RIVERSIDE

Despite the 4th of July being a week away when Highland softball celebrated senior night, that did not stop the Huskies from producing some fireworks. 

Capped off with junior Lilly Barre connecting on a three-run home run in the sixth, Highland (16-8) secured a dominant senior night victory, 11-0, over the visiting Winfield-Mt Union Wolves (5-18) on June 27.

As is senior night tradition, before the game Highland honored its seniors: Meleah Fesler, Courtney Chalupa, Madison Beeson, Grace Prybil, Payton Brun, and Sarah Burton. 

With seniors being the theme in this conference game, it was fitting that Burton proved to be the spark to get the Huskies going on offense. 

Holding a 1-0 lead going into the bottom of the sixth, Burton smashed the ball out of the park for her team leading third home run of the season, the first firework of the night. 

Now with all the momentum on their side, sophomore Mackenzie Davis batted in two runs, Beeson brought in another run, and eighth grader Mayia Singbeil also brought in an additional two runs.

In the fourth the Huskies scored again with Fesler batting in a run, and this gave Highland a 8-0 lead. After a scoreless fifth inning, Highland ended the game in the sixth. 

With two people on base, Barre produced the game’s second firework with her second home run of the season to give Highland the win in six innings. This was the second time this year Highland has defeated W-MU. The last time the Huskies lost to the Wolves was in 2021. 

It was another fantastic performance on the mound for Prybil. The standout senior pitched in six innings, striking out eight while giving up zero hits and no walks. 

Highland 6, Lone Tree 3

In their final home game of the regular season, the Huskies (17-8) defeated Lone Tree (12-12) on June 1 to earn a season sweep of their conference opponent.  

It was in the second inning where Highland scored its first run when Kamryn Fink connected on a base hit to bring teammate Larissa Murphy home for the score. Up next to bat was senior Sarah Burton and with two Huskies on base she sent the ball flying out of the park for a 3-run homer to give Highland a 4-0 lead. 

This was the second straight game Burton has hit a home run and she is now up to four on the season, the team lead. She ended this game with a team high four RBIs. 

Home plate eluded the Lady Lions for the first four innings, while Huskies added two more runs to their lead in the bottom of the fourth. 

Lone Tree’s scoring drought ended in the top of the fifth. Scoring a single run on back-to-back-to-back plays, the Lady Lions were able to cut their deficit in half in the fifth. 

Vivian Zaruba brought in Rylee Shield with a single and eventually made it home herself off a wild pitch. Addison McCullough was the other Lady Lions to score this inning

While the tides seemed to be turning in Lone Tree’s favor, this ended up not being the case as defense dominated the last two innings. With no runs being scored by either team in the sixth or seventh innings, Highland was able to earn a victory by shutting out Lone Tree from every inning except for one. 

Lone Tree’s starting pitcher was junior Alex Dautremont. Dautremont pitched in four innings, striking out three and allowing nine hits. 

Pitching in six and one third of an innings was Highland’s winning pitcher, Grace Prybil. The senior retired four batters while giving up six hits and allowing two walks.  

Up next for Highland (17-8) is a home playoff game against the Keota Eagles (2-14) on July 8. The last and only time these two teams faced off against each other was in 2008, a game Highland won, 12-0.  The winner of this first round matchup will advance to the second round to face off against Calamus-Wheatland (21-15) on July 10.