By Ashton Beck and Maddie Miyahara
On May 29, at 6:30 p.m. the Highlander baseball team competed in the first round of the 4A division in the Hoosier Hills Conference sectionals against The Seymour Owls at Mount Tabor fields.
The Highlanders kicked off the game with 11 runs in the first inning, not allowing the Owls to make a run until the third. Entering the fourth inning, Highlanders made two more runs and Owls made on to increase the score 14-3. Due to being 10 runs ahead of Seymour,they ended the game after the 5th inning with the final score being 14-3 in the first round of sectionals.
Junior Colton Kimm said he felt good after the first game.
“We hit the ball very well and pitched really well,” said Kimm.
The next round of sectionals began May 31, at 3 p.m. against the Jeffersonville Red Devils. Unlike the first game, the Highlanders were not making runs in the first inning. By the fourth inning, Highlanders trailed 4-0. The first run for the Highlanders was by junior Austin Newell in the seventh inning making the final score 4-1.
Newell said this season went well but had a disappointing ending and the team will be coming prepared for next season.
“We are going to be on a mission and nobody is going to be in our way,” said Newell.
For senior Ross Lundy, this was his final game.
“Obviously we would have liked to advance further in the state tournament, but we met a lot of our goals,” said Lundy.
Highlander head coach Casey LaDuke said it was tough losing to Jeffersonville two years in a row in sectionals.
“No matter how hard you work, no matter how many wins, there isn’t any guarantee. It hurts right now, but we’ll get over it,” said LaDuke.