Box Score 1 | Box Score 2 | Box Score 3 | Box Score 4     The Highland Baseball team opened their 2024 season Thursday and Friday taking on the Braves of Ottawa University. Games one and two of the series were played in Ottawa Thursday with Highland taking both by the scores of 19-1 (game one) and 5-4 (game two). The two teams then met in Highland Friday to complete the 4-game series with Highland winning game one by the score of 15-4 and completing the series sweep in game four by the score of 11-8.
    Numerous Scotties had very productive performances during the series with the top performers on offense being sophomore catcher, Dylan Shepherd, and sophomore center fielder, Zach Knowlton, who both hit multiple home runs in game one of the series a part of eight total home runs blasted by the Scotties in the series. Shepherd tallied three home runs in the four games to go along with four doubles and 10 runs batted in. Knowlton tallied nine hits with seven runs batted in throughout the weekend, as well.
    On the mound, Highland saw several positive performances but none better than those of two freshmen left handers, Keaton Matlick and Pierce Bousselot. Matlick, who got the start in game three for the Scotties, threw four shutout innings notching eight strikeouts and walking only one to help Highland secure the series win in game three. When game four was in question, the Scotties turned to fellow freshmen left hander Bousselot out of the bullpen. The young southpaw entered with Highland down 6-5 and runners on first and second. After issuing one walk, Bousselot struck out two Braves leaving the bases loaded allowing Highland to regain the lead 8-6 in the bottom of the fourth. The freshman pitched a hitless and scoreless fifth to keep the Braves at bay allowing the Scottie offense to tack on three more runs to finish the game and series sweep.
    HCC head coach, Landon Hay, had the following to say about the season opening series, "We felt like this was a great way to open our season and learn a lot about our team as we get going this spring. Our coaching staff really feels like we saw our guys do what they needed to and were supposed to do this weekend at a high level. We also got to see them handle some adversity and respond, doing what they needed to do in order to come out of the weekend 4-0. We are incredibly proud of all the guys and are really looking forward to the rest of the season."
The Scotties now hit the road for the remainder of February. Their first stop is Miami, Oklahoma to take on the Golden Norsemen of Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College in a 4-game series this weekend.
"NEO presents a true test. Anytime you go on the road things are automatically more difficult and when facing a quality opponent with a lot of success in their history, you truly have to make sure you are clicking on all cylinders. It should be a very competitive weekend of baseball, and we are looking forward to the challenge that awaits us in Oklahoma this weekend," said coach Hay.
Be sure and stay tuned to www.scottieathletics.com and @HCCscottieBSB on X/Twitter for any and all updates on Highland Community College baseball.