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Highland makes its mark
Huskies show potential despite 0-2 state tourney
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
FORT DODGE — The 2025 Highland softball team was one of the least experienced area teams coming into the summer, but the Huskies may have finished as the squad with the most potential.
After a thrilling run through the regional tournament, the Huskies put up back-to-back fights at state, including a nail-biting 7-6 loss against Newell-Fonda in Wednesday’s consolation round.
The game came one day after Highland led, but then lost, against top-seeded Wayne in the quarters.
In the consolation game, Highland had to battle back from a 6-0 deficit. Five of those runs came from the second inning, where a close play at third went Newell-Fonda’s way to load the bases with two outs, and the Mustangs capitalized with five runs in the frame to jump in front 5-0.
Newell-Fonda put up one more run in the bottom of the third, but the Mustangs were stifled by relief pitcher Joslyn Prottsman, who came in during the fourth and pitched three strong innings to give the Highland offense time to score.
“It was very scary at first, but it was super fun,” Prottsman said. “I just knew I had to hold them, so we could come back and score some more.”
In the top of the fifth, the Highland offense started to click.
Maiya Singbeil kicked things off with a leadoff single, and came around to score on a throwing error after a bunt single by Katelyn Thomann, who then came around on another error when Kamryn Fink’s flyball to the outfield was dropped.
Highland was down 6-2 with the bases loaded and one out, but couldn’t put anymore runs up in the top of the fifth. In the bottom half, the Huskies gave up an unearned run and the score was 7-2.
Highland would score once in the sixth, when Kayce Schnoebelen knocked in Singbeil with an RBI single. Then, in the seventh, the Huskies really put the pressure on.
Lone senior Lilly Barre led the seventh with a leadoff walk and immediately stole second base. This sparked a run for the Huskies, who sent eight batters to the plate.
After Kinzie Ruess reached on an error and Adisyn Prottsman delivered a clutch single, the bases were loaded with the Huskies down 7-4. An attempted fielder’s choice was dropped by the catcher, and it was then 7-5 with the base still loaded and one out.
Ava Sexton cut the lead in half on an RBI groundout, to put the Huskies one run away with two in scoring position. Newell-Fonda starter Anna Mercer, who was pulled from the game and put back in the circle in relief, ended up escaping the jam.
Singbeil was 2-for-3 with an RBI to lead the offense. Schnoebelen finished 1-for-4 with an RBI. Sexton was -for-2 with an RBI. Sienna Bell, Adisyn Prottsman and Thomann all had one hit.
Barre, the only senior on Highland’s team, went 0-for-2 with two walks and a run scored. After the game, Barre talked about ending her career in Fort Dodge.
“Being here has been my goal all four years,” said Barre. “Nothing compares to it.”
Barre spoke about the excitement of not only playing at state, but playing along her mostly-underclassmen teammates. She and Adisyn Prottsman was the only junior to see the field on Wednesday, and Thomann was the only sophomore. The rest of the crew was all freshman and eighth-graders.
“The team has asked me almost every minute of every day if I'm going to come back and watch,” Barre joked. “So I suppose I'll have to.”
The Huskies faced a Newell-Fonda team that played three seniors, including Mercer, their ace. The eventual second-place Wayne team that beat Highland on Tuesday put five seniors on the field, including their ace pitcher, and eventual state champion Clarksville had three seniors in its first six batters.
What does that mean for Highland? The potential to come back next year as a team with more state tournament experience than the vast majority of other 1A schools.
“They understand now,” said Highland head coach Carrie Wieland. “They’ve done a really good job of taking it in, and now it’s not going to be such a shell shock when they get here. We’re going to be ready to play next year, and we’re going to work all year to get here.”
