Highland wins first Section 9 softball title in 10 years, topping Chester in Class B

It took some time but the Highland Huskies are back in the championship circle.

The second-seeded Huskies proved dominant early in Saturday's Class B title tilt with No. 1 Chester/Seward. Highland scored twice in the first inning and snapped a 2-2 tie with five runs in the second on the way to an 8-3 victory at Newburgh's Mount Saint Mary College.

Highland collected 11 base hits, led by three from Delainey Reid and two apiece from Ciara Teamer and Abigail Paserba. Their offense supported a six-hit victory by Alexa Pavese - it was her seventh strikeout, a swing on a high offering to Lauren Higgins, that closed out the contest and set off the celebration.

It had been 10 years since Highland won its fourth Section 9 title since the turn of the century, winning Class B in 2004, 2010, 2012 and 2014.

Chester answered with two runs. Paige Niles hit her first offering for a one-out double down the left-field line. Following an out, Ayla Chaluisan poked a single over a leaping second baseman Paserba. A single by Ariana Saldivar moved her up one bag and Katleen Matos ripped an RBI single to cneter.

Unfazed, Highland sent nine batters to the plate in the second. Leadoff batter Emma Hanlon poked a two-run double to right field (later scoring on a wild pitch) and Teamer hit a two-run double to left for a 7-2 lead, chasing Chester starter Molly Farley after two innings.

Chester reliever Ayla Chaluisan gave up only one more run the rest of way. Meanwhile, Farley was setting down the Hambletonians in droves, retiring the final 13 batters she faced.

CLASS AAA FINAL: Pine Bush softball takes advantage of two errors for winning rally against Newburgh

CLASS AA FINAL: Minisink beats Valley Central for third time this season, claims section softball crown

CLASS A FINAL: Marlboro strikes early, holds off Saugerties rally to win Section 9-A softball title

CLASS C FINAL: Pine Plains scores nine early runs, rolls to Section 9-C softball title over Tri-Valley

CLASS D FINAL: Chapel Field struggles in field but beats Eldred for Section 9-D softball championship

The Huskies advance to the opening round of the state tournament. Highland will take on the Section 1 champion at North Rockland High School at 3 p.m. on Wednesday.

kmcmillan@th-record.com

X / Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR

This article originally appeared on Times Herald-Record: Highland softball beats Chester in Section 9 Class B final