A late inning balk helped the Highland Huskies’ baseball team (24-6 overall) clinch their first state tournament berth in 32 years. As heard on AM/FM KCII and KCIIRadio.com, the Huskies traveled to Wilton High School for a Class 1A Subdistrict 5 championship game versus the No. 6 North Linn Lynx (34-10 overall). The Huskies scored the go-ahead run on a balk in the bottom of the fifth inning, propelling Highland to a 3-2 victory and their first state tournament appearance since 1984.

The Huskies produced three runs on three hits, forcing six walks. Junior Chase Rath earned the win on the mound, throwing all seven innings. He allowed two runs on four hits, walking five and striking out five. Offensively, Rath scored one of two first inning runs and collected one of Highland’s three hits on a fourth inning double.

Junior Jake Wood scored the go-ahead run in the fifth inning. Standing on third base with two outs, North Linn committed a balk, allowing Wood to score the game winning run. Sophomore Ryan Miller was issued the loss, throwing three innings in relief, allowing one unearned run on no hits, walking three and striking out three.

The Iowa High School Athletic Association has seeded Highland fifth in the Class 1A baseball tournament. The Huskies open up the single elimination event Friday, facing the St. Mary’s Hawks of Remsen (30-5 overall). The Hawks defeated the Lawton-Bronson Eagles, 16-1 in five innings in the Class 1A Subdistrict 1 championship Tuesday at LeMars. First pitch is set for 5 p.m. Friday at Principal Park in Des Moines and KCII Sports will provide live play-by-play coverage of the state quarterfinal matchup beginning with the Washington Hy-Vee Pregame Show at 4:30 p.m. on AM/FM KCII.