Highland baseball seniors relish final chance to get on field at Sandlot Series event
On this night, the final score did not matter for the 2020 Highland High School baseball Bulldogs.
All that really mattered for the HHS club was one more chance to wear that Bulldog uniform, be on the field, and play one more game together.
Highland lost the final contest of the Sandlot Series to Mississippi Valley Conference foe Mascoutah 15-6 in nine innings Tuesday night at GCS Ballpark, but for seniors such as catcher Austin Toler, just getting another chance to play together meant substantially more than winning the game.
“It was a blast and I enjoyed playing with them (my teammates),” Toler said. “We had a good time and sadly we didn’t come out with a W but that’s all right, I’ll enjoy it and go out with my friends.”
The game was a night of celebration and closure for the senior players of Highland and Mascoutah high schools. Since it was a non-IHSA sanctioned event, neither school’s coach was allowed to coach in the game but both Highland coach Joel Hawkins and Mascoutah coach Don Eddy were in the stands.
Both teams were coached by the summer baseball coaches from both communities.
Mascoutah got its offense rolling early in the contest as the Indians turned a 1-0 lead into an 8-0 bulge, thanks to an explosive second inning that led to seven runs.
RBI-hits from Lane Hoelscher, Austin Gober, Jack Owens, Ian Brock, Ryan Norwood, and Jayden Mueller powered the second-inning outburst.
Highland came roaring back in the top of the fourth with a five-run rally.
Down 8-2, the Bulldogs Kolby Frey singed to the left for a run, cutting the deficit to 8-3 with two outs. Then, with runners at second and third, Kyle Schlater ripped a two-run double off the left-field wall. The Bulldogs added one more run and trailed just 8-6 going into the bottom of the fifth.
The Indians, however, pulled away late with four runs in the bottom of the sixth, and three runs in the seventh.
Toler, who will play baseball at Harris-Stow State University and is playing this summer for the Adidas Athletics, said he was told by Hawkins in a group text the players would have a chance to play several weeks ago. That news excited him.
“He sent a text to us and told us we had a chance to play one last game and I think we all were like ‘Oh yeah, let’s do it,’” Toler said. “It was pretty nice to hear, to be honest.”
Hawkins credits Gateway Grizzlies General Manager Steve Gomric and the Grizzlies with reaching out to him and other area coaches from Mascoutah, Belleville East, Freeburg, Edwardsville, Belleville West, and Granite City.
“We really appreciate Steve Gomric,” Hawkins said. “I was at a youth baseball game that my son was playing in and he came up to me and said ‘Hey what about this idea’ and I said I thought it would be a really good idea. It means a lot (for these guys to have this opportunity).”
Last memories from Sandlot Series
Hawkins said, hopefully, the players have some great memories from playing in the Sandlot Series.
“Hopefully, there’s a memory or two in these small things that this is a way to say thank you to them for all the effort they put in for them,” he said. “This is a really good group and they were going to be really good.”
The best part of the day for Toler and the other seniors without a doubt was getting to share one final game day with his parents, Bob and Bronica.
“I gave my parents a hug (pregame) and I know I’ll be playing baseball again but it was nice to kind of talk to my dad and have him tell me what a great job I’ve done, and it was nice to hear him say that. It was a really nice thing to do and I think my parents really enjoyed it,” he said.