Seniors lead Highland past Cardinal

HIGHLAND — A pair of Southeast Iowa’s most senior-led baseball teams met up in Riverside on Wednesday night, and it was the hometown Huskies that walked out with a big Southeast Iowa Super Conference crossover victory.

Highland’s seniors carried them on the mound and at the plate as the Huskies ran past Cardinal 11-3.

Highland’s Chase Schultz fires in a pitch during the Huskies’ 11-3 win over Cardinal on Wednesday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)

“We’re a dangerous team,” said Highland head coach Seth Milledge. “We have a lot of potential offensively, and tonight you saw that.”

It was Cardinal that got things going first. Landon Becker sent a missile over the left field fence for his first home run of the year, giving the Comets an early 1-0 advantage.

That lead, however, didn’t last long. Highland answered with two of their half of the first and the Comets never had the lead again.

Highland bashed the ball all night, scoring at least two runs over the first five innings. An early dagger came when leadoff man Luke Miller sent a two-run blast over the fence to give the Huskies a 4-1 lead in the second inning.

Highland’s Luke Miller fist pounds head coach Seth Milledge after blasting a two-run home run in the second inning on Wednesday night. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)

“I knew it was gone off the bat,” Miller said. “It was a fastball in, my favorite pitch. I just sat back and drove it.”

The Huskies would put up three more runs in the third and two each in the fourth and fifth. Cardinal plated one in the fifth and one in the seventh.

Highland’s Chase Schultz was dominant as usual on the pitcher’s mound. He threw a complete game, giving up just three runs (one earned) while striking out eight Comet batters.

Miller’s two-run blast was his only hit of the day. Logan Bonebrake was 1-for-4 with two RBIs. Kaige Vonnahme went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Ethan Paisley was 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Trevor McFarland collected a pair of hits as well.

Becker finished 1-for-4 with a homer and an RBI for Cardinal. Blaine Bryant was 1-for-2 with an RBI, and Kaleb Figueroa finished 2-for-3.

Cardinal’s Carson Kenney dives back to first base as Highland first baseman Kaige Vonnahme receives the pickoff attempt. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)

Cardinal had three players see time on the mound. Tristin Cloke was tagged with the loss after giving up seven runs (five earned) over 2.2 innings. Quin Snyder gave up four unearned over 3.1, and Corbin Humble pitched for a short time.

“These lessons are hard for teams sometimes,” said Cardinal head coach Ryan Renfrew. “Teams have two options. You learn from it or you tuck your tail and walk away. I hope that we’re learning.”

Highland moved to 10-1 with the win. The Huskies have now won 10-straight games. Cardinal fell to 7-4.

Cardinal’s Corbin Humble rears back to throw a pitch on Wednesday in Riverside. (Andy Krutsinger/The Union)