August 27, 2026 | Springfield, IL: Los Angeles and New York. Two cities in different time zones where one goes to bed early while the other never sleeps. And true to their slogan, the Big Apple bats were very much awake.
Tonight’s game was the gateway to a tie for first place, and the Heights wasted no time in succeeding.
Natsuki Yonetani and her perennial smile put the Heights ahead on a leadoff home run in the first – her first in the WPBL. She was 2-4 with two RBI’s to complement her dazzling defense – a sliding catch into the centerfield wall.
LA starter Ayami Sato was roughed up early and often during her short three-and-a-third-inning stay, giving up 11 hits, 11 runs, six earned runs – for one of her most disappointing outings of the season.
Two Claires and a Jaida Lee took care of business on the bump for the Heights. O’Sullivan got the start – Eccles middle-relieved, and Lee closed it out, fanning four, three of them looking. This dynamic trio had a combined two earned runs on 10 hits and seven K’s.
Kylee Lahners brought her explosive power to the ballpark – with a two-run homer, followed by a flared two-run double in her next at-bat.
The contributions from the Heights offense poured in quicker than a crowdfunding campaign.
London Studer and Madison Willan were 3-4 with a pair of RBI’s apiece and Emi “where have you been all summer” Saiki, was a perfect 4-4.
The defense was to die for all night long – on both sides, chasing down deep outfield flies to flashy leather double plays. LA’s Ashton Lansdell gave a master class at the hot corner, hauling in sharp line drives, rifling to first, once from her knees. The Queens captain was 3-4 on the night, and we can expect a lot more where that came from in the final stretch of the season.
Kylee Lahners was player of the game, 2-4 with four RBI’s, but in all due respect, any number of New Yorkers earned the right to stand alongside AJ Andrews for the postgame interview honors.