RIVERSIDE

A playoff rematch from last season, Highland hosted Lone Tree for a conference matchup and while both teams played stingy defense the home team prevailed in the end.

Not letting its opponent reach home, Highland (2-2) scored a shutout 2-0 victory over Lone Tree (2-4) last Thursday.

Highland did its damage in the first and second innings. Landon Roling brought in Logan McFarland in the first and Colten Sypherd scored off an error in the second. Their two run lead stood the test of time as both teams went runless for the next five innings.

Bryce Hazelett pitched a five inning no-hitter for Highland, recording two strikeouts, and Roling only gave up one hit with one strikeout in the two innings he pitched. 

Pitching all six innings for Lone Tree was Jack Patterson as the senior struck out 10 while allowing two walks.

Highland 4, W-MU 2

Highland (3-2) earned back-to-back conference victories when they went on the road and defeated Winfield-Mt Union (1-5) last Friday. 

After the Wolves took an early 1-0 lead in the first Highland answered back with three runs in the fourth. Both teams exchanged runs in the sixth but after a scoreless seventh the Huskies went home the victor.

Highland’s three hits on the night came from Landon Roling, Bryce Hazelett, and Presten Smith. Roling brought in two runs and Hazelett finished with one RBI. 

Colten Syphered pitched six innings for Higland as the senior recorded eight strikeouts while allowing two walks. Roling also saw time on the mound as he struck out two batters in one inning.

BGM Tourney

It was a successful weekend outing for Highland as they scored two close fought victories at the BGM Tournament last Saturday.

In the first round the Huskies powered out to a 9-5 win over BGM (6-2).

Trailing by two entering the seventh, Highland scored twice to send the game to extra innings. The Huskies did not let up as they put four more runs on the board in the eighth and denied BGM from reaching home to clinch the victory.

Logan McFarland and Caleb Wheeler both pitched four innings each for Highland with McFarland striking out three and Wheeler retiring two batters.

In the championship game, Highland’s late game heroics once again proved to be the difference maker as they scored a 2-1 win over Gladbrook-Reinbeck (3-6).

Both teams scored a single run in the second and the game remained deadlocked for the next four innings. Highland scored the game winning run in the sixth and continued to play lockdown defense against the Rebels to secure the win. 

McFarland pitched for five innings in the win, striking out three, and eighth grader Noah Hartzler ended with one strikeout in two innings pitched.

Up next for Highland (5-2) is a road conference battle against Pekin (3-3) on June 12.