Highland’s girls’ junior Little League team did not have much experience this season before facing Chatham Saturday at Tony Williams’ Park in the sectional tournament.

Highland was the only girls’ junior team in District 16 and played half a dozen games to prepare for Chatham, winning five of them.

But Chatham, which hosted the state tournament last year and lost to Walden in the state final, had plenty of experience and came out early with five runs in the first inning before winning 13-0.

Highland’s Shannon Waris gave up three walks in the first inning while Chatham’s Allison Mesick hit an RBI-single, and Caitlin Gilligan hit an RBI-double. Three more runs scored on wild pitches, and Highland found itself down 5-0 after the first inning.

Chatham added seven runs in the third and another in the fifth to cap the rout. Lindsey Skype, Chatham’s starter was replaced by Kayla Doty to start the fourth, and Doty fanned five of the six batters she faced, including the side in the fifth.

Highland’s Cynthia Trainor singled in the fourth for Highland

“We got in the hole early,” said Gus Ose, Highland’s manager. “Once you give up five runs in the first inning, it’s hard to climb out of that.”

By Bond Brungard
sports@tcnewspapers.com