Topeka, KS - The Scottie Softball team ended their season after a one-run loss to Johnson County in the Region VI, District D Championship game last Sunday afternoon in Topeka, KS.
 
After round one and two run-rule victories over Independence and Neosho County, the Scotties met their rival Johnson County in the semi-finals on Saturday at Hummer Park.
 
It was a pitchers dual through the first three innings as both teams were held scoreless. 
 
Highland took a 2-0 lead in the 4^th inning after Kelly Uthe hit a two-run homerun over center field.
 
Johnson County made it a one-run game scoring one run in the 5^th. Highland answered scoring one run in the top of the 6^th with an Aubry Hernandez RBI.
 
Johnson County got the bats moving in the bottom of the 6^th plating three and taking a 4-3 lead going into the final inning. Highland was unable to tie the game in the 7^th and the Cavaliers took the win 4-3 to advance to the Championship game on Sunday.
 
 
The Scotties now had their work cut out for them for a chance to win the Region VI District D Tournament.
 
It started the next morning as the Scotties again faced Neosho County, knocking them off 6-4 to advance to the Championship game against Johnson County.
 
Sydney Anderson hit a solo homerun in the game while Kendra Baldridge chipped in two RBI's. Sam Moran and Alyssa Wesley also hit one RBI each.
 
Haley Donaldson got the win for the Scotties pitching 3.0 innings giving up one run off one hit. She struck out one and walked two.
 
 
The Championship game was a rematch from a year ago as the Scotties were faced up against the Cavaliers, needing to beat them twice in order to advance to their 7^th National Tournament in the past nine seasons.
 
Both teams plated one run in the first inning. Johnson County then stretched out the lead 4-1 after four complete innings while Highland was unable to get anything moving offensively.
 
Highland got their second run of the game in the 5^th making the Johnson lead 4-2, but the Cavaliers answered scoring one of their own in the bottom to keep a three-run cushion, 5-2 Cavalier lead.
 
Neither team scored in the 6^th giving Highland one last chance to tie the game.
 
A Johnson County error got leadoff, Sam Moran on first to start the inning. Kendra Baldridge followed that up with a single up the middle and just like that, the tying run came to the plate. Sydney Anderson hit a single to center loading the bases with no-outs.
 
Back to back fielder's choice plays would get the runners at home and the first two outs of the inning. An error by the Cavaliers on the throw to first would score two for Highland making it a one-run game. The Cavaliers pitcher, Abby Sweet, struck out the final Highland batter and the Cavaliers won another one-run showdown over Highland 5-4.
 
Alexi Hodapp was the only Scottie to hit an RBI in the contest while Sam Moran and Sara Shinn each hit a double.
 
Freshman pitcher Raegen Hamm recorded her first loss of the season pitching the entire game allowing five runs, two earned, off six hits. She struck out four and walked three in her 20 batters faced.
 
The Scotties ended their season 34-9 with a runner-up KJCCC finish and runner-up District D finish.