The Baldwin Highlanders softball team beat Lower Dauphin 11-7 on Monday, earning the program’s first state playoff win since 2018.

Sophomore Cam Temme led the way for the Highlanders with a home run and four total RBIs. She also pitched the final inning. Seniors Reese Temme and Avery Harrington had two RBIs each.

“Cam Temme stood out. She came in as relief and finished out the game with a K,” junior Melina DeFelice said. 

Getting the win in the first-round state playoff game was a big moment, she said.

“This is fun and exciting, but it’s also different because we never made it past the first round of the (state) playoffs,” DeFelice said. “Competing against these teams is different.”

Sophomore Julianna Ditoro said the team’s pitchers were key.

“Our pitchers did a great job. Even when scorers scored, they had an absolutely amazing performance,” Ditoro said. “Ava Bonacci had a great game on defense.”

The team had moments on offense where everyone started to score, as one runner after another hit home plate, Ditoro said. 

The team did have errors that could have been cleaned up throughout the game, but they will be working to tighten up that issue at practice.

The win helped connect the team in a way it’s never been before, Ditoro said.

“The team was very excited,” Ditoro said. “We have worked extremely hard to get to this point, and it has paid off.”

The Highlanders’ next game is Thursday against Shaler at a location to be determined. Shaler knocked Baldwin out of the WPIAL playoffs in the semifinal round.