The Highland softball team ended their state tournament run not like they envisioned, but still finished as the No. 4 team in the state.

Highland fell in the third place game 8-3 to Woodbury-Central, and had to settle for the fourth place trophy in their first trip back since 2008.

Highland got behind the eight ball early, as a blooper went over the head of Morgan Craig at first, and two runs came in to score in the first inning to make it 2-0 Wildcats. Highland had Adamson on third waiting to come home in the bottom of the first, but was stranded. The Huskies left three runners on in the first two innings. Woodbury Central scored three more runs in the second and third off of a two run shot from Halle Still, and a solo shot from Erika Bates that went up, got the heavy wind blowing to straightaway center and went for the homer to make it 5-0 Wildcats. Highland finally struck in the bottom of the third off of an RBI single from Courtnee Hahn that scored Kelsey Hora.

Woodbury-Central added another run in the fourth and added two more in the sixth, while Highland could old manage two more runs in the fourth to make the final 8-3 score.

Highland was led by Cheyann Adamson at the plate, going 4-4 with a run and an RBI. Springer threw all seven, gave up 12 hits, eight runs and fanned two in the loss.

Highland head coach Carrie Wieland said in a post-game interview with KCII that it was a disappointing trip, but that she is proud of her girls.

“I’m proud of the girls, we came up here and worked hard, and our season was an awesome season, but there is a lot of disappointment. I think some of it is is going to sink in for some of them a little bit later than others, and we’re really going to miss our seniors, they’ve been such a part of the team. Seaira [Drish], Jordan [Rath], and Katie Hora,” Wieland said. “It’s a huge disappointment for us, because I still believe that we were the better team, but today they just didn’t do what they were supposed to do.”

Highland also had one player named to the all-tournament team in Kelsey Hora. Hora the center fielder went 6-10 at the state tournament.

Highland ends their season the fourth place team in the state and with a 32-3 record.