Huskies outlast Lisbon

NEW LONDON - It took clutch play after clutch play for the Highland baseball team to squeak out a win in their Substate opener against Lisbon on Saturday, but the Huskies got the job done, 7-5, and are now moving on to Tuesday night.

Sophomore pitcher Chase Schultz was the hero, hitting a go-ahead two-RBI single in the bottom of the sixth, and then excaping a bases-loaded jam in the seventh to finish a complete game on the mound.

After a two-run Lisbon top of the sixth, the Huskies' backs were against the wall, trailing 5-4. Schultz helped his own cause with a two-run single, Mason McFarland followed three batters later with an RBI single of his own, and the sophomore pitcher found himself leading 7-5 the next time he touched the mound.

'That was an adrenaline rush for sure,” Schultz said. 'I thought since my team helped me out, I've got to help them out and do my best, so I gave it everything I had and left it all out on the mound.”

The seventh inning didn't go by without incident. Lisbon put runners on the corners with nobody out. Schultz worked the first out, and up came sophomore Tyson Scott who had hurt the Huskies all night long. Coach Seth Milledge chose to walk the bases loaded, putting the potential go-ahead run on first, a decision that paid off as Schultz forced two straight popups to end the game.

'Up above the field, there is anice little Jetstream going on and anything that gets up in those lights carries,” said Milledge. 'He hurt us early in the game and I was like, ‘We're not going to let this guy beat us with one swing.'”

Schultz gave up five earned runs on nine hits nad one walk, while striking out five batters over his seven innings of work. He finished 1-for-2 with two RBIs at the plate.

Connor Grinstead finished the night 1-for-3 with two RBIs. Trevor McFarland was 2-for-3 with a double. Bill Laughlin was 1-for-3 with a triple, and Mason McFarland and Cael Yeggy each had one RBI on the night.

Highland moves on to the substate quarterfinals against New London on Tuesday night.