Highland News Leader

Highland softball team captures IHSA regional crown, baseball falls in title game

The News Leader

The Highland softball team is moving on to sectional competition.

Behind the strong pitching of Sophia Donoho, the Lady Bulldogs defeated Mississippi Valley Conference counterpart Waterloo 4-0 on Saturday, May 28, in the IHSA Class 3A regional championship at Highland High School.

Donoho fired a three-hit complete game while fanning nine and walking no one. Emma Strubinger, meanwhile, had two RBI for HHS while Allie Koerkenmeier and Maci Miles also collected RBI.

Highland (20-9) now will face Mount Vernon in the Centralia Sectional semifinals at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, June 1. Waterloo, meanwhile, finished the season 18-11.

The defending Class 3A champion Lady Bulldogs defeated Centralia 3-0 in a regional semifinal game Tuesday, May 24. Donoho fired a complete-game three-hit shutout while striking out nine. Koerkenmeier, Abby Schultz and Strubinger each had one RBI for the Lady Bulldogs (19-9).

The HHS baseball team, meanwhile, downed MVC counterpart Civic Memorial 5-2 in semifinal action Wednesday, May 26, at Glik Park in Highland before losing to fellow MVC foe Mascoutah 3-1 in the regional championship game Saturday, May 28,

HHS saw its eight game winning streak snapped and finished the season 25-10. Mascoutah, meanwhile, improved to 28-6 and now will face Effingham at 6 p.m. Wednesday, June 1, in the Triad Sectional semifinals.

Highland hurler Sophia Donoho delivers a pitch during a Mississippi Valley Conference game against host Triad this spring. Donoho helped the Lady Bulldogs advance to the IHSA Class 3A regional championship by throwing a complete-game shutout in the semifinal round against Centralia.
Highland hurler Sophia Donoho delivers a pitch during a Mississippi Valley Conference game against host Triad this spring. Donoho helped the Lady Bulldogs advance to the IHSA Class 3A regional championship by throwing a complete-game shutout in the semifinal round against Centralia. Jonathan Duncan
Highland’s Luke Darling comes home to score a run in the first inning of a Mississippi Valley Conference game against Triad this spring at Glik Park in Highland. The Bulldogs advanced to the IHSA Class 3A regional championship game with a 5-2 victory against fellow MVC foe Civic Memorial.
Highland’s Luke Darling comes home to score a run in the first inning of a Mississippi Valley Conference game against Triad this spring at Glik Park in Highland. The Bulldogs advanced to the IHSA Class 3A regional championship game with a 5-2 victory against fellow MVC foe Civic Memorial. Jonathan Duncan

This story was originally published May 26, 2022 at 1:10 AM.

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