Hard-hitting Highlanders roll past Holt, 17-2

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HOLT — The Holt softball team intended for Thursday’s game with Howell to be part of a celebration.

Instead, the Highlanders played spoilers, ripping the Rams 17-2 in five innings.

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“We’ve played pretty well against them in the past,” Howell coach Ron Pezzoni said. “We want them to know we’re still around and can play that way.”

“That way,” in this case, involved six runs in the second inning and five in each of the next two innings to put the game out of reach.

Designated player Jordan Humitz had the most impact, going 4-for-4 with a home run, double and four RBIs.

Her homer to left-center field in the third got up into a prevailing wind going that way, but she said her team’s approach had more of an impact.

“We’re focusing on getting quality at-bats,” she said. “We’re treating every game like it’s opening day and being relaxed at the plate, so all that stress is gone.”

The same approach led to 20 hits in a 15-1 win at Fenton on Tuesday.

“We’re really swinging the bats well, all the way through the lineup,” Pezzoni said. “They’re locked in, and it makes it a lot easier to coach when you put those numbers up.”

The Highlanders battered starter Bry Chapman, who came in to the game with  a 1.74 ERA, for all six runs in the second inning. After she was pulled, reliever Devon DeMello gave up nine runs in two innings pitched before Chapman was  sent back into the circle to finish the game.

All but one Howell batter had at least one hit. Kara Johnson was 3-for-3 with three runs scored, while Emma Johnson had two hits and drove in four runs and Sydney Pezzoni had two hits, two steals and three RBIs.

The Highlanders improved to 22-8 with the win, which took the steam out of a post game ceremony where past Holt teams were honored with photos unveiled along the outfield fence.

Howell will take on two state powers Saturday morning at Farmington Hills Mercy. The Highlanders will take on No. 2-ranked Mercy at 8 a.m., followed by a contest against defending state champion Warren Regina.

“It will be good to get us ready for the one-game elimination tournament coming up,” Pezzoni said, referring to the state tournament. “It’s what we’ve been waiting for.”

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