The playoff journey for the Highland softball team ended sooner than hoped, as Van Buren edged them 4-3 on Wednesday night in a class 2A quarterfinal game.

The Huskies struck first plating one run in the second and two in the fourth headlined by RBI hits from Ellie Anderson and Abbi Stransky. The game was turned on its axis in the fifth when the Warriors took the lead on a grand slam from Lexi Jirak that proved to be the difference. Stransky led the seven-hit Huskie offense going 2-for-3. Megan Hoenig threw a complete game giving up three earned runs on seven hits and striking out seven.

Highland closes the season 17-9 and they say goodbye to seniors Sarah Schneider, Aly Stokes, Megan Hoenig, and Abbie Miller.