Heading into an important conference matchup against Wapello, the Huskies won their last three games by 10 plus runs, 13-1 over Mediapolis, 14-4 over Pekin and 14-2 over Van Buren County. Wapello was 11-7 and Highland was 11-6. The winner would sit atop the SEISC- North. Unfortunately for the Huskies, they were shot down by the Wapello Arrows 3-1.

The loss dropped the Huskies to fourth in the division despite having the second-best overall record. Louisa-Muscatine and Columbus both rest slightly above Highland due to conference wins.

The Arrows struck first with a run in the top of the first. Senior Jessica Kraus pitched the complete game for the Huskies, and it was a quality start despite the loss, only allowing three runs on nine hits with seven strikeouts.

The Arrows would add two more runs in the bottom of the third to give them the 3-0 lead. Kraus shut down the Arrows after this, three flawless innings followed. The Arrows scored off of a single with a runner streaking from second base. She was barely safe at home plate. A sacrifice fly gave them their third run.

        Kraus struck out the side in the fourth. The Huskies recorded their one and only run in the top of the sixth. Sophomore Lilly Barre led off the inning with a single. After stealing second, junior Payton Brun followed with a walk. A wild pitch advanced both runners. The tying run looming at the plate.

Senior Abbi Stransky grounded out into a tricky double play, Stransky out at first and Brun out at third, Barre scoring the lone Huskie run of the night.

The Huskies needed to put together a rally in the seventh if they wanted any chance of overtaking Wapello’s Ada Boysen who pitched the complete game and was excellent on the mound.

Senior MyLei Smith led off with a popup out. Kraus watched a strike three and junior Madison Beeson struck out to end the game, dwindling any Huskie hope.

The Huskies would follow-up this loss with another dominant showcase, a 13-1 win over Winfield-Mt Union on June 16.

Throughout the year, Brun leads the team in hits at 27. She is the RBI leader at 21 as well. Kraus, the ace, has nine wins with a respectable 2.39 ERA, striking out 84 batters.

It is no surprise that junior Sarah Burton, who leads off the batting order, leads the team in steals at 22, yet to be caught. Barre has added 19 steals to the teams 94 total. If they land on base, they are a threat to be reckoned with.

The Huskies are transitioning into their final week of action. They played New London on June 19 and Columbus on June 20. They then travel to Hillcrest on June 22 and return home to play Lone Tree on June 23.

The Huskies get tournament time over the weekend in Washington before finishing their season against Columbus on June 26, finishing a postponed game from June 2.