The Highland Community College baseball team played their first home conference
games of the season, splitting with Johnson County. The Scotties started strong and won
game one 4-1 before losing game two 6-5 in nine innings.

In game one, Justin Paul (Papillion, NE) pitched a complete game, allowing just one run
on five hits, while striking out six Cavalier batters. Johnson County took a 1-0 lead in the
top of the second inning on three straight singles. The Scotties responded in the bottom
of the inning, taking advantage of three walks and a hit batter to score four runs and
take a 4-1 lead. That was all the runs that Paul would need as he held Johnson County
scoreless over the last five innings on just three hits.

In game two, Johnson County took a 4-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning only
to see the Scotties score three runs to tie the game at 4-4 and leave the bases loaded. Joe
Mancuso’s (Papillion, NE) two run home run got HCC back to 4-3. Jordon Oddo (Grain
Valley, MO) singled, followed by a double by Craig Hill (Morris, OK), and an intentional
walk, loading the bases. Royce Behar (Bartlesville, OK) was then hit by a pitch, plating
the tying run before a fly out to left field ended the inning.

Johnson County took a 5-4 lead in the top of the eighth inning on a throwing error,
only to see HCC score a run on a two out single by Craig Hill. Again the Scotties had
a chance for a walk-off win, but left runners at second and third. The Cavaliers then
got a lead-off double in the top of ninth inning, and after a sacrifice bunt moved the
runner to third base, they scored the winning run on a one out single. Andrew Mercer
(Newfoundland, Canada) pitched seven strong innings for HCC, getting a no decision.
Justin Paul had three hits, including two doubles, to lead Scottie hitters, while Craig Hill
had two hits and two RBIs.