Highland 16U squad takes down Alton in doubleheader

The Highland 16U baseball team enjoyed a satisfying night Tuesday when they ventured to Alton to face the Alton Post 126 junior team.

Highland coach Jed Eggering told his club to come out strong and the Bulldogs did just that.

The 16U Bulldogs got the bats going early, played solid defense, and got sturdy pitching from start to end, as Highland toppled Alton Post 126 7-3 and 7-2 for a doubleheader sweep at Gordon Moore Park.

“We had a few rough games before that, so I just told the boys to come out and hit, and get in early and often and we actually did that. An throughout the games everybody on the bench was up and we came out and were hitting well and the pitching just seemed to go our way,” Eggering said. “I was just really proud of the way we came out and played.”

In the first game of the twin bill, Highland was methodical at the plate. The Bulldogs scored two runs in the top of the first, added two run in the fourth and then finished their scoring off with three tallies in the top of the seventh.

“Everybody contributed,” Eggering said. “We didn’t have a single hitter in the lineup that thought they were not going to get the job done. Everybody was working.”

Blaine Kapp had the big hit in the opener with double to key the two-run first, and Logan Oestringer had a two-run safey in the seventh to key the Bulldogs game finishing rally.

“I told him if he gets an inside pitch to pull it right up the line and sure as that he did,” Eggering said.

Will Trame took care of business on the pitcher’s mound, going all seven innings for the complete game victory.

Highland again started fast in the second game and never trailed Post 126.

Blaine Capp and Blake Darling had the big bats for the Bulldogs in game two.

“The second game Luke Darling and Blaine Kapp were just consistently hitting,” Eggering said. “We didn’t have any huge hits, we were just consistent throughout the game and, top to bottom, everybody hit.”

Capp has huge performance, team progressing

Capp turned in a monster night at the plate going 6-for-7.

“He was having himself a day. Everything they were throwing looked like beach balls (to him) and he couldn’t miss,” Eggering said.

“As a player, playing consistent is the key and right now we’re looking up and I’ve seen a lot better swings and better approaches at the plate these past few games,” Eggering said.

Highland will be back in action at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Jerseyville.

This story was originally published July 10, 2020 at 11:48 PM.