The Highland softball team finished their first round regional game against Hillcrest Academy early on Monday night with a 13-1 win in three innings. Highland got the scoring underway in their first at bat, starting the game with three straight hits from Dani Laughlin, Kenzie Hora and AJ Stransky. Those three would score in the inning as Stransky and Kayla Cerny supplied RBI contact. The Ravens got on the board with a single run in the top of the third on a solo, opposite field home run from Mia Graber to make it 3-1. In the bottom half of the inning, Highland exploded. The Huskies sent 14 hitters to the plate in the frame, scoring 10 times to end the game early. Hora, and Carson Mellinger each scored twice. Laughlin, Stransky, Beeson, Jenna Sands, Payton Brun and Sarah Burton all scored once. RBI in the inning came from Stransky and Sands with two each. Sands’ were the game winners, Cerny had one. There were three Raven errors in the frame. After the contest, Highland head coach Carrie Wieland talked about what she saw from her team in the game and looked ahead to Wednesday’s second round contest. “We need to do the exact same thing we did tonight. Focus on pitch selection, moving runners, scoring those runners. Putting the ball in play and put pressure on the defense on the bases.”

Seven of nine Highland hitters scored a run in the win. Stransky was three for three with three driven in and a run scored. Laughlin, Cerny and Sands all drove in two. Grace Batcheller got the win in the circle going three innings giving up three hits, one run and striking out two. Hillcrest was led by Graber with her solo home run. The Ravens say good bye to seniors Graber and Sarena Gerber, wrapping up their season at 0-12. Highland advances to Wednesday’s next round of the 1A playoffs with a 9-6 overall record. They will face arch rival Lone Tree who was a 5-0 winner over Iowa Valley.