The Highland Huskies cruised to a pair of victories on the diamond last night against the Lone Tree Lions. Highland baseball won by a final score of 20-8, but even as they scored a run in the second inning to take the initial lead, Lone Tree put up three runs in the third to go in front.
The Lions were still ahead 7-2 heading into the sixth when the Huskies’ bats exploded for seven runs in the top of the inning. Lone Tree scored once to make it a one-run game heading into the seventh, but Highland had another monster inning by putting up 11 runs in the final frame to pull away.
Junior Colton Sypherd came up with two hits, including a double, and had two runs scored and three runs batted to lead the Husky lineup. Junior Will Dunbar’s only hit was a double on his way to one RBI and scoring twice.
Junior Logan McFarland, freshman Landon Roling and eighth-grader Caleb Wheeler each scored two runs for Highland, while junior Ryker Miller crossed home plate three times while also picking up a hit and a run driven in.
Senior Tristin Richardson added a hit and two RBI as the Huskies improve to 4-2 in the North division of the Southeast Iowa Super Conference and 6-8 overall. Highland baseball is next in action tonight against West Burlington Notre Dame.
Sophomore Emmett Burke had a big game at the plate for Lone Tree, stroking a double as part of four total hits and two runs scored. Senior Ethan Bockelman had two hits and two runs batted in for the Lions, while freshman Brock Nebergall also drove in a pair.
Junior Maddox Jondle added a hit, a RBI and two runs scored, but Lone Tree nonetheless still falls to 2-3 in the Super Conference North and 3-6 in total.
Highland softball also knocked off Lone Tree last night 11-4, grabbing an early lead and staying in front the rest of the way. The Huskies are now 6-4, including a 4-2 record in conference play, while the Lions drop to 3-2 in league action in addition to also being 6-4 overall.
Highland was coming off an impressive 8-1 win against Danville on Monday night. Seven runs in the second inning gave the Huskies a lead at home that they would never lose.
Sarah Burton cranked a double as part of two hits and two runs scored to lead the Highland lineup, while fellow senior Payton Brun came up with a hit and two runs batted in.
Senior Madison Beeson and sophomore Adisyn Prottsman had two hits and one RBI each, with Prottsman also scoring a run to help the Huskies keep up what is now a three-game win streak.
Highland plays again tonight against Davenport West, while Lone Tree also takes the field this evening against Van Buren County for both softball and baseball.