HHS baseball, boys track teams honored by city

Members of Highland High School’s state champion baseball team and coach Joel Hawkins attended were honored at the Highland City Council meeting on Monday.

HHS won the 3A state title by defeating LaGrange Park (Nazareth Academy) 7-6 on June 13 at Silver Cross Field in Joliet.

At Monday’s meeting, the team presented Mayor Joe Michaelis with an autographed copy of the special championship section the News Leader printed on June 25.

Coach Bob Vance and members of the Highland High School boys track team also attended the meeting. The council invited the team to the meeting to honor members for an outstanding season. Highlights of the team’s year included being Mississippi Valley Conference champions for the first time in 13 years, setting seven school records, qualifying for nine of 18 events at state, the 4 x 800 relay team taking fourth at state, the 4 x 100 relay team taking seventh at state, and sophomore Tyler Higgins winning the 400-meter state championship.

Signs honor Higgins, as well, as the baseball team have also been placed on highway entering the city.

This story was originally published July 25, 2015 at 3:00 AM with the headline "HHS baseball, boys track teams honored by city."