No. 2 Highland ripped through the Division III Central 1 Section/District tournament to become the district champions, after beating No. 6 Newark Catholic in the finals.
Highland started off the tournament with a dominant 16-0 win over No. 20 Madison-Plains on May 16. Highland smashed 12 hits and allowed only two in the game, with Kort Sears striking out five batters and walking only one in a complete game shutout.
There were 10 Fighting Scots with RBIs in the game. Evan Johnson drove in four runs and went 2-for-3 with two runs scored. Sears hit a triple in a 2-for-2 day, where he drove in a run and scored twice. Jace Brooks was 1-for-3 with three runs and two RBIs. Hayden Kline went 2-for-4 with three runs scored, and Hendrick Karya drove in a pair of runs in the win.
On May 21, Highland knocked off the No. 11 Columbus Academy Vikings in a tight 6-4 game where the Fighting Scots had to claw their way back.
The Vikings had a 4-1 lead going into the fifth inning, but Highland got on the board when Kline hit an RBI single to make it a two run game. Brooks then lined a single to drive home Sears and it was 4-3.
In the bottom of the sixth inning, Jayden Collins knocked in Gage Partin on a sacrifice fly. Sears then doubled to centerfield, scoring Gavin Wiggand to take a 5-4 lead. Zach Church then lined a single for an insurance run, and the Fighting Scots held on for the win.
Sears led the charge with a 2-for-4 day that included a double. He also scored twice and knocked home a run. Kline was 3-for-4 with an RBI and Johnson went 2-for-3. Collins drove in two runs and went 2-for-3 with a run.
On May 23, the Fighting Scots squeaked by with a 6-5 walk-off victory to take the district title and move onto the regional semifinal game.
The game was tied 5-5 going into the bottom of the seventh, but Highland set the tone with a leadoff triple by Sears. Church and Kline were both intentionally walked to load the bases for Jace Brooks, and he made his at bat count in a big way with an RBI single to right field to win the game.
Brooks went 2-for-4 with an RBI to lead the way for the Fighting Scots. Sears was 3-for-4 with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored. He had a double and a triple in the game. Kline was 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk, and Brooks was 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Kline got the win and pitched an inning and two-thirds of relief, striking out three.
