Highland running through SEISC

The Highland Huskies revel in putting pressure on a defense."Once we get runners on base, they're hard to get out," said Coach Carrie Wieland.Only two teams in the state have more stolen bases than the Huskies, who carry a 24-2 record, a No. 5 ranking in Class 2A and firm control of the Southeast Iowa Superconference North Division race.The Huskies have swiped 134 bases in 140 attempts.Their identity, without a doubt, is speed."We don't have a lot of bangers who can hit it over the fence, but we have girls that can hit it into the gaps and run," Wieland said.Wieland's daughter, Paige, is a senior leadoff hitter who leads the team in steals (28) and runs (29) despite suffering two ACL tears throughout her career. She is hitting .466.Sophomore Morgan Craig leads the team in hitting at .484, followed by freshman Cheyanne Adamson (.471, team-high 28 RBIs).Katie Springer, a sophomore, has racked up a 20-1 pitching record. She averages about a strikeout per inning."She does a great job putting the ball where batters are going to swing," Wieland said. "She's not a big strikeout pitcher, but she gets a lot of ground balls, and our defense does a great job around her."Defensively, this is one of the best teams we've had."Highland is 13-0 in divisional play and holds a three-game lead over second-place Wapello with five to play.

AROUND THE HORN* It has been three years since a Metro team last advanced to state, and it will take an upset for a city team to qualify this year in Class 5A.Jefferson and Washington are in the same region as No. 3 Muscatine, Prairie and Linn-Mar reside in the same bracket as No. 2 Pleasant Valley, and Kennedy is a region with No. 1 Ottumwa.Xavier has a good opportunity to qualify in 4A. The Saints will host their regional semifinal and final games.* Solon has three of the top 10 doubles hitters in the state.Kara Misel and Taylor Nearad are in a third-place tie with 16 two-base hits. Mallory Madsen is tied for eighth with 15.* The Tri-Rivers Conference double-header showdown between Cascade and Monticello, postponed Monday by rain, was rescheduled for next Monday at Monticello. Both teams are 12-0 in conference play.