(Highland CC Sports Information) HIGHLAND, Kan. -- Behind a 3-0 weekend in Topeka, Kansas the #5 Highland softball team earned the trip to the NJCAA Division II National Tournament in Clinton, Mississippi by winning the Region VI District E Tournament title.
Scotties opened the weekend with a grind it out 6-4 win over Neosho County and then blanked Labette 4-0 in the second game on Saturday to move into the Championship game. One win away from the Region VI District E title Highland faced off with Neosho County again and this time picked up the 5-1 win to earn one of the 16 bids to the National tournament. Scotties are headed to Nationals for the seventh time under Head Coach, Heidi Jordan and Associate Head Coach, Scott Jordan, making the trip for the first time since 2016.
Game 1 vs. Neosho County (Saturday) – Won 6-4
Highland found themselves down early to open the weekend falling behind 1-0 in the Top of the first inning to Neosho County as the Panthers used a leadoff walk and a Scottie error to tally in the first run of the game.
Scotties responded nicely in the bottom of the second as McKinley Jeanneret with two-outs notched a triple and then ultimately came into score on a wild pitch to tie the game. Highland was not done in the second after tying the game as Sirena Salazar drew a walk and then Cassidy Greer and Isabella Konieczka each recorded RBI singles back-to-back to bring in a pair of runs making it 3-0 Highland. Neosho County tied the game up in the top of the third by scoring a pair of runs, but Highland had another answer scoring three runs in bottom of the third on RBI singles by Jeanneret and Konieczka, while Greer brought in a run reaching on an error.
Leading 6-3 the Scotties continued to hold Neosho County at bay and the Panthers were able to only score one more run over the course of the contest coming in the fifth and Highland picked up the 6-4 win.
Game 2 vs. Labette (Saturday) – Won 4-0
After the win over Neosho County the Scotties looked to position themselves in the Championship game and standing in their way was Labette who also won their first game on Saturday. The contest would prove too highlighted by the pitchers and the defense but Highland was able to manage enough offense to score four runs and earn the 4-0 win.
Game 3 vs. Neosho County (Sunday) – Championship – Won 5-1
After a 2-0 showing on Saturday the Scotties found themselves needing only one win to claim the Region VI District E Tournament title and after Neosho County beat Labette in an elimination game to open the action Sunday it was another showdown with the Panthers for Highland and the Scotties earned the 5-1 win.
The 3-0 performance by Highland moved the Scotties to 33-10 on the season and earned them the Region VI District E Tournament title and a trip to Nationals for the seventh time under the guidance of Head Coach, Heidi Jordan and Associate Head Coach, Scott Jordan.