Giving #4 Lisbon all they could handle and then some is exactly what the Highland softball team did on Tuesday, but when the dust settled it was the Lions that punched their ticket to the state tournament with an 8-6 class 1A regional final win over the Huskies. 

After Lisbon scored three times in the first two innings off of Highland pitcher Grace Batcheller, the Huskie bats came to life in the third when Payton Brun lined a double to plate a tally. The fourth was a prosperous one for Highland with four runs headlined by a couple Lisbon errors, Sarah Burton legging out an infield RBI single, and Brun recording her third double of the contest to take a 5-3 lead. The advantage was short lived with the Lions getting three back in the bottom half including a two-run shot by Taylor Techau. Highland could never regain the lead and Lisbon (35-8) advanced to their fourth state tournament in as many years. The freshman Brun was fantastic going 3-for-4 with three RBI. Batcheller recorded four outs in the circle giving up three runs (two earned) on three hits. Jessica Kraus pitched the final 4 2/3 frames surrendering five runs (four earned) on five knocks and walking two. Highland finished with six hits on the evening. 

The young Huskies finish the season 22-7 and only lose two seniors in Jenna Sands and Kayla Cerny.