TURNER — Pete Higgins’ strategy paid off.

It wasn’t exactly how the Leavitt coach had plotted it out in his mind, but when he made a change in the fifth, it proved to be a beneficial move Thursday.

Higgins had Ashley Robertson pinch-hit in the fifth with two outs. That ultimately led to the lone run in a 1-0 Western B quarterfinal win over Poland. Leavitt (12-5) advances to Saturday’s semifinal at second-seeded Greely.

“I felt she’d get her bat on the ball a little more strongly,” said Higgins. “Whatever the reason, it worked out fine. She got on with an error and a single followed and that was it.”

Robertson batted the ball back to Poland pitcher Kylie Martin. It was a routine play to first for the final out, but when she went to toss it, it soared out of her hand and over the first baseman’s head. Robertson hustled to second.

“It was going to be an error that broke it open,” said Poland coach Kat McKay. “Both teams played great defense and put the ball in play and teams just made the plays.”

With Nicole Bradley reentering to take Robertson’s place at second, senior shortstop Tori Zupancic followed with the chance to drive in the run.”

“It was a lot of pressure,” said Zupancic. ” I just thought to myself how we’d made it this far. We didn’t think we’d make it this far. So it was a nice accomplishment, but I wanted to see if we could make it even further.”

Higgins initially was going to have Zupancic bunt. Instead, he opted for the slap hit. On the pitch, Zupancic faked the bunt and took a quick swing at a low pitch. She lofted it into the air and it dropped into shallow center, allowing Bradley to score.

“When coach gave me a sign, I was like ‘Oh boy,’  I’m not always good at getting slap hits,” said Zupancic. ” Then it ended up being good. So it was really exciting for me.”

That was all pitcher Adrie Newton needed. She allowed just four hits and struck out six. She did face a pair of threats but escaped those, including the sixth and seventh.

Two Leavitt errors opened the door in the sixth, putting Katrina Seeley and Linsday Theriault on with no outs. Newton got a fly out and a ground out to first. She then fielded a hit back to the circle, bobbled it, but got it to first just in time for the out to end the inning.

“It’s definitely nerve-wracking,” said Zupancic. “When you get one run like that, it’s exciting, but it’s still nerve-wracking because they could get one too.”

Then in the seventh, Martin singled. Leavitt got the force at second on a nice play by third baseman Sierra Santomango, who could have opted for the out at first.

“I’m glad she made that decision,” said Higgins, of one of his five sophomores in the lineup.

Makayala Dube followed with a two-out single that put runners at the corners. Then Seeley hit a grounder to Zupancic who relayed it to first for the final out.

“It’s a lot of pressure coming in with two outs and a runner on third,” said McKay. “She was nervous up there. She tried to hold her composure, but it’s nerve-wracking. It’s a tough spot, but she did well. She put the ball in play and made them make the play.”

Martin, a freshman, allowed just six hits. Newton had three for the Hornets (12-5). Zupancic had a pair of hits.

Leavitt threatened in the second with two runners on, but Poland ended the inning with a double play. The Hornets only had one other base runner until the fifth.

Poland stranded two in the first when Seeley walked and Theriault had the first of her two hits. Newton got a strike out and a fly out to end the inning. The Knights (8-10) only got a walk in the second and a Theriault single in the third until the threats in the final two innings.

“She’s spot on,” said McKay of Newton. “She’s a good pitcher. Our kids weren’t hitting like we were hoping they would, but they did a good job against her.”

kmills@sunjournal.com

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