Highland Lady Cougars Win Class 2 Softball State Championship

 By David Sharp 

“There are definitely some emotions here,” Highland senior Haleigh Winter said after being part of the Lady Cougars winning their second Class 2 Softball State Championship in school history with a 4-1 victory over Mid- Buchanan on November 2, 2024 at Springfield, Mo. 

Highland’s previous state softball title was the final game of the Cougar’s undefeated state championship in 2005. The Lady Cougars defeated Strafford in the title game at Columbia. Highland finished with a 24-0 record. 

“I wouldn’t choose a better way of going out. I can’t even imagine going out like this,” Haleigh Winter said. “We definitely knew that every move we made had to be good. To keep pressing the gas down. When we got up 4-0 we knew the game wasn’t over and to keep pushing.” 

The Lady Cougars played solid defense. Manda Jennings robbed Mid Buchanan leadoff batter Sophia Smith of an extra base hit with a nice catch of a line drive. 

Keera Rothweiler reached base with two out in the bottom of the third inning. Rothweiler stole second then third base and raced home on a throwing error with the game’s first run. 

“The first at bat was horrible,” Keera Rothweiler said. “I knew I had to get on to help my team. We all wanted this more than anything in the world. We are really solid in the field. We have great kids and even kid that are waiting to get in the game. Coach Paul Scifres does a great job coaching us at a big moment like this.” 

Highland (27-6) scored three times in their fourth frame. Balile Crist reached Dragon hurler Koylea Myers for a hit leading off the inning. Abby Lay followed with a single. 

Haleigh Winter grounded out to the right side. Hannah Ritterbusch bunted Crist home for a 2-0 lead. Catherine Darnell stroked a huge one out two run hit for a 4-0 lead. 

“Coach (Paul) Scifres told me to just be aggressive, don’t worry about the count and hit,” Catherine Darnell said. “I wasn’t on my A game yesterday. I’m honestly a bit nervous, everyone should be,” Catherine Darnell said of batting in clutch situations. “I just try to focus on the ball. Just see ball, hit ball. That’s all you have to do.” 

“We come from a small school. It just shows me that Highland High School is capable of doing something like that,” Catherine Darnell said when asked about the Cougars winning the state championship .”It means you are able to do it.” 

Ella Schwope led off the Dragon fifth inning with the first hit off Cougar hurler Abby Lay. Adilyn Archdekin grounded back to the circle, scoring Dru Pearson with only the second run scored off Abby Lay during post season play. 

“It was a great experience,” returning all-state pitcher Abby Lay said. “The girls played excellent defense behind me. We wouldn’t be here without them and our bats. I feel like whenever Keera gets on base, the other teams have to be nervous. She put the pressure on them.” 

“It just feels not real right now,” Abby Lay said. “It feels amazing. I feel like the community won it also. The first (State championship) in 19 years. We lost last year. We were ranked in the top four of the state most of the year. We came out and showed them what we have got.” 

Highland threatened in both the fifth and sixth innings but failed to score. Mid Buchanan ended both innings with sparkling defensive plays. Cougar senior Shelby Frank laced a two out single putting Catherine Darnell on second base after a hit. 

“We have been talking about it for a long time,” second baseman Addy Abell said. “The joy it brings to everybody. We came out on top. We did what we had to do. People came out and they hit the ball.” 

“Keera (Rothweiler) is a big leader on our team, Addy Abell said. “She had five catches today, that’s amazing. 

Shelby Frank recorded a hit in the final at bat of her Highland softball career. Dragon outfielder Dru Pearson took that memory from Haleigh Winter with an outstanding catch in center field, ending the Cougar fifth inning. 

Mid Buchanan pressured the Highland defense when Zuzu Kountz singled with one out in the top half of inning six. Keera Rothweiler and Bailie Crist caught fly balls, ending the scoreless sixth inning. 

Dru Pearson led off the Dragon seventh inning by flying out to Keera Rothweiler in short left field. Koylea Myers grounded out to Rothweiler for out number two. 

Adilyn Archdekin flew out to Keera Rothweiler to end the game. The final play of the 2024 Highland softball season was Rothweiler’s fifth put out of the contest. 

Mid Buchanan scored one run on three hits and two errors. Koylea Myers pitched six innings striking out five batters with one walk on eight hits and a hit batsman. Three of the Four Cougar runs were earned. 

“There was no way we were going to take that picture without her,” Head Coach Paul Scifres said of the events before the 2024 State Championship team trophy picture was taken. 

“Diane (Ten Eyck) is amazing,” Paul Scifres said of the 2005 Lady Cougar head softball coach. “She has poured her heart and soul into the kids. She has been there forever. Every picture that involves female sports at Highland on the wall involves Diane TenEyck.” 

“She is a big part of what we do. Just a wealth of knowledge,” Paul Scifres said. “We love her. Just so glad we could win it with her here.” 

“Abby Lay was the difference,” Coach Scifres said of the Lady Cougar 2-1 win over Linn High School the day before in eight innings. “She has been out there for every inning of the last ten or 12 games.” 

“There was a lot of pressure. Abby just kept making great pitches in tough situations. We were able to scratch that one run across in the eighth inning, We played some defense there too.” 

“She is such a hard worker,” Paul Scifres said of Abby Lay. “She wants the ball. She is a perfectionist. She wants to get better all the time. The girls had to execute in that moment and they did. We got that big bunt down. It was huge.” 

“We had great pitching, great defense and timely hitting,” Paul Scifres said of the first place game. “We came out with nothing to lose. We knew we were going to get a trophy and some medals. I couldn’t be more proud.” 

“We just came out determined to play our game, be aggressive and have fun. 

Highland scored four runs on eight hits and one error. Catherine Darnell was 2-3 at bat for two RBI and the Game Winning RBI. Keera Rothweiler was 2-4 at bat with a run scored. 

“Nobody expected us to be here,” Keera Rothweiler said. “It’s just the love of our community. They were a big part of helping us win this championship.” 

Seniors Haleigh Winter and Shelby Frank played their final softball games for Highland. “She is a very important part of our team,” Haleigh Winter said of her senior class teammate. “She is a great leader.” 

“It is definitely something that we will remember forever.