhall Park.

Gonzales struck out but reached first on a passed ball.

“I honestly didn’t think one unearned run would hold up, but it sure did,” Hart Coach Al Weil said. “You have to give them a lot of credit. We were making contact. Unfortunately, they came up with some big defensive plays.”

Among the best was an over-the-shoulder catch by Bulldog center fielder Betsy Bartholet on a fly ball by Hart’s Nicolette Weinstein in the third inning.

“We have the best defensive team in the Antelope Valley,” said Highland assistant coach Dan Hauptman, whose team improved to 5-0. “We work hard, we talk and we don’t make mistakes.”

Kelly Presten (2-0) got 16 groundball outs while pitching a three-hitter to earn her second complete game victory of the season. Hart is 5-1.