With the regular season getting close to its end, it was time for Highland baseball to host its senior night and this year they battled a conference rival, the Lone Tree Lions. Taking care of business in four innings, the Huskies would collect an overwhelming 16-1 victory on June 23. 

This Highland win would put an end to a three-game losing streak, increase its conference record to 8-4, and improve its season record to 10-11. For Lone Tree its conference record now sits at 1-10 and its season record drops to 1-15. 

Even though it was senior night it was sophomore William Dunbar who shined in this game. Dunbar would bring in two scores in the first by hitting a triple, hit a double in the third to bring in another two scores, and hit a single in the fourth to bring in two scores again. 

Going four for four at bat Dunbar would finish the game a home run short of a cycle. He also scored two runs of his own and stole four bases without getting caught. 

The third frame would see Lone Tree score its first and only run of the game, courtesy of senior Mathew Hemsted hitting the ball out of the park for a solo home run, but the Huskies would respond with a cascade of runs in the bottom of the third. 

Scoring nine runs in the third, this inning was appropriately highlighted by a senior, Peyton Yeggy. Yeggy would blast the ball past the fence for a three-run home run, this was his first home run of the season. He would finish the game with two hits and four RBIs. 

Holding a 11-run lead in the bottom of the fourth, Highland would score four more runs to end the game with the mercy rule. The 15th and final run the Huskies scored came from Dunbar who was able to get home off the bat of Yeggy. 

Pitching for Highland was freshman Bryce Hazelett. Pitching in four innings Hazelett struck out three Lone Tree batters, while only giving up two hits. 

After taking a victory worthy of celebration four Highland seniors would be honored. Yeggy, Tyler Thompson, Kody Grecian, and Ethan Paisley were the seniors who took the field with their parents to be celebrated for the accomplishments they achieved throughout their high school baseball career. 

West Burlington 4, Highland 3

In a game that came down to the seventh and final inning it was the West Liberty Falcons who were able to complete their late rally to defeat Highland in what would be a walk off 4-3 victory on June 21. 

West Burlington would get onto the board first after their lead-off batter, senior Jace Figuereo, hit a triple in the first inning. Figuereo would eventually make it home to give West Burlington the 1-0 lead. Scoring this run would prove to be greatly beneficial for the Falcons since they were shut out for the next four innings. 

The Huskies would respond in the third. This inning would begin with two up two down and then Highland sophomore William Dunbar would get walked to first base. Up next for Highland, senior Tyler Thompson, was also walked to first. 

With two runners on base senior Ethan Paisley would blast the ball into the outfield for a double, sending home Dunbar for the score to tie the game.

After knotting up the game in the third Highland would take the lead in the fifth. The first Highland batter would strike out but then after two walks and a single the bases would become loaded for the Huskies. 

Senior Peyton Yeggy would drive home Dunbar for his second score of the game with an RBI single. Then while sophomore Logan McFarland was up to bat the West Burlington pitcher would throw an errant pitch, leading to senior Tyler Thompson running home for the score. Highland took a 3-1 lead, but this would end up being its last scored run of the game. 

  Scoring for the first time since the first, the Falcons would cut their deficit to one in the bottom of the sixth after scoring a single run. Highland would not be able to respond and now needed to shut out West Burlington in the bottom of the seventh to secure the win.

Putting a Highland victory in doubt West Burlington would begin the last inning with a double from senior Zachary Webb. Webb would eventually score to re-tie the game. The bases would eventually become loaded for the Falcons and after a base hit the Falcon runner on third would come home to give West Burlington the lead and the win. 

Paisley pitched for five innings, ending his day with seven strikeouts and four hits allowed. Eighth grader Hunter Seibel would take over pitching duties in the top of the sixth, recording one strikeout and giving up two runs. 

North Linn Tournament

Northeast 15, Highland 8; North Linn 4, Highland 0

Hitting the road to take part in a tournament hosted by North Linn, the Huskies played in a double header on June 24.

In their first game the Huskies were matched up against the Northeast Rebels. The Rebels would take an early lead after scoring twice in the first frame, but Highland would respond with two runs of their own in the third to tie the game. 

Turning the tide Northeast, throughout the next three innings, would go on to score three runs, three more runs, and then five runs to take control of the game. 

Entering the final innings Highland would face a seven-run deficit. With each team scoring two runs in the seventh the deficit would stay the same and Highland would be defeated, 15-8. 

Senior Tyler Thompson would lead the Huskies in RBIs with four, going three for four at bat, hitting two doubles and one single. Senior Peyton Yeggy pitched in four innings, striking out five batters and giving up five hits. 

The second game of the double header would see Highland facing off against the team ranked fifth in Class 1A, the North Linn Lynx. Ultimately getting shut out Highland would fall to North Linn, 4-0. 

Pitching a complete game for the Huskies would be senior Ethan Paisley. Paisley would end the game with one strikeout, giving up eight hits. 

The Huskies would record two hits as a team, with one being a double from Paisley and the other being a single from fellow senior Tyler Thompson. 

Highland (10-13) faced off against the Sigourney Savages (14-6) on June 27 and battled the BGM Bears (7-11) on June 28. Up next for the Huskies will be a first-round postseason game against the New London Tigers (7-13) on July 1.