Williams strikes out 16 to lead No. 8 Higley past No. 9 Horizon
April 27, 2024 by Ben Stapley, AZPreps365
Higley notched one of its biggest softball wins in coach Rodney Wesley's eight year tenure at the school Saturday. He wasn't able to be at the game, but it was just as satisfying, as the No. 8 Knights beat visiting Horizon, 4-2 in a first round 5A playoff contest.
Senior pitcher Kyndal Williams had another masterful game, striking out 16 and giving up one earned run.
Amayranny Campos went 2-3 and drove in two runs for Higley while Taylor added two RBI's on a double in the fifth inning.
Higley (19-8) advances to the quarterfinal round Tuesday where they will face top seed Desert Mountain in Scottsdale. Coach Wesley was in Texas through the weekend to watch his daughter play softball for Southern University. Assistant coach Nathan Mejia handled headed coaching duties in Wesley's absence.
"Kendyl (Williams) was awesome today," Mejia said afterward. "The girls had known coach Wesley would be with his daughter this week so we were prepared."
Higley won 23 games last season, but this will be the furthest the Knights have advanced during Wesley's tenure.
The Knights took an early lead thanks to an RBI double in the first inning from Amaranny Campos. Williams was nearly untouchable in the first three innings, striking out eight of the first nine batters she faced.
Kyndal Williams is dealing early for Higley with her 7th consecutive strikeout as the Knights are protecting a 1-0 lead after 3 innings thanks to an RBI double by Amayranny Campos. @HHSAthletics15 @2024Kyndal pic.twitter.com/rcOUaorIKu
— Ben Stapley (@AZpreps365Ben) April 27, 2024
Horizon found offensive life in the fourth inning. Malena Kiker doubled on a deep shot to left field that nearly cleared the fence and drove in Kaia Stephens to tie the score.
Higley then took control of the game in the fifth inning with three runs. Campos picked up another RBI off her second base hit that sent Williams home for a 2-1 lead. With two runners still on base, freshman Taylor Lee drove a basse hit to right center field that drove Paris Pinkston and Campos to make it 4-1 Higley.
Higley picks up 3 big runs in the bottom of the 5th inning, 2 on this hit from Taylor Lee that scores @ParisPinkston09 and Amayranny Campos. Knights have a 4-1 lead over Horizon @HHSAthletics15 pic.twitter.com/ahkIQlNZPA
— Ben Stapley (@AZpreps365Ben) April 27, 2024
Horizon senior Sydney Newton drove in Malena Kiker on a base hit in the seventh inning before Williams closed out the victory with her 16th strikeout of the game, giving her 698 for her career.
"This is a tremendous win for our program, coach Wesley said via text message Saturday. "It definitely feels good to be moving on."
Horizon finished the season 13-11.
