Swank on Sports

Highland Scots High School Athletics  

Highland is Battling

          Highland will be at home for the Ontario Warriors on Friday night in play in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference.

          The Fighting Scots broke a three game losing streak with a hard earned (13-10) win in overtime victory over Clear Fork in “MOAC” action last week.

          Coach Ty Stover says it was nice to see the kids rewarded for their effort.  “It felt really good to be honest with you.  Our kids are finally getting some reward for this playing so hard down in down out, you know what I mean. They've really been battling every week and it was nice to get one that we worked hard for,” said Stover.

          Stover says their kids have decided that they are not going to quit.  “We were at the point of the season, and a lot of teams we're at the point of the season, where you got to figure out what you want to play for,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “Do you want to play for your pride or do you want to cash in the chips.  Our with the culture we have decided that hey we're going to continue the battle and battle until the weekend is over and see what happens.  We got one last week and it's all due to that.”

          This week, the Scots (3-5,2-3) are at home for Ontario (4-4,2-3) on Friday night.  The Warriors are coming off a (42-0) loss to unbeaten Shelby, the conference leader.

          Stover says Ontario offers a challenge to them.  “Ontario is always coached really well.  They're big, man they're big up front, they have got a nice, big quarterback.  I know I say to you every week, but we do have our hands full again, but the formula is going to be the same for us.  We're going to play tough, physical football.  We're going to try to strike when the iron's hot and see what happens,” he said.

Published 10/17/25

© Swankonsports.com

Follow our scoreboard for

Constant updates on Friday nights

At www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Your first source for all things sports

Highland is Battling

Click here to listen to an interview with coach Ty Stover

          Highland will be at home for the Ontario Warriors on Friday night in play in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference.

          The Fighting Scots broke a three game losing streak with a hard earned (13-10) win in overtime victory over Clear Fork in “MOAC” action last week.

          Coach Ty Stover says it was nice to see the kids rewarded for their effort.  “It felt really good to be honest with you.  Our kids are finally getting some reward for this playing so hard down in down out, you know what I mean. They've really been battling every week and it was nice to get one that we worked hard for,” said Stover.

          Stover says their kids have decided that they are not going to quit.  “We were at the point of the season, and a lot of teams we're at the point of the season, where you got to figure out what you want to play for,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “Do you want to play for your pride or do you want to cash in the chips.  Our with the culture we have decided that hey we're going to continue the battle and battle until the weekend is over and see what happens.  We got one last week and it's all due to that.”

          This week, the Scots (3-5,2-3) are at home for Ontario (4-4,2-3) on Friday night.  The Warriors are coming off a (42-0) loss to unbeaten Shelby, the conference leader.

          Stover says Ontario offers a challenge to them.  “Ontario is always coached really well.  They're big, man they're big up front, they have got a nice, big quarterback.  I know I say to you every week, but we do have our hands full again, but the formula is going to be the same for us.  We're going to play tough, physical football.  We're going to try to strike when the iron's hot and see what happens,” he said.

Published 10/17/25

© Swankonsports.com

Follow our scoreboard for

Constant updates on Friday nights

At www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Your first source for all things sports

Highland Keeps Working

          Highland will be up at Galion to tangle with the Tigers in a game in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference on Friday night.

          Last week, they played a very good Shelby team and lost (48-0) to the Whippets in conference action.

          Coach Ty Stover says Shelby is really good and they had some issues too.  “They are a great team and we knew that going in.  We were down a few guys.  Had to move a couple of guys, especially the quarterback position.  Then ran into another injury, which we had to shuffle all the backfield again.  So, we didn't play as well as I wanted to play last week.  I’m sure you can tell by the score and we're hoping to remedy that situation this week.  It doesn't get any easier as we're getting ready to head over to Heise Park and meet coach (Matt) Dick and the Galion Tigers,” he said.

          Stover says they are working on things in practice that can make them a better football team.  “I'm lucky to be around the staff that's experienced and it's not truly just set in one way.  We've been trying to understand where we're at.  Evaluate our kids and then adapt our practice plan to see what may set them up for success or move that foot forward in getting better,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “I think we're doing that.  We knew coming into this season that we were going to be a little inexperienced in all areas.  We just have got to keep confidence and keep rollin’.  That's one thing I do say about our about our program is that we have done a really nice job of building what everybody says is the brotherhood.  Our kids believe in each other.  There's no fighting, there's no bickering, there's nothing like that.  It's just a process in which we just kind of mold together and try to get better and see what happens.”

          Highland (2-3,1-1) is at Galion (4-1,1-1), #5 in the Swankonsports.com football coaches poll in the large school division, on Friday night.  Galion edged Ontario (7-0) in the “MOAC” last week.

          Stover says they have shown they can be a very good team.  “What I've watched on film.  They beat a Carey team, they beat a St. Mary's Memorial team.  Honestly, I’ll tell you the game with Shelby was neck and neck and if you really truly sit down and break that down.  I know coach Dick got most of his guys back for this week.  I know he had a couple of injuries.  He's going to be full force (Friday) night.  We will still be down a few.  A great defense, they run the football and we'll be in for a dog fight.  Like I told our kids that's what we want.  There are no weeks as you know in the “MOAC” that you can just relax and just walk in and win.  We have just got to battle and go at it,” said Stover.

Published 9/26/25

© Swankonsports.com

Follow our scoreboard for

Constant updates on Friday nights

At www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Your first source for all things sports

Highland to Face Talented Shelby

          Highland has a tough challenge on Friday night as they are at Shelby to meet the Whippets in a Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference game.

          They opened the conference campaign with a (12-6) win over Marion Harding in overtime last Friday.  Robby Schmidt scored the game winning TD.

          Coach Ty Stover says they persevered.  “It was just a great game honestly.  The kids on both sides of the football, as far as Harding and our players, both played so hard on Friday night.  Both made our share of mistakes on Friday night, but you know our kids persevered.  They were resilient and they really battled.  I was just proud of them.  We took one more step forward and as a coach that's all we ask every week just trying to get a little bit better,” he said.

          Highland (2-2,1-0) is at Shelby (4-0,1-0), #1 in the Swankonsports.com football coaches poll in the large school division, on Friday night.  The Whippets are coming off a come from behind (45-34) win over Galion last week.

          Stover says the Whippets are loaded.  “Well, there's not many weaknesses on film to be honest.  I think everybody knows that.  They have got a bundle back from last year.  They have got a couple of additions in there this season.  They are loaded.  This week we know what we're up against, but once again it's about us moving forward,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday night, “It’s about us focusing on what we can do.  We talked to the kids a lot about you know just continue to do what we do and to try to make our program proud with the steps that we take and how hard we play and how physical we are in playing solid defense and things like that.  So, that's what we're trying to do on Friday.”

          Stover says Shelby is very good at putting you on compromising positions on defense with what they do with formations.  “They formation you to death.  They've got a bundle of formations.  Hats off to the coaches.  They've got athletic kids all the way around and they spend their time formationing and trying to just create some sort of alternate game plan that has to happen on the other side of football for the opposing team just to get them in a little rougher spot.  They do a good job with that.  So, with those formations and those athletes and the ability to stretch the field it puts the defense in a tough spot, which also will open up doors to run the football for them,” said Stover.

Published 9/17/25

© Swankonsports.com

You first source for all things sports

“Out of Bounds” Fridays 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Wants More

          Highland kicks off play in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference with a home game against the Marion Harding Presidents on Friday night.

          The won for the first time this season last week in beating Coshocton (24-7) in non-league play.

          Coach Ty Stover says they were an improved football team.  “I thought we made a pretty solid step forward last week.  Really played three solid quarters.  We'd like to get four out of the group, but like we've talked about last several weeks we're still young and we're still making some mental mistakes at key times that we have got to clean up.  The boys played hard again.  They executed a little bit better and we'll try to put another step forward here this week,” said Stover.

          Now, this week, Stover says they must make the same kind of progress.  “It feels a little different this week in practice and as a head coach, I'm sure other head coaches will tell you, you don't really know if that's a good thing or a bad thing as far as moving forward and having that edge to make sure that you go out and try to take another “W” from someone.  Hopefully, we're in the right direction.  We've practiced hard, we've practiced clean and hopefully we can execute,” he said.

          Marion Harding (1-2,0-0) lost last week to Lima Senior (20-14) in non-conference action.

          Stover says they have to play their kind of game.  “Marion Harding once again is going to be packed full of athletes.  Coach (C.J.) Westler is there now.  He's got them together.  They’ve got a freshman quarterback that moves really well.  Their defense flies around and they’ve got a pretty big tailback there,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “Once again we'll have to compete.  It should be really exciting game on both sides of the football for both teams.  We'll just see what style of football's going to be on top.”

Published 9/12/25

© Swankonsports.com

Follow our scoreboard for

Constant updates on Friday nights

At www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Your first source for all things sports

Highland Hopes to Make Gains

          Highland will host Dalton out of the Wayne County Athletic League in non-conference play on Friday night.

          Last week they suffered a (21-6) setback to rival Fredericktown.

          Coach Ty Stover says they just made too many mistakes.  “I think we played hard that's for sure.  We had a lot of new guys in new positions and ultimately made too many mistakes, assignment mistakes that we can't do that.  We can't afford to make those.  We let an onside kick squirt through legs there and gave them a possession inside the 40 and then they broke one where we had a couple of missed tackles.  That was late in the game, so hopefully we'll get those things corrected and improve a little bit here this week and see which way we go,” said Stover.

          Stover says practice this week has been kind up uneven, but they it has been improving.  “You have got to make it happen.  We've been a little up and down here this week.  We’ve got the Morrow County Fair going on.  We're not back in school yet, so there's no excuses, but it's been a week that's really probably challenged us in our preparation.  I think the kids have responded better late here in the week than they did early.  There's growing pains from last week just have to be a little bit smaller here this week for us to compete,” he said.

          Dalton comes in off a (20-6) win over Columbus Bishop Ready last week.

          Stover says the Bulldogs are going to be a big challenge.  “Dalton is a solid football program and has been for a while now.  They've got a heck of an athletic quarterback.  Their 4-2-5 defense flies around and is pretty athletic all around,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “We will have our hands full both sides of the football.  They've got quite a few returners and a new coach there this year, so they'll be ready to go on Friday,” he said.

Published 8/28/25

© Swankonsports.com

You first source for all things sports

“Out of Bounds” Fridays 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland to Battle Fredericktown

          It’s going to be physical, old school, football when Highland heads for Fredericktown on Friday night.

          Both staffs have likely have read the Woody Hayes book “Hotline to Victory”, which outlined Hayes dislike for the forward pass.  The Freddies feature the double tight, double wing, while Highland has introduced the midline veer.

          Highland coach Ty Stover says it is just great to get back on the field.  “It's going to be really nice to get back out there and compete on the sideline I can tell you that, especially with the group that we have.  A lot of inexperience to be honest with you.  I'm just so anxious to see how they respond to not practice competition now, but game competition.  What kids you may have kind of underestimated a little bit that over perform and those guys that you count on kind of not being there.  So, we'll see, it's always a good night on opening night,” said Stover.

          Stover says the pressure that comes with Friday football builds character in young men.  “It's good to build men like that.  Put a little bit of pressure on and see how they handle it.  Hopefully, they understand everybody is there for the right reason and we've all been working for the last you know 6-8 months, or whatever it has been, to get better at what we do football wise, but ultimately become better men with better character and that's really what we focus on,” he said.

          Stover says the clock will be moving on Friday night.  He says they have to be physical.  “You know what Friday night the game might be over by I don't know 8:15, who knows it's Friday night.  Everything you know coach (Scott) Spitler has done in his career is he just builds tough players, assignment football,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “The box is tight and the ball is moving downhill, so we have our hands full with that.  Coming from the “MOAC” were we see mostly the spread and now it’s going to be the double tight, double wing and downhill and see what happens, it’s going to be physical.”

Published 8/21/25

© Swankonsports.com

You first source for all things sports

“Out of Bounds” Fridays 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Taking Steps

          After a down year last year, Highland is trying to get back to the level of success that they used to on the football field this fall.

          They were (3-7,2-5) last year and did not make the division IV playoffs.

          Coach Ty Stover says they will start out with a younger group.  “I would say it's one that's going to be a little less experienced and we'll have guys in new spots in which they haven't had too much Friday night time in.  Really looking forward to see the type of edge that they can bring to it,” he said.

          When it comes to Highland football, Stover says they want to embrace some things they feel are very important.  “Just really happy with the group and how they're trying to build on the values of football.  We call them the 10 fundamentals of a champion and just basic life needs that you have.  Words like responsibility, toughness, love for each other.  So, they're buying in that way and they're working as hard as they can.  As coaches, we'll try to put them in the best spot that we can to make them successful,” said Stover.

          Highland will scrimmage against Philo at home on Thursday.  They open the season at non-conference rival Fredericktown on August 22.  Their first Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference game will be September 12 when they host Marion Harding.

          Stover says they have done a good job this preseason of being focused on the task at hand.  “I think we've done a really nice job, at least my staff has, as far as meetings and making things repetitive, but not feel monotonous,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “We really honestly haven't had that feeling of kind of like we're getting sick of it yet.  It's been a good thing because I just think that learning curve is so big right now that we're learning fast and the time doesn't stop and it's coming soon and we're putting in the work to see where we can get.”

Published 8/12/25

© Swankonsports.com

You first source for all things sports

“Out of Bounds” Fridays 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Sears Throws Another No Hitter

          Kort Sears hitless streak is now at 14 innings as he no hit Columbus Bishop Ready on Thursday and the Highland Fighting Scots won their division IV tournament opener.

          Highland will play either Lakewood or Buckeye Valley in their next tournament game on Saturday.

          Coach Donnie Kline says the whole team had good focus on Thursday.  “I think at the end of the day the tournament is a loss and you’re out, so I think there's a little bit better pressure there.  Our message to the boys was there's going to be some ceremony to begin the game, but after the first pitch it's just a baseball game.  So, don't overthink it.  Go out there and play loose, play fundamentally sound and we'll see what happens,” said Kline.

          Kline says Sears was dominate on Thursday.  “We're certainly enjoying this streak for sure, but at least back-to-back no hitters.  It's been nice.  He threw the ball really well (Thursday).  He didn’t need a whole lot of defense.  He struck out 13 hitters, so a really good job by the senior.  He really controlled his strike zone and defense played solid behind him,” he said.

          Kline says Sears has had great command and has been able to throw all of pitches for strikes.  “I think he mixes his pitches really well.  His pitches that he misses are just off the zone.  He's getting hitters to hit his pitch and kind of creates soft contact.  I think earlier this year when he wasn't quite sharp his misses were just less competitive,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “When you miss a ball at 58 feet as opposed to you know 61 and a half there's a little bit of a difference there.  I think he is just really dialed in.  He's getting a little firmer on the backside as our pitching coach said and just really throws a ball in his zone.”

Published 5/23/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Wins the “MOAC”

          Highland won it’s third straight title in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference as Kort Sears fired a no hitter and the Fighting Scots beat Ontario (3-0) on Wednesday evening.

          In fact, Highland has been in the “MOAC” three years and they have won the baseball title every time.

          Coach Donnie Kline says winning the league in their number one goal every season.  “It's a lot of fun and it's our first goal every year and something the boys kind of chase after and fight for.  It drives a lot of these decisions that we make when it comes to scheduling and how we prepare for teams early on.  It’s been a lot of fun and we've enjoyed the ride for sure,” said Kline.

          It was the seventh win of the season for Sears and Kline says he was big when they needed him the most.  “The senior does really good stuff for us.  He's a Highland kid.  He bleeds blue and red and he's just an all in Highland Scot guy.  Seven innings, nine strikeouts and gave up no hits and only two walks.  It was just a really good performance by a senior and he delivered when we needed him to,” he said.

          Kline says he so into decisions that needed to be made in order for them to win the game, he didn’t even realize that Sears had a no no going.  “It was one of those games where it was a fast-paced game.  It was 3-0, so there's not a lot of traffic on either side.  To be honest, I didn't know it was a no hitter until the last inning when I wanted to make a defensive change and my assistant coach said no and I didn't know why and later on after the game was over they said he had a no hitter going,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “Oh, I see now.  It was a nice surprise.  He was just really relaxed.  I thought he focused really well and defense played really good behind him.  One defensive miscue, but other than that they played really well and supported the senior.”

Published 5/15/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Scores Late; Blasts Clear Fork

          Highland was a like bottle of shaken cola ready to explode and when the cap was taken off in the top of seventh, they scored seven times and smoked Clear Fork (9-2) at American Legion Field on Wednesday evening.

          It was a (2-1) game going to the final inning in a pitcher’s duel between Kort Sears of Highland and Garrett Hotz of the Colts.  Hotz was lifted for Mason Sansom with one out in the seventh.  Highland would score on a couple of wild pitches/passed balls, Rhett Russell executed a bunt and Zach Church and Morgan Kline had back to back RBI doubles and it was (6-1) Fighting Scots.  A couple of walks, a hit batter and a RBI hit by Jayden Collins and it had the look of a stampede on the open plains.

          Highland coach Donnie Kline says they were able to put some pressure on the Colts.  “Tip the cap to Clear Fork.  They are well coached, they are fundamentally sound and I think if anybody watched the first six things that game you would see an old school baseball game, 2-1.  I don't think the final score is reflective for the people who check scores.  We put on a little pressure at the end and made the score look lopsided, but two fundamental sound teams and it was a fun game,” said Kline.

          Clear Fork coach Gabe Kennedy says Highland was able to take advantage of some mistakes they made.  “They're a good team.  We play plenty of good teams and they're really good and they're great at kind of taking advantage of holes, mistakes, whatever it might be.  They've always been a great team at the small ball type of thing and once that unravels it's like here we go,” he told Swankonsports.com after the game, “We try to do that offensively too.  I just told the kids this stinks.  Losing is not fun, but we've done that to teams where we put a lot of runs up in one inning and sometimes baseball kind of flips back the other way when you don't like it, but it's baseball and thank God we play (Thursday).”

          Highland (12-6,9-1), #2 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the large school division, will host Clear Fork (12-5,7-4) on Thursday in a game that was rained out Tuesday.  In order for Clear Fork to get a share the title they need the Fighting Scots to lose three of their four remaining “MOAC” games.

          Galion (14-4,8-3) remains two games behind Highland after edging River Valley (2-1) in nine innings on Wednesday.

          Sears went the distance for the Highland and scattered seven hits, three of those coming in the bottom of the seventh with his team comfortably in front.

          Kline says he was able to keep the Colts off balance.  “He's a senior, he's a bulldog and he's pitched in a lot of big games in his career and this was a big game for us and for him.  I thought he did a nice job.  That's a really potent offense top to bottom and I thought he kept them off balance really well.  I thought the defense held up really good behind him.  I thought they did a nice job of gloving it.  We did a couple of errors, a couple mistakes, but I thought overall they limited what Clear Fork wanted to do,” said Kline.

          Highland would get on the board in the top of the first when Collins singled and scored on a squeeze bunt by Church.  They went up (2-0) in the top of the fifth an RBI single by Collins.  Clear Fork cut it to (2-1) in their half of the fifth on a run scoring double by Sansom.

          Colts centerfielder Porter Schmidt ended a couple more Highland uprisings with diving catches to end the fourth and sixth innings.

          Collins had four hits, scored two runs and drove in another.  Kline says Collins did a nice job of executing their game plan.  “I think coming into the series we have a lot of respect for what coach Kennedy does with his pitchers over there.  We expected a lot of non hittable pitches (Wednesday).  This week we really focused on just trying to be Tony Gwynn, just get a lot of singles.  We thought that Jayden Collins did a really nice job of that.  He was the fire, the ignitor, and allowed us to small ball behind him and have a little fun,” he said.

Published 5/08/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Downs River Valley

          Highland edged River Valley (8-6) on Tuesday evening and remained in a solid first place in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference standings.

          Galion, Clear Fork, and Ontario all trail by two games.  The Tigers beat Marion Pleasant (13-3) and Ontario got past Marion Harding (7-6) in other “MOAC” games on Tuesday.

          Rematches are scheduled for Wednesday, including Clear Fork at Shelby.  The Colts beat the Whippets (6-0) on Monday.

          The eight runs scored by the Fighting Scots on Tuesday represent the second most those have scored in a conference game this year.  They beat Pleasant (13-3) in their first “MOAC” game this spring.

          Coach Donnie Kline says it was a different kind of game.  “It felt more like an American League than the National League game that we're kind of used to.  Credit to River Valley, we kept scoring and they kept up with us,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “They put a lot of balls in play, put pressure on our defense and we didn't play Highland defensive we would like to.  The game it's definitely more high scoring than we're used to.”

          Highland had four errors on Tuesday.

          Kade Collins, Zach Church and Caleb Youngman all had two hits for Highland.

          Kline says good teams find different ways to win games.  “I think that’s the mark of good teams.  They find different ways to win.  Sometimes you're going to need some lumber to put balls in play, some days you’re going to rely on pitching and some days it will be defense.  I think good teams find different ways to win and (Tuesday) we were definitely reliant on that,” he said.

          Highland is also three time defending conference champion and Kline says that brings a different kind of pressure.  “I think the line we walk is it trying to figure out how to stay loose and play good baseball and know that you're haunted and that people are chasing you.  I think we just want to keep the boys loose, have fun, and play good baseball and see where the chips fall at the end of the season,” said Kline.

Published 4/30/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Back at the Top

          Highland stands alone again atop the standings of the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference after beating Galion (4-1) on Tuesday evening.

          Kort Sears and Jaden Collins combined on a two hitter for the Fighting Scots.

          Coach Donnie Kline says both were very good.  “We had the senior Kort Sears throw (Tuesday) night and he's been a real nice job for us in his career and he did a really nice job (Tuesday).  He just kept filling the zone and I thought kept a very good Galion offense kind of this off balance all evening.  He was followed by the junior Jaden Collins who picked up his third save of the season.  I think the Guardians would like to have like a Jaden Collins to help them out a little bit.  He’s done a really nice job for us,” said Kline.

          Highland is the defending champion in the “MOAC” and they now led Galion and Marion Harding by a game.

          Kline says in these kinds of games you must be a good, fundamentally sound baseball team if you are going to win.  “When you play these kind of games.  It's a high leverage game.  It’s a situation with a lot of line with the “MOAC.”  Two really good teams going at it and you just hope that your team can play fundamentally sound baseball,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “(Tuesday) we were able to do that a little more than Galion, but (Wednesday) is a new night.  We told the boys (Tuesday) was the easy one and (Wednesday) will be the hard one.  We go to Heise Park and that's a really tough place to play and we're excited for the challenge.”

          Highland (8-3,5-1) will be at Galion (9-3,5-2) on Wednesday.  Kline knows they have to be just as good.   “There's a lot of times you can prepare the best you can or have a poor day of preparation and sometimes the ball bounces your way and boys make the plays and sometimes doesn't work out that way, but that's high school sports and that's why this game is so fun.  I'm very excited about the opportunity to compete with Galion again (Wednesday),” he said.

Published 4/23/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Big Inning Gives Highland the Win

          Highland got a huge early season win on Thursday when they scored six times in the fifth inning and rallied to beat Shelby (6-3) in a Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference game.

          Fighting Scots coach Donnie Kline says they just decided to have some fun.  “I think the boys kept battling.  It was tough we got down early to Shelby again.  It kind of  the same feel from the night before where Shelby just did everything right, just filled up the box and played clean defense.  We made some mistakes early on the base paths, but the boys kept battling in that fifth inning.  We told the boys let’s play loose and go out there and have fun.  We're down to nine outs here, let's have fun, and things had started to happen.  We were smart on the bases and had a couple of clutch hits from some young guys,” said Kline.

          Shelby beat Highland (6-1) on Wednesday and Whippets coach Jon Amicone says Thursday they just didn’t make enough plays.  “Ultimately when plays needed to be made, Highland made more plays that we did.  I thought Zach Church was an absolute bulldog for them (Thursday) night and sometimes you just tip your cap to the opponent.  I thought our kids handled adversity extremely well at the beginning of the game and played with a lot of emotion, but at the end of the day we didn’t do enough to earn a win,” said Amicone.

          Church went the first four and two thirds innings for Highland, striking out eight batters.  He also had two hits as did young Cade Minnick, who Kline says had the biggest hit in the game in that fifth inning.  “We had a young man who has been basically a JV player Cade Minnick, a sophomore, got his first start at first base (Thursday) and had two hits, including a big hit that scored the go ahead runs that ended up being the game winners.  When you run a program, you try to get as many guys as possible to keep them interested.  Sometimes those young guys they could be a spark,” he said.

          Highland (6-3,4-1) shares first place in the league with Galion, who beat Ontario (11-1) on Thursday, a game in front of Clear Fork, a (6-0) winner over Pleasant, and Marion Harding.

          Kline knows Thursday was a big win, but there are many games to be played.  “I know we're still early in the season, and I think we always say that early season you can't really win the league, but you can lose it,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “I think losing (Wednesday) and having the opportunity to be swept and then go down two games the league.  Next week we've got Galion, who's just playing very good baseball.  It would have put us in a really tough position.  There is still a long way to go, but definitely would have been a really bad spot if we were down two league games this early.”

Published 4/18/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Shelby Gives Highland First “MOAC” Loss

          Shelby won its first Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference game of the season and Highland lost its first as the Whippets downed Highland (6-1) at Shelby on Wednesday evening.

          Shelby coach Jon Amicone says they came out of the dugout ready to play baseball.  “Our kids did a really good job (Wednesday) of coming to the ballpark ready to play.  From the first inning all the way to the last pitch our guys had a really good focus and a really good intensity.  Those are fun games to play when the team is competing at the high level and they're in tune to the game and really work as hard as they could every pitch,” said Amicone.

          Highland coach Donnie Kline says Shelby was the better team in all areas on Wednesday.  “Shelby outplayed us and out executed us (Wednesday) night.  They filled the zone from the mound, put balls in the play, and played clean defense.  That is a recipe for winning at the high school level.  We will have to play better (Thursday) in order to compete with the Whippets at home,” said Kline.

          Shelby (6-5,1-4) is at Highland (5-3,3-1) again on Thursday.  This time at Highland.

          Amicone says pitcher Sam Gwirtz went out and did what he had to and the defense behind him was outstanding.  “Sam Gwirtz gave us really strong five innings.  He was able to mix his slider and his fastball.  A really good two pitch mix.  He was able to initiate some weak contact and let our defensive play behind him.  I was extremely proud of our defense.  That's something we want to hang our hat on at Shelby is be a really good defensive team.  Put it at zero in the error column and do things.  We were able to turn two double plays during the game.  Those are huge momentum swings in the game.   I thought defensively our guys played really well,” said Amicone.

          Kline says with their lack of hitting they have to be almost perfect and Wednesday they were not.  “Our margin for error is so slim in our offensive funk right now.  We are working to get our guys into rhythm,” he said.

          Amicone says the key to their six runs was their solid execution.  “I thought our guys did a really nice job at the plate manufacturing runs.  We were able to bunt decently well.  Ran the basics extremely well.  I thought our guys from top to bottom competed while they were in the box and took their walks and were able to have productive even outs and that's what you have to do to a team like Highland,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “Highland is the standard of the “MOAC.”  It's just a great baseball school.  That's who we strive to be and then they're really good test.  Really good setting the stone of what baseball should be in Ohio.  I have the utmost respect for Highland’s baseball team and their head coach Donny Kline.  So, I'm really happy with our guys to go out there and compete and get a win against that team like that.”

Published 4/17/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Solid Pitching Gives Highland the Win Over Harding

          Highland, the defending champion in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference, stays in first place this year after downing Marion Harding (3-1) on Thursday in a league game.

          Coach Donnie Kline says the two wins they got this week over Harding were big ones.  “Both games in the Harding series were a lot of fun.  It was a tough fought battle and both teams played really hard.  We were able to get both of them and remain in a competitive spot in the “MOAC,” he said.

          Kort Sears had two RBI in the win for Highland.

          The Fighting Scots (4-1,3-0) beat Harding (4-0) on Wednesday.  They lead Clear Fork, Ontario and Galion by a game.

          Highland, one of the better hitting teams around, got only five hits off Harding pitching on Thursday.

          What they did get, according to Kline, was outstanding pitching from two guys.  “I think we got good pitching.  The starter, junior, Zach Church, did a really nice job.  He went four solid innings for us.  He allowed one hit and seven strikeouts.  Junior Jaden Collins got the save.  He went 2.2 innings and four strikeouts,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “I say we played really the defense behind them.  I thought catcher Gavin Wiggins, a senior, had a fantastic game.  Threw two runners out and broke up a suicide squeeze late in the game.  It was just real good, old school, baseball game and the team with the fewer amount of mistakes ended up winning.”

          Another thing that the Fighting Scots did well on Thursday was field the baseball.  Kline says that was key in the win.  “That's a really good Harding team.  We knew that going into this series after what they had done and week one and that it was going to be a tough series.  I think when you factor in the elements.  It's still early in the season.  I think both teams are trying to limit the amount of mistakes that they make.  I thought we did a pretty good job of that (Thursday) night.  Better than (Wednesday) night and it allowed us to win the game (Thursday),” said Kline.

Published 4/11/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Doing it the Right Way

          Highland has spent this week getting ready for the regular season in South Carolina where they played three scrimmages.

          They play their first regular season game on Saturday against Hillsdale.  They begin defense of their Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference title with two games against Marion Pleasant next week.

          Coach Donnie Kline says playing in Mrytle Beach was a plus for the players.  “It's been a great opportunity for the boys.  We've been outside a lot.  We've had a lot of opportunities to practice and scrimmage against some different teams we don't normally see.  So, it's been a lot of fun watch the boys develop as we get ready to start season on Saturday,” he said.

          Kline says they certainly made progress this preseason.  “I just left the coaches meeting and we kind of discussed where some of the guys are with positional groups.  We're headed the right way,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “I think as a coach you probably never feel like you're where you need to be, but I think there's a lot of guys who have made strides that we're excited about where they are and where they can be in the near future.”

          Kline says they want to be good right now, but they want to keep getting better too.  “I think the goal is to continue to improve.  I don't think that the product you'll see in late April, May and hopefully June is the same product you'll see now.  The boys have to understand that it is a long season and our season is built on trying to get better each time we get together.  So, if we try to get better each time we're out there we hope to get better and compete for championships when it really matters in late May and June,” said Kline.

Published 3/27/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Has the Parts Again

          Highland is the defending champion in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference and they certainly are one of the favorites again this season.

          Coach Donnie Kline says their goal is to never be rebuilding.  “One of the things we talk about is not graduating tradition, we graduate players and so we want to hopefully stair step guys through, keep the young guys involved.  I think if you can have that recipe and having you know three to five guys in the class that kind of get varsity experience then even though it's a younger class you still have the experience that you can build from there,” he said.

          Highland had a scrimmage on Tuesday against Delaware Hayes.

          Kline says they came away with things to work on to get better.  “Well, it's early and there's only so many things that you want to work on and fix.  There's only so much daylight during the day and you've got to plan accordingly.  I just walk around with a pad of paper in the back pocket just fill it up full of things we need to work on.  I think we're ahead of where we normally are,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday night, “You're very lucky as a district we got in an inside hitting facility.  So, the boys have spent a lot of time going live against each other.  It’s like certain areas as a program we are ahead of where we have been in the past and there's some areas that we need to work on a little bit.  I think being outside and an opportunity to go against a different team will give us a lot of things we can work on through practice plans for the rest of the week.”

          Highland opens the regular season against Hillsdale March 29.  They open defense of their “MOAC” title versus Pleasant on April 1 and 2.

          Kline says they want to build some depth and find out who fits where on the field.  “I think the two things that concern me most just the depth of our guys.  We're a small school.  We only have 14 players on the current roster.  So, we're basically one injury away or ineligibility or illness from having something kind of fall apart.  So, we want to make sure that we try to build depth at different positions.  So, I think depth would be the biggest thing.  Then just replacing guys and getting the right guys in the right spots at the right time.  Right now, we're trying to kind of get outfielders where they need to be is the biggest thing and just trying to make sure we have the right guy in the right position before we get into “MOAC” play,” said Kline.

Published 3/19/25

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Has to Want it

          Highland is at home for Clear Fork in a Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference game on Friday night.

          Last week, things got away from the Fighting Scots in the second half and they lost (38-14) to River Valley in a “MOAC” game.

          Coach Ty Stover says they were unable to respond when River Valley scored in the second half.  “I thought we played really well in the first half last week.  Second half it was just a few deep balls got us.  We had great coverage they made a better play than we did and put a few points on the board there late in the third and that was pretty much it.  Our offense kind of sputtered there in the third and had a few penalties that were some drive killers for us.  They got out to a 10-point lead on us and we just couldn't recover,” said Stover.

          Highland (3-5,2-3) entertains Clear Fork (2-6,1-4) on Friday night.  The Colts lost (34-7) to unbeaten Shelby last week.  However, the game was tied at seven with just over three minutes to play in the third quarter.

          Stover says Clear Fork is a team that’s getting better.  “They are a physical group.  65/35 run as far as run-pass.  They were in it, 7-7 in the middle of the third quarter then they just kind of like us, made a few mistakes and couldn't put the ball in the end zone.  When you play a team like Shelby it goes south pretty quick,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday evening, “Coach (Aaron) Brokaw always does a nice job with those guys.  They're playing better, as I watched the films they play better every week.  We have our hands full and it should be a great game.  It’s going to be who's going to run the ball and who's going to be able to stop them on defense.”

          Stover says on Friday night they have to be the team that wants the win the most and play like it.  “We have not had the season that we wanted.  We've had kids that have had great attitudes, we've had great parents, nothing has been negative.  It's almost like who's going to be edgy enough that still has a little bit of a mean streak in them that's, pardon my French, a little pissed off about the way things have gone in the last several weeks and wants to get the “W,” he said.

Published 10/16/24

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Must Defend Pass

          Highland takes its act to River Valley to take on the Vikings in a game in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference on Friday night.

          They beat Galion (24-21) in a conference game last week.

          Coach Ty Stover says they gave great effort and were able to overcome some mistakes.  “A great effort, great rebound after the week before, proud of the kids effort.  We still made too many mistakes mentally wise as far as penalties, it was a high penalized game on both sides of the football for both teams.  We had some mistakes there on the punt team that gave them I believe 14 points, or at least 10, I can't remember exactly.  Made the game tighter than we would like to have it.  We made another big play on our defense and got the “W”, which is always great,” said Stover.

          Highland (3-4,2-2) visits River Valley (4-3,2-2) on Friday night.  The Vikings were blasted (55-21) by unbeaten Shelby last week.

          Stover says they are going to have to be able to defend the pass.  “They're going to be in the empty formation.  No back in the backfield there at least probably 80 to 85% of the time.  He's throwing on an average of 43 times a game the last four last four games.  They've got some skilled kids.  They’ve got Eli Snyder out there on the edge, he's their top receiver in receptions, touchdowns and yards,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “The quarterback is a nice looking kid.  He makes plays on the scramble, but also can pocket pass.  So, we have got to be ready to defend.  The best way to defend sometimes is keeping the ball out of their hands and that's when the offense comes into factor.”

          Chase Ebert has thrown for 1,739 yards and 16 touchdowns this year for River Valley.

          Stover says they are going to show him a lot of things.  “You have to be fundamental.  You just have got to pick your poison.  What do you want to stop and try to stop it the best you can, then adjust on the other end of the spectrum that is maybe hurting you a little bit.  We'll do some things that we traditionally do and we'll do some things that we don't traditionally do.  See if we can get him a little bit off balance, but that's easier said than done,” he said.

Published 10/10/24

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Has to Step up

          Highland will be at home Friday night for Galion in a game in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference.

          Last week, they were hammered (41-6) by Shelby in a conference game.

          Coach Ty Stover says they were not very good.  “Last week was a poor job by all of us in this program.  I'm not going to sugarcoat anything to be honest with you.  Shelby's a hell of a team.  They've got all kinds of pieces, but we also didn't compete, we also didn't handle business like we should handle and we got to move forward with it.  We've let that one go, we let it go late Friday night and looking forward to this week,” he said.

          Highland (2-4,1-2) will host Galion (4-2,1-2) on Friday night.

          Stover says he looks forward to a competitive game.  “They battled two teams in Shelby and Ontario who are 6-0 right now, so they're two losses are to great ball clubs.  They've got a great quarterback back there.  Coach (Matt) Dick always has his guys ready to play.  Last year, we had a just a wonderful game, we battled each other.  I look for the same thing this year.  They play hard, like I said, their quarterback is athletic and they play solid defense.  We’ll have our hands full again, but it's mostly about us,” said Stover.

          Stover says for them to have success on Friday night they have to clean up what they have been doing.  “We have just have to do our jobs to be honest with you.  That's one thing that we have struggled with here the first six weeks is doing our jobs consistently.  It seems as if right now we're in a mode where we'll get a string together then we'll have one mishap and right when that mishap happens that's where oppositions are attacking,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “We have to do better being consistent, but we got to really do a better job of playing with heart and passion every single down.  Going at it like we do in practice and throughout the summer and throughout our weight room and our off season conditioning everything like that has to unfold on Friday night.”

Published 10/04/24

© Swankonsports.com

Follow our scoreboard Friday night

For constant updates beginning with the kick

At www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Highland Must Control Explosive Shelby

          Highland hosts Shelby in a game in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference on Friday night.

          The Fighting Scots (2-3,1-1) picked up their first win in conference play last week by downing Marion Harding (28-9) on Friday.

          Coach Ty Stover says they played consistently well.  “I was just real happy with the way the boys played last week.  They were energetic for four full quarters.  We finally got out to a good start.  I think, I can't remember exactly, but we were 21 or 28 in half and rolling pretty good there.  Defensively, played sideline to sideline, sprinted around, made some good hits and created some turnovers.  Offensively, had some explosive plays.  I was happy with the performance last week.  We just got to try to build off of it,” he said.

          Shelby (5-0,2-0), #2 in the Swankonsports.com football coaches poll in the large school division, comes calling on Friday night.  They handed Galion their first loss (35-6) of the season last week.

          Stover says they’re just good all over.  “It's more like what doesn't jump off the film to me.  Honestly, they have got a defense that I think the max they've allowed is 14 through the first five.  They’ve got an offense that's very explosive.  They have got guys everywhere.  Of course, you can't talk about their offense without talking about their quarterback DeVito,” he told swankonsports.com on Monday evening, “We have our hands full this week.  We're excited about it just to kind of check where we're at.  We're playing at home.  We haven't played well the last couple times at home.  We're going to try to be a little bit more consistent.  They bring a number of problems to us.  We'll put the best game plan and try to put the best fight together with the boys and see what happens.”

          Stover says they want to be able to produce long scoring drives, but it there is a big play to be had, they have to take advantage.  “You also got to kind of seize the moment if you get a chance to make a make a big play you can't turn her down.  It's going to be important for us number one defensively to see if we can maintain.  They’re 60-61 percent run right now.  They still rely on the run.  They've got the (Marcus) Gumbert kid in the backfield and DeVito I think he's their leading rusher with 430 some yards.  So, we'll try to stop the run, maintain that explosive play in the backfield and then let our offense just do normal.  We can't change what we do.  I don't think we're ready for that yet.  We're just going to try to stay consistent with what we've had success with and try to build on some other things that we've been trying to implement,” said Stover.

Published 9/24/24

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Has to Have Intensity

          Highland pays a visit to Maron Harding on Friday night for a game in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference.

          They lost (31-7) to Marion Pleasant in a “MOAC” game last week.

          Coach Ty Stover says it was about 12 minutes of poor play that cost them last week.  “Actually, last Friday once again we find a way to make a mistake at the most crucial time that we can't make mistakes to be honest with you.  We've been working hard to try to clean that up and when the heat of the battle happens we just can't.  We had a bad second quarter honestly.  It’s 7-7 early in the first and next thing you know it's 28-7 at half.  They scored three points in the second half and we don't score any.  So, it was just a bad second quarter that we could not get out of that.  Hopefully trying to make some corrections and move forward this week,” said Stover.

          Highland (1-3,0-1) is at Harding (1-3,0-1) on Friday night.  The Presidents lost (33-14) to Shelby on Friday night.

          Stover says they have some big playmakers on offense.  “They have got a quarterback that’s thrown for 900.  They have got a slot receiver that's caught 421 yards worth of his passes and they have got another edge guy that's caught 227 yards worth you know.  Then they have got a back, as they always do, in the backfield, that's very athletic and runs hard, he runs real hard,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday evening, “Their defense is so athletic that they will bring five to seven guys every down and just lock up on the outside.  So, once again, and it's every week for us, and we understand that, in a situation where we're going to be in a battle there.  They are much improved from the last several years.  Coach (Chuck) Williamson has done a wonderful job with them.”

          Stover says their kids have to make a consistent performance on Friday night.  “It's more about us again right and that's where it's going to continue.  I love our kids to death.  We don't have bad practices.  We don’t have negative attitudes.  We just go to work.  At some point our kids are going to have to figure out like this investment means a lot and I have got to come out and be playing with their head on fire here on Friday night hopefully,” he said.

Published 9/19/24

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highand Plays Pleasant

          Highland will be at home for the Pleasant Spartans in a game in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference on Friday night.

          The Fighting Scots (1-2) picked up their first win of the season last week when they battled the rain and beat Coshocton (42-28) on week three.

          Coach Ty Stover says they got better as the game went along.  “I was proud of the effort last week.  Proud of the way we traveled.  It was our second week, actually really if you want to count our second scrimmage, it was our third out of four weeks that we traveled over an hour and 15 minutes to the venue.  We had a couple of delays there and got a lot better as the game went on as far as consistency and efficiency and got the job done, which was nice to have,” said Stover.

          Pleasant (2-1) hammered Whitehall-Yearling (48-6) last Friday.

          Stover says they have players on both sides of the ball.  “I have watched all three games multiple times.  Going to see an air raid offense with a 4-2-5 defense.  They've got a lot of nice kids as far as skill wise in their box.  Their down lineman, they get after you,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “They're just a well-rounded team that has been able to make some key plays there in the last several games.  They have got some veteran guys on that coaching staff that are going to try to out scheme you too.  So, we have got our hands full (Friday) night, but we're looking forward to the challenge.”

          Pleasant can make big plays and if they do that Friday night, Stover says they have to move on to the next play.  “That is the key.  It's going to be a game of adversity and how you handle it.  We talked about that all week.  There are going to be plays where they make big gains and also plays hopefully that we take care of business.  Whoever balances that the best and then doesn't turn the ball over is probably going to be out ahead,” he said.

Published 9/13/24

© Swankonsports.com

Follow our scoreboard Friday night

For constant updates beginning with the kick

At www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Highland Showing Promise

          Highland will take its act to Coshocton to face the Redskins in non-league play on Friday night.

          The Fighting Scots are still looking for their first win after a (48-26) setback to Dalton, the defending division VII state runner-up last week.

          Coach Ty Stover says they are heading in the right direction.  “Last week, we played a heck of a lot better than we did week one.  Really the score doesn’t indicate how hard or how well we played.  We gave up 14 points on kick returns, so that's not good.  Take that away it's a three point game with a team that was in the state championship last year, who by the way is a pretty darn good team this year,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday evening, “So, excited to see the improvement.  We've got more things to improve, but the kids are working hard and they're heading in the right direction.”

          Stover says they have to take what they did last week and get better.  “That's what we're trying to do, we're trying to build on a little momentum that we picked up there last week and get ready for a Coshocton team who's like us still trying to find a way.  We have got to take care of the ball, stop the big play on special teams and just play sound defense,” he said.

          Coshocton is also (0-2) on the season after a (39-0) loss at hands of Johnstown-Monroe last week.

          Stover describes them as a big team that wants to run the football.  “They run the wing-T and they are big up front.  They have got a couple 300 pounders in there and good skill kids.  Defensively, we'll see an odd front and a cover 2 package,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday evening, “It'll be a good challenge for us we're going to Coshocton.  So, we've been to Dalton last week and to Coshocton, so we've got a couple of long road trips hopefully that makes us better on the road in the future.”

Published 9/05/24

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Run Game Important for Highland

          Highland is looking to grab some momentum as they head for Dalton for a non-conference football game on Friday night.

          Last week, rival Fredericktown beat them (30-28) in their first game of the season.

          Coach Ty Stover says they were just too inconsistent.  “Just hoping we get better this week.  Last Friday was very inconsistent for us both sides of football.  We had some miscues that happened, but we had some guys that had some experience out there and we had some guys that didn’t.  Just looking to build on some good things and improve on some mistakes last week and just make a good leap of getting better here week two,” he said.

          Dalton, the defending state runner-up in division VI, lost (55-34) to Kirtland last Friday.

          Stover says again the Bulldogs are a good football team.  “They are impressive.  I watched them versus Kirtland last week and we all know Kirtland’s been a powerhouse with seven championships I think in the last 11 or 12 years.  So, Dalton had a battle on their hands last week and they put up 30 some points against Kirtland, so we know we have our hands full,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “They're interior gets after it.  They have got a nice, athletic quarterback and a couple bigger skill guys.  So, we'll go up there to Dalton and just try to have a good time, enjoy high school football, and play as hard as we can.”

          To have a chance to win the game, Stover they have to execute their running game and contain Dalton’s.  “We have to score some points, but we want to do that efficiently and take some time off the clock.  We have got to do a better job in the run game. Defensively, we gave up way too many yards last week in the run game.  The kids have had a great week of practice, great attitude as I would expect them to.  So, like I said it's just going to be securing the football, stopping the run and consuming some clock for us see if we can come out of there with victory,” said Stover.

Published 8/30/24

© Swankonsports.com

Follow our scoreboard Friday night

For constant updates beginning with the kick

At www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Highland Prepared for Fredericktown

          Highland hosts rival Fredericktown on Friday night in a non-conference game on the opening night of the high school football season.

          Coach Ty Stover says they are ready as they can be.  “I think I told the boys (Thursday) the hay is in the barn.  We can't prepare anymore or with any more effort I think than we have, which I'm proud of the boys in the summer hours that we've spent and then of course in the true preseason that we spent.  So, hopefully we're in good shape as far as organizational wise, game plan scheme, and all the young men feel comfortable hopefully (Friday),” he said.

          There are a lot of rivalry games on week one and this is one of them.  Stover says that adds something to it.  “It's week one you don't really know what you have got till the lights come on because you don't know how these young men are going to act.  Then you mix in that it is a rivalry that has been around here for a long time.  We're just tickled to death you have an opportunity to be part of it.  Like I think we talked about a couple weeks ago, we have got 16 seniors that are going to step out on that field for the one of the first times of this season and one of the last times in the course of this season.  So, I'm excited to watch them take advantage of that opportunity and see what direction we get going in,” said Stover.

          Highland won last year (35-0) at Fredericktown.

          Stover says the Freddies this year have some guys that can play.  “Fredericktown has a really athletic quarterback back.  He’s a junior.  You can tell he's worked over the offseason.  They're front, they love to double at the point of attack, so that'll be a big concern for us.  They have got a couple guys that can catch the ball in space and make some plays,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “Coach (William) Hartley always does a real nice job with his group.  They're going to be running a 4-2-5.  One thing about both of us is that we're going to have 11 guys that go both ways and probably play special teams.  So, that condition and that preparation over the summer will show here mid third quarter to mid 4th (Friday) night.  He'll have his guys ready and hopefully we are.”

Published 8/23/24

© Swankonsports.com

Follow our scoreboard Friday night

For constant updates beginning with the kick

At www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Highland Putting the Work in

          Highland will be a different kind of team this year, but one that has potential for success.

          Coach Ty Stover says this month they have been preaching progress every day.  “We have progressed and that's funny that you bring that up because that's our motto right now progress before perfection.  We have got a young squad.  Actually, have got quite a few seniors, but the experience with that group is a question mark right now.  So, they're working hard, kids are learning as we go, and they have got a good attitude.  So, what else could you ask of them,” he said.

          There are still almost two weeks of practice before the Fighting Scots open the season at home against rival Fredericktown on August 23.  Stover says they need to take advantage of that.  “We'll need every single second we can get.  So, we have been hitting it pretty good.  There are some schools that are going back to school this week and we are not in that direction.  We have until after the Morrow County Fair,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday afternoon, “We were trying to gain some ground, put some double practices in here, and keep hammering down as we say here in Sparta and try to get ourselves in the best position we can to be successful.”

          They last couple of years, Highland has had one of the best running backs in the area in Dane Nauman.

          Stover says they are going to have to find ways to replace him.  “We lost the horse last year in Dane Nauman, as everybody knows.  So, all of that production is going to have to get divided amongst the group.  They have a good understanding that it's not relying on one person, but to one unit and one team.  We have got to work that way.  No matter which way the chips are falling, you have got to stay as one unit and keep trying to progress and in order for us to get the best outcome we can receive,” said Stover.

Published 8/13/24

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source for All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Takes on Athletic Coldwater

          Hillsdale meets Coldwater in a division III regional semifinal on Thursday at Patrick Henry High School.

          On Friday, the winner plays either Wynford or Millbury Lake for the regional title.

          Highland beat Hillsdale, a division IV qualifier, in a regular season game on Tuesday, winning (7-5), in a game where neither team had a pitcher throw more than 51 pitches.  Now Fighting Scot thew more than 33.

          Coach Donnie Kline says it was a way to stay in rhythm.  “I think the boys like rhythm and we think baseball players like to get into a routine.  We played last Thursday well the regional semi is not until this Thursday, so the week off is a little long.  Hillsdale reached out.  We weren’t familiar with the program or the coach, but they were a fantastic host, beautiful facility and it was a good night to get some baseball action in,” he said.

          Highland (27-3), the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference champion, plays Coldwater, out of the Midwest Athletic Conference.

          Kline says they know what they are dealing with.  “They are a perennial powerhouse.  We have a lot of respect for them.  We actually went up and watched them in their district final game against Liberty-Benton.  They looked fantastic.  They're very athletic, which l think everyone knows about, but I was super impressed with their coaching,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday night, “They’re well trained.  They played baseball the right way, just really hard nosed, small ball approach to the game.  We have got our work cut out for us Coldwater will be a tough out and we're excited for the challenge.”

          Kline says it’s up to them to play well.  “That's what it comes down to.  We talked about that (Tuesday) night against Hillsdale we didn't play our sharpest game that you know when you play in a game at the regional semifinal level and you play a team like Coldwater it going to be the team that makes fewest mistakes that gets a chance to advance.  It’s paramount that we play almost mistake free and again puts pressure on the boys, but that's a lot of fun.  They need to step up and play their best game.  If we do we’ll have an opportunity to continue playing baseball,” said Kline.

Published 5/29/24

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Highland Walks Off Newark Catholic

          Highland got a bases loaded RBI single in the bottom of the seventh to beat Newark Catholic (6-5) in a division III regional championship game played Thursday evening at Big Walnut High School.

          Kort Sears led off the seventh in a tie ballgame with a triple.  Newark Catholic would walk the next two batters intentionally to load the bases.  Jace Brooks then grounded a single to right to win it.

          Coach Donnie Kline says they kids rose to the occasion.  “The ‘24 version of Highland baseball has been a really fun one.  They have really fought well.  They've learned that it takes 21 outs to win a baseball game.  It has been fun to watch them mature as well this season,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “It was a game we were down early 2-0, 3-1 and then take a lead and give it up the lead and have a chance to walk them off there at the very end.  It was a fun game.  This is a team of guys who kind of stick together.  There's not a lot of heroes I would say, but there was a lot of cool stories and a lot of guys with the heroic actions to get the win for sure.”

          Kline says the Fighting Scots lived up to their name and kept fighting.  “When you look at the game of baseball and you look back on it.  There's a lot of times the boys might say it's not our night.  It’s a good hitting club and they're bringing in their ace late and all these kinds of things that go against you.  At the end of the day, the boys kept fighting and they showed some grit and perseverance and pushed through and found a way to win the baseball game,” he said.

          Highland (26-3), the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference champ, plays either Coldwater or Liberty-Benton, who play in a district final on Saturday, in the regionals next week.

          They have some key veterans, but a lot of young kids too, and Kline says they have matured.  “The thing about it is I think good teams find different ways to win.  I mean sometimes it's going to be pitching and defense and it's going to be some late hits and so some base running or some small ball.  (Thursday) was a little bit of everything and it was a fun way to win a baseball game.  A lot of the young guys who started the game as sophomores and their first time in varsity baseball.  They’re getting that thrown in the fire type of treatment where you have got to learn on the run you.  You don't have a lot of time to figure it out and a lot of guys are doing that and it makes this club dangerous and a lot of fun to watch,” said Kline.

Published 5/24/24

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Highland Brings Down Academy

          Highland scored four times in the bottom of the fifth and rallied to beat Columbus Academy (6-4) Tuesday evening in a district semifinal in division III.

          They will play Newark Catholic on Thursday afternoon at Big Walnut in the district final.  Newark Catholic beat Know Morrow Athletic Conference champion East Knox (5-0) on Tuesday in the other semifinal.

          Coach Donnie Kline says in the face of adversity his kids never gave up.  “We gave up four runs (Tuesday) and all in one inning and all with two outs, so tip cap to Columbus Academy.  They were aggressive and they did a fantastic job, but our boys showed grit, they showed fight and they continued to chip away,” he said.

          Kline says the Fighting Scots kept attacking.  “I think at this level you get 21 outs and I think there's a fine line of being uber exuberant and trying to be too excited and then it's being patient and then just trying to wait for your time to strike.  I think the mark of any team that is tough is they find a way to win late,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “These guys kept battling.  We were down to eight outs down three runs and the boys found a way to win.  So, they kept battling and there was this kind of a professional approach where they just kept attacking and coming after the Academy pitchers and did a good job.  I was really proud of the boys.”

          Hayden Kline had three hits for Highland on Tuesday.  Kort Sears and Jayden Collins each had two.  Collins drove in two runs.  Kline and Sears each had an RBI.

Highland (25-3), the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference champion, has played a touch schedule and Kline really thinks that helped them on Tuesday.  “I think the strategy we have most years that we had a tough league in the “MOAC”, but our non-league schedule is really tough.  We try to present the boys with opportunities to play some of the more prestigious programs in Central Ohio and put the boys in situations that are really going to test them.  So, we these situations it's not the first time they've been tested.  It's not the first time that they've seen good pitching, good fielding and good defense, so they just kept plugging along, working and finding ways to score some runs late and that was a very exciting baseball game.”

Published 5/22/24

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Highland Takes “MOAC” Outright

          Highland doesn’t have a very good baseball team this year, they have a great baseball program.

          A (1-0) win over Marion Harding on Tuesday evening gave the Fighting Scots (22-3,11-3), #1 in the final Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the small school division, the outright Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference title, their third in a row.  They have been in the league only years.

          Meatloaf said two out of three ain’t bad, but Highland has been better.

          Coach Donnie Kline says he is very proud of what they have done.  “I think we have three goals every year and the first goal is to win the league and it’s a competitive league, the second goal is to win 20 games and the third goal is to have a successful tournament run. It was a really satisfying year the boys had and considering how tough and how balanced the “MOAC” here it was a really good win it kind of kept a fun season in the league,” he said.

          The only run in the game was scored in the bottom of the first inning on a clutch hit by senior Hayden Kline.

          Coach Kline says they had other chances to get on the board, but couldn’t cash in.  “I guess we call it old school baseball.  We scored one of the first and both pitchers pitched a really good game, Zach Church for Highland and Austin Allen for Marion Harding.  They both pitched a really good game.  It was one of those old school pitchers duels.  They had about 20 strikeouts and it was just a really good game,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win. “We had a clutch, two out hit in the first inning.  Hayden Kline got a single up the middle.  I didn't know it would be the only run of the game, but it was.  There was some action later.  Both teams were able to threaten and get guys in scoring position, but both defenses kind of a stiffened up, toughened up and neither team was able to score anymore runs.”

          Kline says both teams had golden opportunities in the late going, but just couldn't get one across.  “In the sixth inning we had bases loaded nobody and Allen worked out of out, he did a fantastic job.  We couldn't plate one, which is one of our hallmarks being able to score with runners in scoring position, but we couldn't do it.  Then we go to the top of the seventh and they have runners on second and third with nobody out and we held them.  Zach Church had a really heads up kind of a high IQ play.  A full arm fake on a safety squeeze and we get the runner on third in a rundown and that kind of took a little wind out of their sails.  It was just a classic, old school baseball game.  It was a lot of fun,” said Kline.

Published 5/15/24

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Highland Gets its Share

          Highland has locked a piece of the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference baseball title with a (3-0) shutout of the Ontario Warriors on Tuesday evening.

          They can win it out right with a win at Ontario on Wednesday or against Marion Harding on Saturday.

          Coach Donnie Kline says when won a pitcher’s duel on Tuesday behind Kort Sears.  “Right now, we're just at the clinch level, so we share it right now.  If we win one of the next two games we'll be out right.  We have two games to play.  It was a really good game.  It was actually kind of a pitcher’s duel, if you will.  The Ontario starter did a real nice job.  Kort Sears for us did a real nice job.  Allowed three hits in the entire game against a pretty potent Ontario offense.  I thought the boys played pretty well,” said Kline.

          Sears, Hayden Kline and Jace Brooks each had two hits for the Fighting Scots.

          Kline didn’t think it was their best game on Tuesday, but it was good enough.  “We didn't play our “A” game, probably B+ game, especially on offense.  Again, when you have a pitcher like Ontario starter (Peyton) Dzugan, who did a real nice job against us, it's hard to have your “A” game.  I felt we didn't compete the box as well as we should have at times, but again we were able to scratch a couple across early.  It was a 3-0 game. which is an old school baseball game.  Pretty clean on both sides.  A really fast game.  It was a good game.  (Tuesday) was easy one, (Wednesday) will be the hard one.”

          Highland (21-2,10-2), #1 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the small school division, leads Clear Fork, Shelby and Galion by two games in the loss column.  Ontario is now three back.

          Kline feels his kids, especially the younger ones, have gotten a lot better this year.  “I think that's the goal of all coaches is that you want to continually get better as year goes on.  You want to play your best baseball at the end of the season.  We're getting close to that.  I think at the beginning of the season we had a lot of young guys.  We start four sophomore, so we're still actually pretty young team,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “I think some of the guys thought you just go up there and swing the bat and you get hits.  That doesn't really play at the varsity level if you want to be competitive and compete for league titles you have to understand that your part of the offense and your role changes as a hitter, as a base runner, but at the end of the day a lot of these guys are trying to figure It out and it's a lot of fun.”

Published 5/08/24

© Swankonsports.com

Highland Takes First Place to Itself

          Highland is now all alone in first place in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference after a huge (7-2) win at Clear Fork on Tuesday evening.

          They now lead the Colts and Shelby, a (5-2) winner over Ontario Tuesday, by a game in the conference standings.

          They did it with a five spot in the fifth inning, highlighted by a three run triple of Zach Church, who was also the game’s winning pitcher.

          Highland had made the last out of the inning at home plate in both the first and fourth innings.

          However, coach Donnie Kline says they were ready to pounce.  “I think one of the things we want to attribute to the boys was just toughness.  This is a really good Clear Fork team, really well coached.  I thought we botched some opportunities early to take advantage of our base runners, but the boys kind of kept a level keel if you will, kept battling and they got an opportunity late to score some runs. You have to keep adding with the team like that.  Clear Fork is not going to go away.  That’s not enough runs.  They'll be ready to score some runs (Wednesday),” said Kline.

          Clear Fork coach Gabe Kennedy says they just made too many mistakes.  “We have got to bring our “A” game every night in the conference.  Highland is a really good team.  We knew that coming into it.  They’re always well coached and they're they got some dudes on their team and every year.  We have to play mistake free to have a chance.  Against a really good baseball team when you give people extra strikes, extra outs, they continue to make you pay and they did that,” said Kennedy.

          Clear Fork (14-3,8-3), #1 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the large school division, took (1-0) lead bottom of the third inning when Garrett Hotz reached on an error and advanced to third on back to back sacrifice bunts.  Nate Lind was hit by a pitch.  Hotz would score when Church tried to pick off Lind and threw the ball away.

          Then came to pivotal top of the fifth.  Luke Schlosser appeared in command as he had struck out four and held Fighting Scots scoreless.  The inning began with Schlosser hitting Hendrick Kavara with a pitch.  With one out, Jayden Collins walked and Kort Sears singled, setting up Church, who ripped a ball that got past the Clear Fork defense and cleared the bases.  Hyden Kline then executed a suicide squeeze to score Church.  Jace Brooks would walk, steal second, and score on a wild pitch.  That made it (5-1) Highland after four and half.

          Clear Fork would tally one in their half of the fifth.  Lind was hit by another pitch, Schlosser singed, Lind stole third and scored when Gavin Wiggand’s throw was high.

          However, Kennedy says the all important momentum was in Highland’s favor.  “I mean Luke’s is a stud.  He has been awesome for us all year.  Their kids grind it out.  Their kids have a plan.  It's one of those things where when they go up it helps them a lot.  They got confidence going,” he told Swankonsports.com, “In the previous inning, we left guys on base.  We struck out three times in a row you know when you guys on second and third.  Then you could feel the momentum, you can just feel the momentum shift and at that point it's tough.  Baseball is a is a game of momentum and they had it from there on.”

          In the bottom of the fourth, Clear Fork put runners on second and third with nobody out when Jay Jackson walked and stole a base and Mason Sampson reached on an error.  However, three straight Colts would strike out.

          Kline also thought that was key.  “I think a lot people just focus on just offense in high school, runs, but a lot of times not allowing someone to score is just as effective.  Not to mention momentum.  These are high school kids and so when you could keep momentum you're dugout longer it usually works out your favor,” he said.

          Highland would add two runs the seventh when runners scored on wild pitches.

          Church surrendered only three hits on the day and Kline says they were able to keep the Colts running game in check.  “I think that's chapter five in the coaching dummies try to keep them off the bases with good pitching.  We have a lot of respect for what Clear Fork does on the bases, that's a fun way to play baseball.  We try to do the same thing,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “We practice all week on the turf.  We set up some scenarios where we thought they might try to take advantage of us.  At the end of the day, Zach Church did great job on the mound.  Where you find good pitching, you find good catching with Gavin Wiggins and a great pitching coach.  They did fantastic job calling plays.”

          Highland (16-2,9-2), #1 in our poll in the small school division, took the first game in the series, but Kline feels Wednesday will be tougher.  “We told the boys this was easy one.  (Wednesday) will be the hard one.  Clear Fork is again a really good ball club, well coached, they'll bring it (Wednesday), we know that.  It's going to be a dog fight, the challenge will be come on play good baseball and hopefully have the baseball gods in our favor,” said Kline.

          A game back, Kennedy knows Wednesday is a must, but he says their master plan is still in place.  “Highland is a very good baseball team.  At the start of the week, I didn't tell my kids this, but as a coaching staff we need to split with them and we need to sweep next week (against River Valley), that's the goal.  If we split with them, sweep next week, things are looking pretty good.  The split is still a possibility.  It's one of those things where to have amnesia a little bit.  We have got to forget about this and be ready to go (Wednesday),” said Kennedy.

Published 5/01/24

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Highland Downs River Valley

          Highland stays a game back in the standings in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference after a (7-2) win at home against River Valley on Tuesday evening.

          They are tied with Clear Fork a game behind Shelby entering play on Wednesday.

          Coach Donnie Kline says they kept creating chances to score against River Valley.  “Well, I think it was an old school kind of high school game.  It was close for a while and we just kept kind of coming in at them and waves on offense and we're able to score some runs late.  It was a 3-2 game for most of the part.  So, I tip my cap to both pitchers and both defenses.  It was a fun game, frustrating at times for sure, but a fun game overall,” said Kline.

          Kort Sears picked up the win for the Fighting Scots. 

          Kline says their goal on offense is to put pressure on the opponent’s defense to make plays.  “I think I would categorize our offense as being very opportunistic.  So, we just kind of stay with what works.  We are very small ball and people know that.  I think we start to put pressure on the defense and you hope you get a crack.  You hope that the pressure breaks the defense.  A lot of times it does, sometimes it doesn't, but (Tuesday) night, we were able to make that happen,” he said.

          Shortstop Jayden Collins had a two run single in the second.  They added another in the third when Jace Brooks led off the inning with a double and scored on a two out hit by Henrick Karya.  They put it away with a four spot in the bottom of the sixth.  With the bases loaded, River Valley misplayed a ball hit by Zach Church and all three runners scored.  Hayden Kline then singled home Church.

          Highland (13-2,7-2), #2 in first Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the small school division, takes the bus to River Valley on Wednesday.

          Highland is the defending league champion and Kline says this is going to be a race to end.  “I think this is going to be a really fun action packed to end of the season.  We're excited to kind of be in it still.  We watch the scoreboard as games are over, but all we can control is what we control.  The game in front of us, pitch by pitch and play by play,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win Tuesday, “We try to wait till the end of the game to kind of look over the fence to see where everybody else is at.  It's been fun, it really has been, and it's a real challenge.  I think that I’ll serve all the teams in the “MOAC” very well when we get in tournament play because again there are no nights off and every game is a real dogfight.”

Published 4/24/24

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Highland Takes Down Galion

          Highland demolished Galion (12-5) in a Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference game on Tuesday night on the road.

          The Fighting Scots (9-2,3-2) will play at home against Galion (6-4,3-3) on Wednesday afternoon in league play.

          Being a game back in the conference standings, Highland coach Donnie Kline says it was a big win for them.  “That's a really good Galion team, so we're real happy to win.  I think both teams with a couple league losses knew they were up against it.  I thought both pitchers did a pretty good job.  There were a lot of balls put in play pretty hard, but at the end of the day I think our guys did a nice job, kind of late, trying to produce some offense and found a way to get the win,’ said Kline.

          Galion coach Kenny Fagan says they didn’t cash in on their chances.  “Highland is a tough team and we didn’t do enough to keep up with their firepower.  Had a few too many walks and left a few too many on to be successful.  We get another chance at them (Wednesday) with a new mindset,” he said.

          Highland had a lot of offensive stars in the game.  Jayden Collins had three hits and four runs scored, Kort Sears had a hit and three RBI, Zach Church had two hits and four RBI, Hayden Kline two hits, a double, and two RBI, and Rhett Russell had three runs scored.

          Kline felt they showed some patience at the plate.  “It’s kind of like a boxing match if you think about the analogy of just kind of body blow, body blow, body blow and I think we did that pretty well.  Then I think we had a two out, five run, fifth inning, all of those runs with two outs,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “The guys will be patient and put balls in play.  We were aggressive on the bases.  Just kind of took the wind out of the sails of a really good offensive team that they have over there at Galion.”

          There seems to be at least five contenders in for the “MOAC” title Highland won last year and Kline knows it will be a battle.  “When you look at the scores around the league you can see that.  Even though the scores go different ways you can see that the scores are close.  Every time our game gets over the first thing we do is kind of turn on Swankonsports.com and find the final scores around the league because again it's always a coin flip,” he said.

Published 4/17/24

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Highland Takes “MOAC” Lead

          Highland, the defending Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference champion, took a half game lead in the conference standings here in the first week of play with a (10-8) win at home against Marion Pleasant on Wednesday evening.

          Coach Donnie Kline says they got a big lead and hung on.  “I think anytime you get two wins in the league column so to speak I think that's a good thing for the boys.  We're talking about it spent a lot of time trying to work on the field (Wednesday), and we, of course, like everybody else, are fighting Mother Nature and we got the field playable,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “The first game with Pleasant was a little bit more of an upset.  We were kind of got on the hit parade.  I think we had 17 hits in that game.  (Wednesday) night it was a little closer.  We had a 10-0 lead and got some young guys in late and walk monster was definitely an impact here, but it's good to have two wins the league and just have to get better from here.”

          Highland smoked Pleasant (19-2) on Monday at Pleasant.

          Kline says they are always working to get better and he says this season they are a bigger and stronger ball club.  “I think the boys for a lot of time in this winter.  I think one of the unknown or one of the secret sauces kind of thing was they spent lot of time in the weight room this year and a lot of guys are stronger and look bigger and look faster.  So far, we've had a pretty good little recipe, but again a lot of hard baseball for us for sure,” he said.

          Highland (2-0,2-0) is headed for three game road trip to the Cincinnati area.  Kline believes that will be good for them.  “We have got three games down there in Cincinnati.  They play very good baseball, some of the best in the state, down in southwest Ohio.  So, we're excited about the challenge.  It’ll be fun, it'll be a good for the boys to kind of hang out as well.  I mean these guys, they spend a lot of time together at school, but when you get away from that and spend some time at the hotel.  We have got some activities planned to go watch college baseball.  It should be a good weekend and we're looking forward to getting into some warmer weather,” said Kline.

Published 3/28/24

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Highland Making Progress

          Highland is one of three schools in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference to have new boys’ basketball coaches this season.

          Ontario and Galion are the others.

          Rayn Stover, no relation to the football coach Ty Stover, is the new head coach at Highland.  He was at Galion last year.

          Stover says the process of getting to know new players has gone well.  “It's been going pretty good.  We are trying to get some guys motivated to play.  I think we have got a lot of interest.  The first two weeks have been real solid and we have got a couple of scrimmages coming up so we'll see how we do,” said Stover.

          With the group he has this year, Stover says they have some potential, and they just need to figure out how they all go together.  “We have got a lot of pieces we have got to put together.  A good group of guys, we play physical, we just have got to get the right rotation in there at the right time,” he said.

          Stover says the scrimmages that they have are an important tool to see what there players can do and how they fit in.  “That way we can know what guys we can put in what situations and who can handle the ball, who can shoot it, who our best defenders are.  It gives us more things to tweak leading into our first game,” said Stover.

          They open the season by hosting Fredericktown on December 1.  They travel to Marion Pleasant for their league opener on December 7.

          Stover says before that time they need to find out who can play and who can’t play at the varsity level.  “It's a big jump even from freshman to JV and JV to varsity.  The varsity game nowadays is so much faster than it used to be,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “A lot of kids, especially the younger kids, they've have got to be able to match that level of quickness and physicality at the varsity level.”

Published 11/17/23

© Swankonsports.com

Our scoreboard updated every five minutes

On Friday night at www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Highland is Seasoned

          Highland has another tough assignment this week as they must travel to the Lake Erie shore to face the Oak Harbor Rockets in a division V regional quarterfinal on Friday night.

          They produced one of the biggest upsets in the state in the first round when Kolton Stover connected with Dane Nauman on an 82-yard screen pass for a score with 1:37 left and the Scots stopped Liberty-Benton at the goal line to preserve a (21-17) win.

          Coach Ty Stover says that was thrilling, but it’s time to get back to work.  “It was great for them to get the job done, really for a whole program.  They came right back in this week ready to get to work.  So happy from last week, but it's time to move on and focus on week 12,” he said.

          It is certainly another tough opponent for the Scots (6-5) this week as they meet Oak Harbor.  The Rockets (11-0) blasted Otsego (49-20) last week.

          Stover says they are very good on both sides of the ball.  “They're scoring in the 40s and they've got five shutouts on defense.  They can do it all to be honest with you.  They have got some really nice skilled guys on offense. They have got a young man there that’s a senior wide receiver that plays just about every position on their offense.  He's their number one, we know that,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday night, “Defensively, your going to look at a 4-2-5 and real stout in the box.  In the back half, they will show us a couple different coverages that will have to take advantage of.  We have got our hands full.  I think we say that every week.  The kids will be ready to go, prepared and hopefully just ready to play as hard as they can on Friday night.”

          In the second round there are still four Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference teams in the tournament.  Stover believes the schedule they have played has prepared them well for Friday night.  “We like to call it seasoned.  We're seasoned and hopefully that once again it will benefit us on Friday up in Oak Harbor.  We know that we have got to be within that range there in the fourth quarter and then hopefully that stuff that we've been battle tested that we've learned lessons off of will help us get the job done,” said Stover.

Published 11/01/23

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Highland Plays Very Good Liberty-Benton

          Highland takes the bus to Hancock County to meet the Liberty-Benton Eagles on Friday night in a division V first round playoff game.

          Last week, the Fighting Scots lost (34-20) to Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference co-champ Ontario.

          Coach Ty Stover says he feels they turned in a solid effort last week against the Warriors.  “I think we've put a few weeks together here of playing pretty good football to be really honest with you.  Our defense is shaping up.  Actually, we're finally getting in somewhat of a groove right now and our offense continues to do what they need to do,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “Once again, it's a play or two here that we have left out there and it put us in a little bit of a pickle.  Just happy so far as far as the kids, and the effort, and just want to keep trying to get better and we're happy that we're in week 11 and got an opportunity.”

          Of course, Highland has last year’s division V player of the year in running back Dane Nauman.  This year he has over 1,400 yards and 17 TD’s this year.

          Highland (5-5) plays Liberty-Benton (9-1) on Friday night.  The Eagles are the winners of the Blanchard Valley Conference this season.

Stover says they are very impressive on offense.  “They're pretty dynamic on offense to be honest with you.  They are spread, we won’t see a tight end, but you'll see an “H” back, an athletic quarterback, two real skilled guys at running back, probably the most impressive part is their front five.  They're front five get after it.  So, we will have our hands full once again.  Just like in the in the league every week we faced the dynamic offense and we're back at again this week,” he said.

When it comes to personnel and offensive philosophy, Stover says Liberty-Benton is really pretty similar to Ontario, the team they just played.  “I was just talking to coaches (Monday) night there.  We have finally landed a team style wise that's similar to the team we just played.  I think they remind me a lot of Ontario.  We were going through a couple weeks there where it was like, okay we're going to face a spread team, then we face some double tights, you know what I mean, it's a totally different monster offensively.  This week we're going to have something similar as far as skill wise and spread wise and it's going to be nice to see if the boys can dial in a little bit cleaner and make some plays,” said Stover.

Published 10/24/23

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Highland Must be Fundamental

          Highland tries to play spoiler in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference on as they host the Ontario Warriors in a conference game in Sparta.

          Right now, Ontario shares the conference lead with Shelby.

          Last week, the Fighting Scots (5-4,2-4) beat Clear Fork (21-11) to break a tough three game losing streak.

          Coach Ty Stover says they came out and played some pretty good football.  “It was a good win for us on Friday night.  It was nice to get back on track to be honest with you.  We did show up defensively, played really physical, downhill and made some plays when we needed to.  It turned out to be our side with the with the most points scored.  Held him to 11 and seven of those came on a punt block, so we'll try to get that corrected and move forward for this week,” he said.

          Ontario (8-1,5-1) lost in the final seconds to Shelby (37-31) last week to fall into a share of the lead with the Whippets.

          Stover says they they have players all over the field on both sides of the ball this fall.  “They're pretty good everywhere to be honest with you.  We know we have got a tall task on Friday night.  They're not going to be happy.  I'm sure their hair is still standing up from last Friday when they played against Shelby.  Coach (Aaron) Eckert does a really nice job.  They have got a great athlete as their quarterback.  They run a nice 4-3 defense.  They are senior heavy.  So, they got they got it rolling and we'll try to compete and we're going to play as hard as we can play and just see what happens,” said Stover.

          In at least half of their conference games, Ontario has taken a significant lead in the first quarter.

          Stover says they have to hold back that early rush and just play fundamental football.  “That's easier said than done.  We were going to try to do our best to stay in that game and play Highland football and use the guys that we know are capable and able of making plays for us.  Try to make a big play every once in a while to turn the possession over and tackle well,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday evening, “All of those things you have to do to win a football game we're going to try to do on Friday night.  We practice like that this week.  Try to get better at the fundamental things that we sometimes do, and don't do, to get better on Friday nights.”

Published 10/18/23

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Highland Must Play Better Defense

          Highland is stiving to make the playoffs in division V as they travel to Clear Fork to meet the Colts in a Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference game on Friday night.

          For the second time in as many weeks, the Fighting Scots (4-4,1-4) lost in a close decision.  River Valley scored with about a minute to play to edge Highland (38-37) in league play last week.

          Coach Ty Stover says it was again pretty much one play that they didn’t make.  “We've had two weeks in a row of tough ones.  We're pretty much two solid plays away from being 6-2 right now.  We just didn't make the play when we needed to make the play and that's the way it goes.  Of course, there's missed opportunities throughout the game there, but we had opportunities to win the last two weeks and just couldn't get it done,” said Stover.

          Highland stands in 11^th place in their division V region and according to math wiz Joe Eitel they control their own destiny as far as making the postseason is concerned.

          Stover says this week their must focus on improvement, especially on defense.  “There are plenty of goals to be had.  We control our own destiny right now, so we are really just looking for this week and trying to get everything done that we want to have done and try to clean up again.  We were kind of penalty stricken again last week, so try to do it a little bit better job, a little more efficient and go from there.  Play a little bit better defense,” he said.

          Clear Fork (1-7,0-5) lost (36-21) to second place Shelby last week.  They were tied at 14 all at halftime.

          Stover says they are capable of running the football very well and they have to contain that.  “Well, they're not a 1-7 team, I can tell you that right now.  In the box, they're very aggressive, get downhill really well,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night. “We understand that's been kind of our challenge here this year for our box guys on defense to try to stop that run that's downhill.  We have got our hands full and we understand it there's no easy games in this league any week.  So, we're going to do our best to put the game plan out there and the kids execute it and go to Clear Fork on Friday night and see what happens.”

Published 10/10/23

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Effort and Physicality Keys For Highland

          Highland entertains River Valley in a game in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference on Friday night.

          The Fighting Scots are currently 10^th in their division V computer region.  The top 16 make the postseason and the top eight play a first round game at home.

          Highland fell last week (23-21) to Galion in conference play.

          Coach Ty Stover says they played hard, but they certainly didn’t get any breaks.  “The kids played hard last week.  We actually put a game together in which we played four quarters as hard as we could play.  Penalties were a little skewed.  We had I think 12 for 195 and they had three for 25 and I believe 15 of it was on the coach.  So, it was a little bit skewed there, but that's the way the game goes.  We played hard.  We had a play at the end that we made a play, scrambled made a play, 40 yard touchdown, but over the line I guess as far as the where we released the football.  We couldn't connect on the final drive and that was it,” said Stover.

          Highland (4-3,1-3) plays host to River Valley (3-4,2-2) on Friday night.  The Vikings shocked Shelby by scoring with less than 10 seconds to play to beat the Whippets (23-21) last week.

          Stover says they are going to throw it around a lot.  “It’s the tale of two cities for us.  Every other week it's a different style of course.  Last week, Galion was on the ground, this week we're going to see five wide and an athletic quarterback, a really nice receiver in the (Keyan) Shidone kid.  We know once again we have got to play as hard as we can and produce,” he said.

          After giving up a lot of points early in the season, the River Valley defense has been playing better.

          Stover says they are trying to guard against the big play.  “They are sitting back in the cover three there, a 4-5, every once in a while, they jump into a three front.  They're playing better football,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “It's homecoming for us.  My goal (Friday) night to be really honest with you is go out, let the kids play as hard as they can, have a good time, hopefully the community will just back the kids as they normally do.  I hope everyone that shows up to the game (Friday) can enjoy what our kids have worked hard for the last six or seven months.  That's really the goal for (Friday) night, physicality, effort and enjoy a home crowd.”

Published 10/06/23

© Swankonsports.com

Our scoreboard updated every five minutes

On Friday night at www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Highland Must Get Running Game Going

          Highland needs to battle back from a loss at the hands of Shelby as they play at Galion on Friday night in a Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference game.

          Last week, they got scorched in the second half by the Whippets and Shelby beat them (48-14) in an “MOAC” contest.

          Coach Ty Stover says things kind of snowballed on them in the second half.  “We actually had an opportunity there with about 17 seconds left in the half.  They had a fourth and 14 and we had a chance to stop them and it turns into seven.  If it doesn't, we're down six points coming out of halftime with the ball.  Then things kind of just went downhill after that.  We're back to work going to try to rebound and see what happens,” said Stover.

          Highland (4-2,1-2) is at Galion (4-2,1-2) on Friday night.  Galion fell to unbeaten Ontario (59-35) last week.

          Stover says the Tigers have some big linemen and they have some big play athletes to go with them.  “I've watched of all their film and I tell you one thing they have a few guys in that box up in front defensive line and offensive line that are real physical and real big.  They have a really athletic quarterback, a nice tailback in the (Gabe) Ivy kid,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday night, “I think the last three weeks, they've scored on the first or second play of the game in those games.  They're in a shootout there last week was Ontario in the first half.  I mean I think the first quarter both teams scored 28 or 21 points.  So, once again we're in an “MOAC” battle with a good football team.”

          Ivy and Highland’s Dane Nuaman are among the top two rushers in the league this season.  However, Nauman had just 61 yards last week against Shelby and the Fighting Scots had only 120, while giving up 206, 131 to Skyler Winters.

          Stover says they have to take control of the line of scrimmage this week.  “Our focus all week has been we have got to start reestablishing the line of scrimmage both offensively and defensively and the starts with our interior guys.  So, to run a ball successfully we have got to play with great body position, great feet and then just an attitude of beating the man across from us,” he said.

Published 9/27/23

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Highland Has to do Their Stuff

          A game back in the “MOAC” standings, the Highland Fighting Scots need a win on Friday night when they visit Shelby, one of the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference co-leaders.

          They rebounded form a loss to Marion Pleasant (34-17) the week before to beat Marion Harding (47-14) last week.

          Coach Ty Stover says good practice led to good game performance.  “We really played well last week.  It was a good momentum swing for us and we felt that we put in the work the week before and we got some rewards from it and hopefully that happens again this week.”

          Stover says improvement is needed win or loss the week before.  “You have got to get better every week and you have got to keep your edge every week and then ultimately stay healthy at the same time.  So, it's a tricky situation and you are relying on teenagers to get the job done, but they put in the work and they prepare.  Let the ball roll wherever it needs to,” he said.

          Highland (4-1,1-1) plays at Shelby (4-1,2-0) on Friday night.  The Whippets erupted in the second half to hammer Galion (62-26) last week.

          Stover says playing at Shelby will be a new experience for them.  “Well, there a three headed monster, Shelby.  They're great on offense, great on defense and getting the job done with their athletes on special teams.  So, we know that we have our hands full.  We’re going to Shelby and they have got a wonderful facility up there.  It will be our first time there, so I'm looking forward to see how our kids react and compete and just see if we can make some plays on Friday night stay within the game,” said Stover.

          Stover says Shelby has a lot of athletic kids that they will have to defend.  “They've got those big play capability guys.  They have got a couple 6’3”, 6’4” receivers and they have got a really athletic quarterback and a running back that ran for 260 or 290 last week, forgive me for not knowing exactly what it was, but they're going to make big plays every once in a while,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday night, “We have to worry about us and what we do best and be solid and efficient on offense and be physical and get 11 white helmets to football on defense.”

Published 9/20/23

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

They Have to Get Back to Highland Football

            Highland was upset last week by Marion Pleasant and they need to get back on track as they play host to Marion Harding in an Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference game on Friday night.

          They got off to a good start and scored 17 points early, but coach Ty Stover says things went downhill fast in a (34-17) loss to Pleasant, their first of the season.  “Last Friday it was a rough Friday for us.  We did get off to a great start.  Actually, had a chance there a series later after going up 14-0 to put some points on the board too and had to settle for three there.  Then after that the second quarter was just a disaster.  I take full responsibility for it.  We're in here (Monday) getting ready to get after it and changing some direction that we've been taking and trying to get back on track,” said Stover.

          Stover says they have to realize they have to improve as a team.  “I think our work ethic has to continue to grow.  We have to push ourselves a little bit harder. I've got to stay more focused on edge with these guys, not on edge, but the more focused on just continuously pushing them to be the best player they can be because they do have the capability of being fantastic football players.  It's just something that we're just going to have to put more elbow grease into and try to see if we can find a solid rhythm,” he said.

          Highland (3-1,0-1) entertains Marion Harding (1-3,0-1) on Friday.  The Presidents lost (45-14) to Shelby in league play last week.

          Stover says Harding presents a lot of the same problems they didn’t solve last week against Pleasant.  “They're very athletic.  Actually, we're probably going to be facing a similar team as far as style as we did last week, which is going to be a tall task for us again,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday afternoon, “They're have a very athletic quarterback, a wonderful athlete, they have got guys on the edge.  On defense, they're going to lock us up and put some guys in the box and we're just going to have to be disciplined and physical.  Once again, it’s going to come down to winning the game inside, at the line of scrimmage.”

Published 9/12/2023

© Swankonsports.com

Join us this week at the

Bellville Street Fair

Come say hi at our booth

Highland Plays Rejuvenated Pleasant

          Highland, the runner-up last season in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference, plays at improved Marion Pleasant in their conference opener on Friday night.

          In their last preseason game, the Fighting Scots (3-0), #4 in the first Swankonsports.com football coaches poll in the small school division, beat Crestview (50-26) last week.

          Coach Ty Stover was pretty impressed.  “It was a pretty decent performance by us last week.  I was pretty proud of our guys the way they approached the whole week and actually pregame where they were all dialed in.  They put a few quarters together there.  I think we had about a quarter lapse there in the game where I wasn't happy and hopefully we can find a way to put four quarters together this week,” he said.

          All-Ohio running back Dane Nauman had is best game of the season with 308 yards and four TD’s.

          Pleasant (2-1) dumped Whitehall-Yearling (43-13) last week.

          Stover says this is a different Spartan team than last year when they went 1-9 on the year.  “They are a school with a heavy football tradition.  We spoke about that earlier in the week with our guys.  They have got a new coach there who's done a really nice job.  They’ve got some veteran coaches helping with the defense.  They have got a little mojo going.  We know that we're going to go into a place that's a traditional football powerhouse and as you would say.  We're going to try to do our best to go in there and play physical, run the football and play some defense,” said Stover.

          Stover says the Spartans are going to try and spread them out and they do it with some pretty good athletes.  “We'll see all spread (Friday), which is kind of funny two weeks ago we faced Triway with the spread, last week with Crestview and they're more double tight look and running downhill, and now we're going back to spread.  We'll get 20 to 25 percent of empty formation and then we'll get some three by one and then they like the motion,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday evening, “They utilize their quarterback, who's a pretty good athlete, as a thrower and a runner and have got some guys on the edge.  So, we understand defensively we've got our hands full.  We've been trying to plan appropriately for our guys to do what they're best at and we'll just go see what happens when the balls kicked off.”

Published 9/08/23

© Swankonsports.com

Our scoreboard updated every five minutes

On Friday night at www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Highland Has to Win in the Trenches

          Highland hosts Crestview in a battle of good football teams in non-conference play on Friday night in Sparta.

          Highland (2-0) downed Wooster Triway (26-7) last week.  Their defense has allowed only one score all year.

          All-Ohio back Dane Nauman ran for 192 yards and a couple of scores.  Kolten Stover also threw for 153 and a touchdown.

          Coach Ty Stover says they were good on offense and defense.  “Last Friday was another good win for us.  We played well actually on both sides of the ball.  We just didn't punch it in a few series there when we had a chance to.  We're working on that this week.  Defensively, I've been somewhat satisfied with where we're at.  We have our biggest test of the year so far this Friday night with Crestview because you know coach (Steve) Haverdill will have everything ready to go and he's a coach that will be prepared and he'll try to take advantage of some of our weaknesses,” said Stover.

          Crestview (1-1) beat East Knox (20-14) last Friday.  They had a 24-game regular season win streak snapped (21-12) by Seneca East on week one.  That streak included a (37-17) win over Highland last year.

          Stover says the Cougars will run power football and they will be aggressive on the defensive side of the ball.  “They are physical as always.  They're going to put double tights in there on offense.  They're going to try to move the ball between the tackles.  Defensively, they're 3-3 stack.  They're going to come downhill and blitz two guys.  Sometimes their guys on defense are standing up,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “They're just really aggressive and when you face a team like that that's physical and aggressive you just have got to match that.  I told our boys it's a man's week this week.  It's time to grow up and it's going to be won in the trenches.”

          Crestview has a very good play action game, but Stover says they are going to keep running it at you all night.  “If they have success on off tackle one play, you can bet they come right back at it and why wouldn't you?  If it's not broke, don't fix it, right?  So, we've got our hands full, we understand.  The boys have had a good week practice getting ready to go.  We'll have another practice here and then get after it and see what happens on Friday night,” he said.

Published 8/31/23

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Highland Faces Athletic Triway

          Highland Will host Wooster Triway, of the Principal’s Athletic Conference, in a non-conference clash on Friday night.

          Last week, the Fighting Scots blanked rival Fredericktown (35-0) in their opener to the 2023 campaign.

          Kolton Stover threw for 217 yards and three scores and All-Ohio running back Dane Nauman had for 120 yards rushing and a score.

          Coach Ty Stover says it was good, but they can still get better.  “The effort was good, always, typically we get pretty good effort. We had to clean up some mistakes this week as to be expected, had some penalties that kind of held our drives back there a couple of times in the second quarter, but hopefully got them all fixed up this week and moving forward,” said Stover.

          They had five penalties last week and Stover says they were working to eliminate those in practice this week.  “I don't want to jinx it that's for sure, but we put some work in this week.  It wasn't a week of, hey pat yourself on the back, it was more of a week of, hey we're not where we want to be.  The goal is to get better every week and I know guys say you get better the biggest percentage there from week one to week two and we just want to get better and get a “W” on Friday night,” he said.

          Triway (0-1) lost (41-7) to defending Ohio Cardinal Conference champion West Holmes last week in their opener.

          Stover says offer a lot they need to be concerned about.  “They've got a lot of athletes out there and they've got a couple bigger fellows there on the interior.  Multi formation offense, 3-3 stack on defense, moving those backers in and out there,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “We will have our hands full.  We haven't forgotten that they took one from us last year and hopefully our boys are ready to play and go out and be physical. Hopefully, we have the whole Morrow County down in Sparta (Friday), it'd be nice to see.”

          Triway beat Highland (26-14) last season.

          With these non-conference games, Stover says a win can booster their playoff position.  “Anytime you can get a win in the column if that's possible it's always helps the computer points.  They're a good ball club and we know they're going to win some games this year.  Like I told you last week, I feel like every week we got our hands full and it's no different this week.  Just try to get better, try to become a little more physical, try to be more balanced if we can and just play solid defense,” he said.

Published 8/25/23

© Swankonsports.com

Our scoreboard updated every five minutes

On Friday night at www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Highland Ready for a Challenge

          Highland makes the short trip to Fredericktown to lock horns with the Freddies on Friday night in non-conference action.

          For many years they were in the same league, but now the Fighting Scots are in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference and the Freddies in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference.

          Highland coach Ty Stover takes a deep breath in saying they are healthy and ready to go.  “Number one, we're healthy and that's a good thing.  Anytime we come out of preseason and two a days and camp and all that healthy I'm happy.  Number two, I think we've made good progression it's just one of those things where you will not know till lights come on Friday night and see how the boys react.  I love the group we have and just looking forward to watching compete on Friday,” said Stover.

          Stover says when it’s a rival game like this there is always some extra intensity.  “Last year, it was a hard fought game last year, real physical, things ended up 17-14 in our favor, but it was not an easy task.  I don't look for it to be an easy task this week just for the fact like you say first game, don't know what you're going to get from either team and then put the rival fact on the on the top of that and we got something going,” he said.

          Against Fredericktown, Stover says you are always going to get a well coached unit and he adds they have some playmakers.  “They're always well coached, that's one thing and then they make good adjustments.  Fact is they have got some young skilled guys out there that are athletic, they fly around with good energy,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “Then I watched them in their scrimmage.  Like I said to our guys we will have to be ready to go because I know they'll be ready to go and we'll see who lands on the top one when the bell goes zero.”

Published 8/17/23

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Highland Looking for Consistency

          Highland, the runner up in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference in 2022 will be back with another solid team this fall.

          The Fighting Scots (7-4) had a six game winning streak last season.

          Coach Ty Stover has some guarded optimism about this year.  “Only time will tell us how good we'll be.  We know we're just hoping for a couple of things this season, that's one, to stay healthy, and two, to try to make something memorable happen.  So, all the cards are out there we just try to play the right hand here and see what happens,” said Stover.

          Daune Nauman led the “MOAC” in rushing last year with 2,278 and 27 touchdowns.  He was first team All-Ohio in division IV.

          Stover says it puts a smile on his face to have him back this fall.  “There is no doubt about that, we're blessed to have him for one more round and hopefully you make the best of it for him,” he said.

          Nauman carried the ball 273 times last season, that’s almost 30 times a game.  Stover says it takes a whole unit to make that running game go.  “His athletic ability speaks for itself, but the other ten guys on that offense also make things happen for him too as far as just taking care of business that “O” line and those receivers and our running back and our “H’s”,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday afternoon, “They just do a great job of getting the job done play in and play out and we're just going to try to stay a little more consistent with our jobs per play and hopefully we can have another good year on the ground and also throwing it once in a while.”

          At times last year, the Fighting Scots gave up some points, but Stover says they have some pieces on their defense that will look a little different this year.  “We'll get back to our traditional three front here this year and try and utilize the guys that we have.  Every year we try to formulate what we do to the kids that we have.  We're not stuck on one thing we're just trying to make things happen as far as what kind of skill we have.  So, hopefully the defense gets better this year and we move forward,” said Stover.

Published 8/01/23

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” every Friday night 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Your First Source for Everything Sports

Highland Wins “MOAC”

          Highland has played baseball in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference for two seasons and they have won the outright title both times.

          You can’t beat that.

          They smoked Clear Fork (11-1) on Tuesday to claim the undisputed title.

          Coach Donnie Kline says was a task they wanted to accomplish something and they did just that.  “It was a weird and unique situation where the boys had already clinched a share and Clear Fork is a very good program.  They have some really good athletes over there, so I wasn't sure who would be more motivated to play (Tuesday) night.  At the end of the day, the boys played pretty well and got a jump on the Colts early and then kind of held on.  The score isn’t reflective of the game, it was an 11-1 final, but it was it was a 4-1, 5-1 game for most of the contest.  The boys just found a way to kind of hold out and take care of business at the end,” said Kline.

          Kort Sears put together a strong outing on the mound for the Scots (19-3,13-0), #1 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the large school division, giving ups three hits and allowing one earned run.

          Plus, Kline says they played pretty good defense too.  “The sophomore Kort Sears did a fantastic job (Tuesday) night, six strong innings, scattered three hits, he hit a couple of players.  Clear Fork likes to be on the chalk, that's their offensive philosophy, which is fantastic,” he told Swamkonsports.com on Tuesday night after the win, “The boys played good behind him.  I thought the pitching coach and the catcher worked really well and they had a pretty game plan to kind of neutralize a lot of what Clear Fork wanted to do.  Pitching is always the name of the game.”

          The two teams will finish up conference play at Clear Fork (16-4,10-3), #4 in our poll, on Wednesday afternoon.

          Kline says on Tuesday they were able to control the Colts aggressive run game.  “They have some base runners, again, we hit four runners, they had four walks and a couple hits.  We played clean defense and that helps.  When you're able to not allow them to have extra outs you know a program, a team, as strong as Clear Fork, you can't give those teams extra outs because you'll pay if you do.  So, I thought the pitching was fantastic and the boys played good defense.  Again, they had traffic, they had base runners, but never enough to really kind of put a lot of pressure on us,” said Kline.

Published 5/10/23

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Now Two up

          Highland now has a two game lead in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference standings after a (9-4) win at River Valley on Thursday evening.

          They got some help from Shelby, who beat second place Clear Fork (8-3) on Thursday.

          Coach Donnie Kline says these are the kinds of games that you look forward to playing.  “When we talk about all of the time, we say pressure is a privilege and if you play baseball at Highland this is kind of what we expect.  We want to play meaningful baseball games at the end and when you do so, of course, every game becomes more and more tough, the target becomes bigger on your back, but it's fun baseball.  We're just trying to find a way to play with without making more mistakes in the opponent,” he said.

          Zach Church and Zach Schmidt both had four hits for the Scots, both scored two runs.  Kort Sears got the win on the mound going five innings and giving up no earned runs.

          Thursday’s game was one that had to be postponed twice due to rain and when you are not playing, Kline says yes that’s a concern.  “Well, there's a real fear factor with that of sitting around and trying to find a way to keep the guys motivated.  They're smart, they know when they're not going to play for a couple days.  When you’re forced inside what's the best method?  We as a staff are trying to figure out what's best, should we try to be competitive, trying to get outside should be tough or give them some down time, just let them enjoy some downtime and be kids.  It’s a real challenge in Ohio that all coaches have to face is how to keep your boys sharp when you know you're going to be on the shelf for four or five maybe even six days,” said Kline.

          Highland (17-4,11-0), #1 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the large school division, plays Clear Fork twice next week, but first comes the rematch with River Valley (4-15,2-9) on Friday.

          It’s a chance to earn no less than a co-title and Kline believes it is going to be a tougher challenge.  “It's a lot of fun and (Friday) is senior night for us.  We'll be seeing a really good pitcher from River Valley and like we told the boys we certainly appreciate the help from the Whippets, but our job right now is to face the game (Friday).  We can't look ahead, we can't celebrate, we can't do anything because if we don't take care of business (Friday) it'll all for or not,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night after the win, “So, our job (Thursday) is to celebrate the win and have a little fun, but (Friday) it's a refocus, it's a brand new game and all I can say we'll have to play our best game because Friday is going to be tougher for sure.”

Published 5/05/23

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Wins Again

          Highland continues to show the way in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference baseball standings after a (7-2) win over the Galion Tigers on Wednesday evening.

          Zach Church won his sixth game in as many decisions on Wednesday.  His ERA is less than 0.50 for the season.  Jace Brooks pitched three innings, allowing no earned runs and three hits.

          It was a (6-1) Highland win on Tuesday and coach Donnie Kline says Galion (8-7,5-5) played well against them this week.  “I think you tip your cap to Galion.  That's a nice squad over there.  They've got some really nice pieces.  They're well coached and I think in both the scenarios I think our pitching and defense were able to kind of keep them down a little bit and our offense gave us a little bit of a lead.  Both games in the series were very competitive and I tip my cap, that's a very very solid squad over there in Galion,” he said.

          Highland (15-3,10-0), #1 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the large school division, has been very consistent in its play this spring and Kline says that is their goal.  “I think that's what it's all about and we've talked about that throughout the season that we not allow whether it's a blip in the top of the lineup or the middle of the lineup or the bottom lineup or pitching or defense,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win over Galion on Wednesday, “There's a lot of pressure to make sure that all facets of the game are really operating at a high level because if you can do that again you avoid those streaks.  I mean by gosh season has flown by.  I mean I can't believe we're already getting ready for senior night and the end of the season.  We start looking at the standings a little bit, getting pretty exciting, pretty fun, as we close out here.  At the end of the day, you just try to avoid those bad streaks.  As coaches our jobs are just trying to find the guys with pieces that will do the best job and at the right moment and try to keep them as hot as long as possible.”

          Right now, the Scots lead Clear Fork by a game, and they play the Colts in two weeks.  Next week, they play River Valley, next to last in the conference.  However, Kline thinks they will be focused.  “I mean we're really focused you know as a young squad, so I don't think that they realize the implications of every game quite yet.  So, our job really is just pitch by pitch, hitting, anything, game by game.  I'm sure that on their own they're probably checking social media to see what the scores of games are.  I think that that out of respect for every opponent, we really try to tackle what’s in front of us.  Then of course, we've got a pretty solid non-league schedule.  We are supposed to play Lucas and (Columbus) DeSales this weekend and have some good games coming up as well.  So, I think they're kind of taking it game by game.  The way the league is set up with the back-to-back games makes it a really fun series.  So, I think right now they're a little tired and banged up from a very good Galion series,” said Kline.

Published 4/27/23

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Keeps Lead; Beats Shelby

          Highland keeps its one game lead on Clear Fork in the race in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference after whipping Shelby (9-1) on Wednesday evening in a conference game.

          They beat the same Whippets (10-0) on Tuesday.

          Coach Donnie Kline says they have done the job with pitching and defense.  “Well to give up one run in two games to a program, a team, like Shelby.  A tip of the cap to the pitchers and catchers, the defense.  We scored 19 runs in the series, but the games were really close.  I mean (Tuesday) it was 2-0 in the fifth and we go for eight.  (Wednesday), same thing, it was 3-0, then 3-1 and then we kept 4-1, 5-1.  Then we open up a little bit 9-1.  We will always believe that baseball games are won and lost with pitching and defense and the boys are really kind of brought in and playing good ball right now,” he said.

          Kort Sears was the winner Wednesday, Zach Church on Tuesday.

          Kline says as the season has gone on, they have settled in and became a better hitting team.  “We've defined roles for different guys and still some of the young guys, some of the young pups, are really starting to settle in and understand how to have a professional at bat and what to do,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win over Shelby on Wednesday, “We really focus on kind of a do your job as opposed to base hits and batting average and that’s really hard to do sometimes.  We try to play a complementary offense that goes with our defense and pitching.  So, we play small ball, we play opportunistic offense.  Like I say when you just keep applying pressure at the high school level a lot of times you're able to kind of breakthrough and we play for the big inning and we’ve been able to get that more times than not.”

          Highland (12-2,8-0), #1 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the large school division, and Clear Fork (11-2,7-1) are pulling away from the field a little here.

          Still, the Scots must play Galion and River Valley in two games series and Kline says in this league you always must be in top form.  “We kind of referenced an article with (Shelby coach) Jon Amicone at beginning the year where he said all team graduated a lot and it was going to be a very balanced league.  We really do believe that.  There's probably five, maybe six teams that had a chance to win the “MOAC” and as the years progressed, some teams are kind of falling off.  It's just a really fun, balanced league and any night you don't bring it, not only for every game, for every inning, but for every pitch, if you take a little time off you again you will probably pay,” said Kline.

Published 4/20/23

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Stays Unbeaten in “MOAC”

          Highland remains unbeaten in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference after holding on for a (5-4) win over the Marion Harding Presidents on Wednesday evening.

          They lead Clear Fork by one.  The Colts beat Ontario (10-9) on Wednesday.  Galion fell out of a share of first when they lost (12-2) to Shelby.

          Kort Sears drove in a couple of runs with a hit in the third inning to make it (3-1) Highland.  In the fifth, Zach Church doubled, one of three hits he had on the day, and scored on a hit by Sears, who then scored on a hard hit ball by Zach Schmidt and was (5-1) Scots.  They allowed three runs in the seventh, but would hang on for the win.

          Zach Church started and went six innings, allowing no earned runs, only two hits and struck out six.

          Coach Donnie Kline says Church was outstanding.  “We started a freshman (Wednesday) might in Zach Church and he was fantastic with six innings allowed two hits, zero earned runs and we built a 5-1 lead, but this high school baseball and the game is never over.  You have to tip your cap to the Prexies.  I mean they kept battling and they scored three in the seventh and made us go deeper in the pen than we wanted to, but the boys, they found a way to close at the end.  A 5-4 game definitely gave me more grey hairs I started with,” he said.

          Highland won the conference title last season, but they had some inexperience coming in this year, but Kline says they have matured.  “The point of the season is for us to get better each time we go out there and try to take advantage of all these opportunities.  (Wednesday) night is a lesson and the lesson was that every game that has to be treated with the upmost importance and every time you get an opportunity to score runs, we have to,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night after the win, “There was an opportunity in the sixth inning to plate another plate another run or two.  We did not and so instead of being 6-1 or 7-1 it was 5-1.  Marion Harding was able to chip away and make that a closer game than it needed to be because we didn't handle our business.  So, the lesson there is that the game is never over, you can't be satisfied, you have to play seven complete innings and if you take your foot off the accelerator anytime in high school baseball, well gosh you might pay with a loss.”

          It’s started to warm up a little bit finally and hopefully it stays that way.  Kline says when it does that it makes the game different.  “The game is supposed to be played in warm weather and we all know that.  As Ohioans we've adjusted to the game and it just feels weird when there's two parts.  One, you feel where's the cold when you come to a game or practice you don't have your thermals and the ski mask, mittens and all these things, so you feel a little bit naked from that standpoint.  The second part is the game changes.  (Wednesday) night the ball carried a lot more.  (Tuesday) we played at Marion Harding and the field was very hard, very dry, so you know as infielders and outfielders we have to adjust to the game.  It's not that soft, slow, infield and we have to play the game a little differently.  So, the elements actually change the way that we have to play defense and the way that we attack an offense,” said Kline.

Published 4/13/23

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Blasts Pleasant; Stays in Lead

          Highland continued its solid play early in the season as they thrashed Marion Pleasant (13-1), in five innings, in Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference action on Thursday evening.

          The Scots, the defending “MOAC” champs, are (4-0) in league play and lead both Clear Fork and Galion by a game.

          Highland got only seven hits, but they made them count.  They scored eight runs in the second inning.

          Coach Donnie Kline says some elements of their game came together.  “Well, we have not been playing very good defense.  The last few games prior to this contest we really kicked the ball around a little bit, so our focus is really on defense.  A lot of times when you fix one part of your game the other part comes together and we were able to score a lot of runs early on Pleasant and put pressure on them,” he said.

          The Scots only had one error on Thursday night and Kline hopes their younger guys are maturing.  “We got a nice start from the freshman Zach Church.  He threw really well with three strong innings.  We're still young, we started a sophomore catcher (Thursday) night, we've got a freshman middle infielder, one senior with the Brock Church and then a junior of the middle with Hayden Kline in center,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win on Thursday night, “We're trying to find that right combination of guys that can be consistent on defense.  We put Aaron West at first base and he did a really nice job for us.  So, it's just a matter of just trying to get a lot of puzzle pieces to fit together and if we can get that we can be competitive.”

          Baseball is the kind of game where you might gave to juggle your line up sometimes, according to Kline.  “We are a small school and our school our size you have to utilize the guys who have.  When you move a guy out of position to pitch, of course, that moves a lot of guys.  So, we just want consistency across the board and we try our best to give our guys opportunities to be versatile and help us.  At the end of the day, there's a lot of different ways to set up a defense and we're always trying to figure it out,” said Kline.

Published 4/07/23

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Smokes Ontario

          Highland is the defending baseball champion in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference and they proved on Tuesday evening they aren’t going to give up that trophy easy as they hammered Ontario (8-0) in a conference game at Ontario.

          Clear Fork beat River Valley (9-1), Shelby overwelled Pleasant (20-4) in five innings and Galion downed Marion Harding (6-4) in other league openers on Tuesday.

          Kort Sears fired five hitless innings striking out five and walking only one on the day.

          Coach Donnie Kline says they did a fantastic job against an Ontario team that can hit the ball.  “It was a nice way to start the season off.  A lineup like Ontario’s, which is a championship type of lineup.  Of course, Kort Sears, a sophomore, threw really well.  No hits through five innings and then the reliever was Hayden Kline and he allowed two hits, but no runs.  So, the boys combined for two hits, two walks and I believe eight strikeouts and did really well in the mound.  Again, we were able to find a catcher, the guy receiving it, and Gavin Wiggins, a sophomore, did a great job catching.  The pitching coach did a great job of calling the game plan,” said Kline.

          Wiggins also had two hits and a RBI.  Zach Schmidt has three hits and three RBI for the Scots.

          Kline says they did a solid job making contact and hitting the ball on Tuesday evening.  “It had the feel of 3-2, 2-1 type of game.  In my mind I'm thinking the chess match is going.  If we get a base runner, we have got to get him over and try to get him in and we did that.  We scored one, Gavin Wiggins, the catcher, had a double to get things going.  We brought him over to third and he scores on a Brock Church it and we have a 1-0 lead,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “Then next thing we add another run.  Keeping pressure on, I think it was the 5th inning, we score six.  Same thing, we started playing some small ball.  I think Ontario had a ball or two they'd like to have back that they might have booted.  Just allowed us put pressure on them and just to too much for them to overcome.”

          The two squads are scheduled to play again on Wednesday at Highland in the rematch.

          Kline says they have to have same approach that they did on Tuesday.  “That was the message to the boys.  (Tuesday) was the only easy day, (Wednesday) will be tough.  That's a good coaching staff, they've got a well balanced team, a lot of athletes, and experienced team over there.  So, they're going to bring it (Wednesday).  The one thing we reminded the boys that it’s a 0-0 game starting (Wednesday) and we don't get to carry over any of those runs.  So, Ontario is going to be a tough out and we need to match them their intensity, it’s the only chance we'll have to compete with them,” he said.

Published 3/29/23

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Working With a Young Group

          Highland is the defending champion in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference, but this year they are going to be much younger than they have been over the last several years.

          Coach Donnie Kline says they are going to have to do a lot of learning this spring.  “We're young and we're inexperienced.  It touches the high school life.  We're in that cycle where we've got to replace a lot of experienced ballplayers, who  knew their role and knew how to help us with their culture,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday night, “We're at the point now where we've got a lot of inexperienced ballplayers, young guys.  Our kind of model with the coaches is just have a pad of paper in your back pocket so we can at least write out notes about trying to fixing one thing after another, but that is just a young team and we're just trying to build from that.”

          Kline says right now they trying to get as many kids quality experience in scrimmage play as possible.  “The problem becomes you have other guys, the guys who are the reserve players or bench players and they need reps too, but gosh our starters are still trying to find out who they are and what their role is going to be.  As a staff, I think one of the things that is important is how soon can you find out where everybody should be and the sooner that our team can find, the sooner the staff can find out what role a player should, the better chance they'll have to be competitive,” said Kline.

          Highland is supposed to start the season on Saturday against Johnstown Northridge in a non-conference game, if the weather allows.  Their first Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference games are against Ontario on March 28 and 29.

          Kline says their biggest challenge is to find our where all of the parts fit together.  “It’s a puzzle, so I think the staff, or the coaches, that can figure out the puzzle, get the picture to become very clear in a more timely fashion, they're usually ones that have more success.  The longer you try to put the puzzle pieces that don't fit in a conference like the “MOAC” you might be out of the race.  So, we know we're under pressure to figure it out quickly you know we're doing the best we can,” said Kline.

Published 3/22/22

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Working on Shooting

          Highland will be home for Shelby in a game in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference on Friday night.

          Last week, the Fighting Scots lost a pair of conference games (49-40) to Marion Pleasant on Thursday and (51-37) to Marion Harding on Saturday.

          Coach Mike Delaney says they defended pretty well, but they couldn’t make any shots.  “I thought last week we struggled offensively, but I really like the way we competed.  I liked the way we played defense.  We are just struggling shooting the ball right now.  We are addressing that in practice and I think we are getting better.  It is just going to be a process that we are going to have to work through as the season goes,” said Delaney.

          The Highland coach says they are working on shooting in practice and he says you have to create conditions that are game like or it doesn’t matter.  “They have to take game shots at game speed and they have to gain confidence and carry that over to the games.  We have done that is a few games, but it hasn’t been consistent and that is something we are working on,” he said.

          Highland (2-3,0-3) entertains Shelby (4-1,3-0), the “MOAC” co-leader, on Friday night.  The Whippets outscored Willard (80-72) in a non-conference game on Tuesday night.  They rocked Galion (78-31) in a conference game on Saturday.

          Delaney says they mix their defenses well and on offense they want to push the pace.  He says they don’t want to play that fast.  “Well, the first thing, coach (Greg) Gallaway does an extremely good job.  I think he is an excellent coach.  They are multiple on defense.  They will press you a little bit.  They will zone you and they will play some man to man,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday afternoon, “They have six or seven weapons offensively that you have to be concerned with.  It’s starts with the (Alex) Broskotter kid, who is a 17, 18 point scorer, a double digit rebounder, and he is also one of the league leaders in assists.  We have to figure out a way to slow him down and slow them down.  If you don’t, they can get out on you in a hurry and make things very difficult.”

Published 12/14/22

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” after Friday night games 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” each week 10 AM to 1 PM

We are Your First Source for Everything Sports

swankonsports@gmail.com

Highland Plays Rival Fredericktown

          Highland takes its act down the road to Fredericktown to play the rival Freddies in a non-conference game on Tuesday night.

          They won their opener last Friday as they downed Lakewood (51-39) to start the season.

          Coach Mike Delaney says it was a good way to get their feet wet.  “It is a great way to start off the season.  It helped the kids get some buy in to what we were doing.  It certainly helped us prepare for Fredericktown on Tuesday,” he said.

          Freshman Gavin Toombs had 19 points and senior Brock Church added 16 in the win.

          Fredericktown (0-1) lost to Johnstown Northridge (58-32) in their first game of the season.

          Delaney says they are going to be experienced and physical.  In order to compete with the Freddies, he says they must rebound the basketball.  “The big thing against Fredericktown is they are a senior laden team, they have eight seniors back.  They are full grown men.  They are very physical.  They are well coached.  Coach (Derek) Dibling does a great job with them,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday afternoon, “The big thing with us is we are going to have to rebound with them and compete with them from a physical standpoint.  They are well coached and well disciplined and it is going to be a tough challenge for us (Tuesday) night.”

          Of course, Highland and Fredericktown were in the same conference, the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference, for years, and Delaney says there is still a spirt of a friendly rivalry even though they are no longer.  “Our community and their community have had great sportsmanship over the years and we have had some great battles with them since I have been here.  I think (Tuesday) night is going to be another example of two communities taking pride in what they do and how they present themselves and going at it tooth and nail until the final buzzer,” said Delaney.

Published 11/29/22

© Swankonsports.com

Follow our scoreboard for finals on Tuesday night at

https://www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Highland Opens With Lakewood

          Highland opens the season on Friday night by hosting the Lakewood Lancers in a non-conference game.

          Mike Delaney is now the head coach at Highland.  He has been the athletic director for many years and took the reins of the basketball program in September.

          He says the team has been making the right kind of progress heading into Friday night.  “I feel really good.  The progress we have made in the last week both offensively and defensively has been really solid.  Things are starting to come together,” he said.

          Lakewood (1-0) already has a win under their belts on Wednesday night.

          Delaney says they have solid guard play.  “Lakewood won their first game on Wednesday.  They beat Millersport on a buzzer beater.  So, I think they are feeling pretty good about themselves.  They have two, good lead guards.  They are smaller, but they are both quick and can run the point,” he told Swankonsports.com, “They have a brand new coach that had been in the Newark system for a long time, coach (Dan) Shackleford.  He is a solid basketball man.  I think it will be a challenge from them Friday night.”

          Delaney feels it is going to be important for them to get off to a good start on Friday night.  “Well, I think it helps them that they won Wednesday.  I do think that is a benefit, especially with a new coach trying to get them to buy into their system.  Certainly, the start of the game for us on Friday night is going to be important to kind of stem any momentum that they made have carried over from the last second victory against Millersport,” said Delaney.

Published 11/25/22

© Swankonsports.com

Score updates every 5 minutes on Friday and Saturday night

On our scoreboard at

https://www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Highland Has Identified Areas for Improvement

          Highland has been learning some things, including a new system, this month as they get ready for the high school basketball season, which begins next week.

          They have a new coach in athletic director Mike Delaney, who took the reins this fall.

          Delaney says he likes the attitude he sees with the squad and that is very important.  “The big thing for us is we are excited.  We have had 15 practices together through (Thursday) night.  Our kids had a successful football season and we have had a good fall sports season as an athletic department.  Their team first attitude and their competitiveness.  Their willingness to come in an adjust to a new system has been very exciting for us as coaches.  We are looking forward to a good year,” said Delaney.

          Delaney says they have upgraded their scrimmage schedule and that has allowed them he find what they have this year.  “There is a balance between scrimmaging and having enough practice time in order to implement your new system.  I think we have reached a pretty good balance with that.  We have scheduled up in terms of scrimmages.  We scrimmaged Linden McKinley and Granville and Wooster Triway.  So, I think it is going well so far and are looking forward to the start of the season,” he said.

          Highland begins next Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, with Hebron Lakewood at home in a non-conference game.  They open play in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference on December 2 at Ontario.

          There are three things they are really working on consistently in practice ball handling, defense and rebounding, according to Delaney.  “High School basketball games are so short in terms of the number of possessions that you get.  You have to have ball security and you have to be able to defend the ball.  I think those two things are the key for any high school basketball coach and team in order for them to be successful,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday afternoon, “Those two things combined with the ability to rebound the basketball give you a chance to be successful night in and night out.  Certainly, we are working on that every day in practice.”

Published 11/18/22

© Swankonsports.com

Score updates every 5 minutes on Friday and Saturday night

On our scoreboard at

https://www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Once Again Trenches Key for Highland

          Highland is at home Friday night for Defiance Tinora in a division V first round playoff game.

          Last Friday, the Scots (7-3) were smoked by Clear Fork (42-7) in a Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference championship game.  Highland finished alone in second place in the conference standings.

          Coach Ty Stover says it went like this, they didn’t play very well and Clear Fork did.  “We didn’t play great last Friday and hats off to Clear Fork, they played wonderful, they were ready to go and we were not unfortunately.  We have had a week’s practice here to get us back in what we do best,” said Stover.

          What Stover didn’t mention was that the Scots played last week with several key injuries.  Coaches don’t like to mention that sometimes because they see as an excuse, but I feel this time it is relevant.

          Tinora also (7-3) takes a three game winning streak into the game after a (54-7) destruction of Hicksville.  Two of their three losses are to unbeaten teams in Liberty Center and Antwerp.

          Stover says Tinora has a top notch defense and a very good run game.  “They have only given up 21 points in three games here.  They have an offense that is heavy run based and an up front group that once again that we will face that is not necessarily over sized, but really good with their feet and very aggressive,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “So, we will be in a physical battle for sure on Friday night.  It seems like every week it comes down to owning the line of scrimmage and we will see if we can do that.”

          With both teams wanting to run the ball, Stover believes it will come down to what happens up front, which is pretty much the case every week.  “That is the key we have to try and make some plays behind the line of scrimmage.  Get them into some long third down or some long second downs.  We will be ahead of the game there if we can do that.  That all comes down to our guys on defense doing their jobs and also trying to keep them off the field with our offense.  So, we will be running the football too and trying to make some plays in the passing game this week and then see what we can get done on Friday night,” said Stover.

Published 10/27/22

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” after Friday night games 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” each week 10 AM to 1 PM

We are Your First Source for Everything Sports

swankonsports@gmail.com

Highland Must Stop Clear Fork Run Game

          Highland and Clear Fork share the lead in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference heading into week 10 of the season and they square off on Friday night at Highland to determine the conference champion.

          The Scots (7-2,6-0) belted River Valley (42-21) on Friday night in a league game as the conference’s leading rusher Dane Nauman again ran for more than 300 yards.

          Coach Ty Stover says they were solid on both sides.  “We actually preformed pretty well there for at least three our of the four quarters there on Friday night.  The first half was really good for us on Friday.  We ran the football at will.  We made some key passes.  We played some good defense against a high powered offense when they go spread and empty and all of that with a great quarterback.  So, I was happy with our performance on Friday,” said Stover.

          Clear Fork (8-1,6-0), #4 in the Swankonsports.com football coaches poll in the large school division, overwhelmed Shelby (61-19) last week as quarterback Victor Skoog ran for 233 yards and four scores.

          Stover says they are an experienced group that will be ready to play.  “We are in a battle every week and this is probably our toughest one of the season.  Coach (Dave) Carroll has a great group of boys, a veteran crew, he is a veteran coach.  They are going to be prepared.  They are physical.  They can run and play defense.  We are going to have to see what goes on down here in Sparta on Friday,” he said.

          Stover says a key for them is to stop the Colts running game and then adapt from there.  “The trick is they have to run it to throw it is how I feel.  Like we always do, we will do our best to maintain what they do best and then try and take away what they do that supplements that.  Friday night, will be a situation where we have to spot the run first and then hope we can play defense on the back half with a secondary that can maintain that air attack when they get some running going,” said Stover.

          Plus, Stover says hey are going to need to produce like they have been in the running game.  “That’s our plan and it’s not big secret and I am not going to make it a secret.  We want to run first and then play solid defense and then see where the football game goes after that.  We will see if we can do that this week and see if we can make something of it,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “Like I said, we are going to be in a dogfight this Friday.  They have a heck of a team and our guys we are looking for the opportunity where we are at and we just want to make sure we take advantage of it.”

Published 10/18/22

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” after Friday night games 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” each week 10 AM to 1 PM

We are Your First Source for Everything Sports

swankonsports@gmail.com

Highland Has to Make Plays

          Highland, a co-leader in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference, plays on the road at explosive River Valley on Friday night in a key conference game.

          The Scots (6-2,5-0) share the lead in the conference with Clear Fork.  They host the Colts next week.

          They beat a good Galion team (35-21) last week behind 279 yards two touchdowns for Dane Nauman, the leading rusher in the conference.

          Coach Ty Stover says they stepped up to the plate.  “Our kids did a great job last Friday night, especially since we had another senior go down last Friday and we plugged someone else in there and actually didn’t skip a bit.  So, it is good to see the next man up mentality is working for us,” he said.

          River Valley (5-3,3-2) lost last week (37-20) to Shelby in league play.

          Stover says they have arguably the best quarterback in the league in Cayden Shidone and guys that catch the ball well too.  “They have a heck of a quarterback, probably an all-state kid, maybe challenging for player of the year in he the league, he accounts for 2,500 yards as far as passing and he also has about 800 yards or so rushing,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “So, he does it all and they have great guys on the edge, 6’4”, 6’3” guys.  We have our hands full again on Friday night, so we will see what happens.”

          Shidone has thrown 28 scoring passes this year.

          Stover says they have get some pressure on him and they must tackle well too.  “We have to apply pressure.  The trick is you have to be able to apply pressure and also tackle well at the same time.  So, you have to kind of have to balance the pressure with a little bit of poise and guard on the edge.  We will see if we can make a couple plays and get a couple of tipped balls and do something their to create come momentum,” said Stover.

Published 10/13/22

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” after Friday night games 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” each week 10 AM to 1 PM

We are Your First Source for Everything Sports

swankonsports@gmail.com

Highland Faces Big Test

          Highland, the co-leader in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference, plays at home against the Galion Tigers in a conference game on Friday night.

          Last week, the Scots (5-2,4-0) erupted from a (20-20) tie in the third quarter to hammer Shelby, the defending “MOAC” champ, (44-20) in a conference game.

          Coach Ty Stover says they did what they had to do in that second half.  “We did a heck of a job there in the last quarter and a half.  We are really proud of our kids.  It is just another week where we have to do things that we are not typically used to doing to be successful and our kids buckle down and get it done,” said Stover.

          The “MOAC’s” leading rusher in Dane Nauman (1,579 yards) ran 308 yards and five scores.  He has 20 touchdowns on the season.

          Stover says they played well last week, but that is all in the past.  “A mark of a good team is to realize that was last week and move on to this week.  Galion poses a totally opposite threat that Shelby did as far as he run game.  We have had to adapt again this week to try and scheme the right way to put our kids in good spots to make good plays,” he said.

          Galion (4-3,3-1) outscored Ontario (46-36) last week.  Braxton Prosser threw three TD’s and ran for two more.

          Stover says this is the best “MOAC” team they have played to date.  “They have got a couple guys in there that go 290 and I believe they have another guy that is at 250.  They move good and that is the biggest thing,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “They are so good with body leverages and footwork that it is going to take a special night for us on defense to get them stopped and on offense to move them in there.  We know we have a big challenge, probably this biggest challenge we have faced so far since we went up to Crestview.”

Published 10/07/22

© Swankonsports.com

Score updates every 5 minutes on Friday night

On our scoreboard at

https://www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Highland Faces Explosive Shelby

          Highland, the co-leader in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference, will be at home for the Shelby Whippets, the defending “MOAC” champs, on Friday night for a conference game.

          The Scots (4-2,3-0) share first place with Clear Fork, a game in front of Shelby, Galion and River Valley.

          Last week, they outscored Marion Harding (42-28) in a conference game.

          Coach Ty Stover says they made the right adjustments in the second half.  “We got it going there in the second half.  The first half was a little sloppy for us to be honest in all phases.  In their third and fourth quarter there we really got it gear and got it done,” he said.

          Stover says it wasn’t anything he did, but the kids that made the right choices.  “We have a saying in our program that we don’t go backwards.  No matter how you move forward you have got to get it done.  No matter what it is thrown at you, you have to get it done.  That is how we played last Friday in the third and fourth quarter,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “So, hats off to the kids because they made the adjustments they needed to make at halftime.  It didn’t take anything from me.  It was just them getting it done.  Hopefully, (Friday) night we get the same thing.”

          One thing they did was give the ball to the conference’s leading rusher in Dane Nauman, who had 336 yards and four TD’s.  He has 1,217 yards rushing and 15 scores on the year.

          Shelby (4-2,2-1) lost (34-27) to Galion last week, breaking a 15-game “MOAC” winning streak.  They were stopped three times in the red zone without any points.  They did accumulate more than 500 total yards in the game.

          Stover says they have an electric offense.  “You can’t say enough about them offensively.  There are going to go sideline to sideline.  They have some tall athletes, the have some middle sized athletes.  They know how to get it done.  The have a great freshman quarterback, I’ll tell you the kid is great.  He knows how to throw it, can scramble.  We are going to have our hands full defensively.  Not to mention their defense, they will get it tightened up this week.  We are going to try and get back to what we do best and see what we can get into,” said Stover.

Published 9/29/22

© Swankonsports.com

Score updates every 5 minutes on Friday night

On our scoreboard at

https://www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Highland Feeling Good

          Highland, a co-leader in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference, will play at Marion Harding in a conference game on Friday night.

          They blasted Marion Pleasant (45-6) last week for their second straight league triumph.

          Coach Ty Stover says they did a lot of good things in all areas of the game.  “Our offense played really efficient, defense played their hearts out as normal, and then we came up with a couple of special teams plays.  So, I’m really happy with the progress we have made from week four to five.  Hopefully, we can take another leap here and clean up some smaller stuff that needs cleaned up,” said Stover.

          It’s the Scots first year in the “MOAC” in football and Stover says they are growing in confidence.  “I think I made a comment Friday night about our pause and our heartrate and our pause is pumping pretty good right now.  We talked to the boys (Monday) about keeping that going and don’t let anybody get a seat at our table right now.  We know what’s best for us and we have to stay within us,” he said.

          Highland (3-2,2-0) will host Marion Harding (0-5,0-2) on Friday night.  The Presidents are coming off a (33-3) shellacking at the hands of Shelby in “MOAC” play last Friday.

          There have been some early struggles for the Presidents, but Stover knows they have great athletic ability.  “I am sure they have been working their butts off and they will have a great week of practice.  I was fortunate enough to coach the all-star game this past summer and know the kind of family the young man, the quarterback Stokes, comes from, and how athletic he is because I had his brother in the all-star game,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “I just know their skilled guys and so athletic.  It only takes a spark and they will get moving.  We have another task ahead of us.  This is the biggest school in the league.  We’ll try to do our best being one of the smaller ones and see what we can get after.”

Published 9/20/22

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” after Friday night games 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” each week 10 AM to 1 PM

We are Your First Source for Everything Sports

swankonsports@gmail.com

Highland Plays Athletic Pleasant

          Highland entertains the Marion Pleasant Spartans in a Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference contest on Friday night.

          They are coming off their biggest win of the season when they downed previously unbeaten Ontario (27-17) last week.

          They got 244 yards rushing from Dane Nauman and forced a couple of Ontario second half turnovers.

          Coach Ty Stover had a smile on his face.  “We got off to a good start last Friday.  We actually put three and a half, four quarters together, so that was nice to see.  We got a little bit of rhythm, so it was nice to see,” he said.

          Consistency had been an issue for the Scots, but Stover says they were much better in that regard last week.  “That is what we have been looking for.  The first three weeks we had been up and down throughout the four quarters of each of those games just trying to play consistent and play efficient.  Then try and cut back on penalties, which we did not do last week, but we made up for by making bigger plays,” said Stover.

          Marion Pleasant (1-3,0-1) was pounded (34-6) by Shelby in “MOAC” play last week.

          Stover says the Spartans have some quickness in the skilled positions and that will be a test for them.  “They are a really athletic bunch, especially with their skilled guys.  I have told our kids all week that their skilled guys are probably one of the quicker groups that we have faced this year,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “They have a nice athletic quarterback and a running back that just runs his heart out.  So, their skilled guys will be a test for us.  They have played two tough ball teams that have given them a loss, so I know how that goes because we have had the same.  So, it will be a battle (Friday) night.”

Published 9/16/22

© Swankonsports.com

Score updates every 5 minutes on Friday night

On our scoreboard at

https://www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Highland Needs Great Effort Against Ontario

          Highland plays its first football ever in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference as they are at Ontario on Friday night to meet the Warriors.

          Last week, the were beaten by Crestview (37-17) in a non-conference game.

          Coach Ty Stover says they made some mistakes early and that put them behind the eight ball.  “That Crestview team is a heck of a team.  I said last week how dynamic and physical they are.  Our kids played physical, played their hearts out.  We just had some costly turnovers with some snaps in the first quarter that put us down really quick,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “We showed heart.  We came out in the second half.  We got back to Highland football and puts some points on the board.  We are just trying to find our rhythm right now, trying to find our grove.”

          Stover says they are still searching for an identity.  “You have to find that rhythm both offensively and defensively and even special teams.  You have to figure out what the best way to kick, the best way to cover, and try and implement that stuff every week and make adjustments.  Until you find the right niche, just keep it going,” he said.

          Ontario (3-0) beat Mansfield Madison (28-14) last week in their final non-conference game.’

          Stover says they will need to play 48 minutes to have a chance.  “Well, coach (Aaron) Eckert.  He has done a heck of a job there.  I know he has been there, but it’s his first year as head coach.  He has done a great job.  Their group has really matured.  We have our hands full again.  We just keep getting into a gauntlet here.  We have to try and put a full game together and see what we can get into.  It is our third week in a row on the road.  We are used to it.  Let’s just strap it up, move forward and be physical,” said Stover.

          Ontario ran the ball very well in the second half versus Madison, but Stover says they can throw it too.  “They are pretty balanced this year.  They have a nice quarterback back there.  He goes about 6’3”, 160, nice lean kid.  I think he leads the league in accuracy, so he can put it on the dot when he wants to.  We have our hands full on defense and try to move the ball in their defense.  Our kids had a great week of practice.  Great attitudes.  I just love the kids here and they work hard.  The momentum will get there, just have to keep grinding,” he said.

Published 9/09/22

© Swankonsports.com

Score updates every 5 minutes on Friday night

On our scoreboard at

https://www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Point of Attack Key for Highland

          Highland, of the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference, travels to Crestview, of the Firelands Conference, for a football game on Friday.

          It will be two teams that want to run the ball.

          The Scots (1-1) lost last week to Wooster Triway (26-14) in a non-league game.

          Coach Ty Stover says they didn’t play as consistently as they needed too.  “Last Friday we didn’t put four quarters of football together.  We played three of them really well.  We were up there in the fourth 14-12 and had three touchdowns of 50 yards or more called back on some holding calls.  Defensively, I thought we played pretty sharp and got the job done.  Offensively, we have to eliminate those costly penalties, especially when we score on big plays.  Hats off to Triway, they found a way late to score and they took one from us,” said Stover.

          Crestview (2-0) took out East Knox (35-0) last week.

          Stover says the Cougars are a team that is going to be physical and tuff to deal with.  “Well, we have our hands full, I’m not going to lie to you.  They have reeled off 13 regular season wins in a row.  They have seven seniors on offense, five on defense, and all of those juniors, seniors, are pretty good football players,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday night, “Our kids know that and we are putting in some extra time in practice to get things right the way we want things to work in our program.  We will just go up to Crestview on Friday and play as hard as we can, play Highland football, be physical, and see how it goes.”

          Stover says the game is going to be won and lost at the point of attack.  “They are going to be double tight almost every down.  They are going to run downhill off tackle.  They are going to trap you.  A lot of the same stuff we try to do too.  So, whoever consumes the box and moves the box will be successful on Friday night.  Not to mention they have a really nice quarterback back there, I think his last name is Kuhn, and he can throw the ball on a dime.  We have our hands full, but the box is going to matter and be top priority for us on Friday night,” he said.

Published 8/31/22

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” after Friday night games 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” each week 10 AM to 1 PM

We are Your First Source for Everything Sports

swankonsports@gmail.com

Highland Takes on Triway and Spread

          Highland takes the bus to Wayne County to face the Wooster Triway Titans in a non conference contest on Friday night.

          It was a tough battle with rival Fredericktown last week and the Scots won it (17-14) on the opening Friday.

          Coach Ty Stover says some their young kids got their feet wet.  “Last Friday was a great game for our kids to be honest.  We had a lot of young, first timers out there.  They made some key plays when we needed them to.  Of course, we thought we made more mistakes than we would like.  We came out healthy and got a win so I can’t complain,” said Stover.

          Stover this week they have been making progress in the areas that he feels need addressed going into Friday night.  “Practices the last couple of days have been great.  There is a little more excitement.  We got the first one under our belt.  Now, we are just trying to prepare for a high flying offense that is going to throw the ball 80 percent of the time and spread the field from sideline to sideline,” he said.

          Triway was beaten last week by defending Ohio Cardinal Conference champion West Holmes (41-7) on Friday.

          Stover says West Holmes again is very good.  He says the Titans are going to throw the ball all over the field.  “You have to remember that West Holmes team was way deep in the playoffs.  If I’m not mistaken, they went to the final four last year.  So, that is a good ballclub there,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday night, “Triway is going to spread us out as far as they can and try and throw it and be successful there.  We are just going to have to play solid defense and get some running game going on offense.”

Published 8/24/22

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” after Friday night games 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” each week 10 AM to 1 PM

We are Your First Source for Everything Sports

swankonsports@gmail.com

Highland Moving Up

          Highland has been a very good football program as part of the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference and now this year the Scots move to play in the bigger Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference.

          They were (8-4) last year, losing to Bloom-Carroll in the second round of the division IV playoffs.

          Coach Ty Stover says this summer his kids have shown they are ready to go.  “We have been really accountable for this time of year.  We have a lot of consistent guys coming in every day putting in a lot of hard work even though it is hot.  We are putting in four days of work.  The energy is good, the attitudes are good, no complaining, things are good here in Marengo!” he said.

          They will play in a scrimmage setting which also involves Miami Trace, Greenview and Paint Valley on Saturday and then Fairfield Union next Thursday.  They open the season August 19 against former “KMAC” foe Fredericktown.

          Stover says they have some experience, but not a ton of it.  “We have a little bit of experience back.  I wouldn’t say the majority of us are experienced.  We have players that dabbled in Friday night football last year and now are going to carry a major load,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday afternoon, “In places like our “O-Line”, we are looking at three returners there, our back is returning, our “D-Line” has a few guys back, a linebacker, we are kind of sprinkled in spots with experience, and then sprinkled in spots with non-experience.  We are trying to get that experience going here quick and often here in two a days.”

          As far as moving into the “MOAC”, Stover knows that will be a challenge.  “We are lucky to move into this league because there are so many great teams in this league.  When you go down the list every week is going to be a battle, every week is going to test of kids and that’s what we want.  We are looking forward to that and looking forward to joining in that conference full time,” said Stover.

Published 8/05/22

© Swankonsports.com

“Out of Bounds” after Friday night games 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” each week 10 AM to 1 PM

We are Your First Source for Everything Sports

swankonsports@gmail.com

Highland is “MOAC” Champ

          Highland is in its first year as a member of the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference and after a (12-2) destruction of Clear Fork in five innings on Wednesday evening they are outright baseball champs.

          Shelby helped them by defeating Ontario (10-7) on Wednesday and knocking the Warriors out of a share of first.

          Coach Donnie Kline says the title feels pretty good.  “The boys have worked hard all year.  It’s a fun league to be a part of.  To be a competitive team at the end of the season, and playing meaningful games, is a lot of fun.  We got a couple of breaks and things went our way and we are really happy,” he said.

          Zach Pinkerton got his first starting assignment of the season and went four innings surrendering only four hits and no runs.

          Rider Minnick and Kort Sears led the offensive explosion with three hits each for the Scots.  Sears had two doubles and two RBI for Highland.

          Kline said it last week after a loss to River Valley that the Scots (15-7,11-3), #5 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the large school division, had to win the rest of their league games and that is exactly what they did.  “With senior leaders it makes it a little bit easier.  They are kind of an extension of our coaching staff at times.  Our message to the boys was our tournament starts a little bit earlier than other teams,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win Wednesday, “We have to face it that way, where every game had that tournament feel.  We really couldn’t afford any losses.  We didn’t want to rely on any outside help.  We wanted to take care of business ourselves.  They boys kind of bucked down and played really good baseball.  We cleaned up some things offensively and defensively and played some pretty good baseball.”

          Highland has now won four straight conference titles, the last three in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference.  They have won or shared 13 league title since 2005.

          Kline says it’s about fundamentals.  “We talk about priorities and how we organize our team activities and team workouts.  They always center around pitching and defense.  The ability to control small ball and try and keep runners close and limit the big inning.  When you do that at the high school level all that it takes is for your offense to have a good inning here or there.  If you do that it puts pressure on the other side.  Fundamentals are what works at the high school level,” he said.

Published 5/12/22

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Stays in Race with Shutout of River Valley

          Highland is right there on the doorstep in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference after beating River Valley (8-0) on Wednesday evening in a conference game at River Valley.

          They trail Ontario by just a game.  The Warriors game with Marion Harding on Wednesday night was suspended with the score tied.

          The Scots (12-7,9-3), #5 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the large school division, lost (5-1) to River Valley on Monday to fall from a share of the lead.

          Coach Donnie Kline says the assignment for them is clear.  “The way we have kind of treated this is we have turned the rest of the season into a tournament, a three game tournament.  If we lose one game, we are out of the running.  Right now, we need some help, but we are still in the race and it is a lot of fun,” he said.

          Blake Jodrey earned the shutout for the Scots, allowing only four hits.

          Kline says he was very efficient against the Vikings.  “The senior Blake Jodrey threw a complete game shoutout.  He had just 107 pitches, but 12 strikeouts to one walk and four hits.  He kept a pretty solid team off the bases and did a good job and gave our defense a chance to play.  The one thing I can say the most is he really competed out there and gave the boys a chance to win the game,” said Kline.

          Kort Sears had three hits for Highland, including a double, a two RBI.

          Kline says the team did an outstanding job of getting on the scoreboard.  “I think in league play, especially when you get familiar with opponents, it gets harder and harder to score and you need to find different ways to score to be competitive and I think the boys did that,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “We played some small ball and got 11 hits.  A couple multi hit games for guys and they squared some balls up.  Monday when we lost to River Valley, we tip our caps to them, they had zero errors and played very good defense.  (Wednesday) the balls found a little grass, so we were able to get some runners on there.”

Published 5/05/22

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Shelby Beats Highland in Nine Innings

          Luke Shepherd singled home the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning and Shelby beat Highland (7-6) in Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference action on Thursday evening in Shelby.

          Highland drops back into a share of first place in the “MOAC” with Clear Fork and Ontario, who also have two league losses.  Shelby, Pleasant and Marion Harding are all one back.

          After losing (6-0) to Highland (7-4,4-2), #4 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the large school division, on Wednesday, Shelby coach Jon Amicone says they knew it was a must win.  “Our players knew that going into the game.  Our leaders, Blaine Bowman and Marshall Shepherd, they wore it.  They told the guys this is a must win game and they put that pressure on themselves.  That is what big time players do, they understand circumstance.  We made our bed as far as the league goes, so we knew it was a must win.  I really apricate them understanding the situation and playing hard for us,” he said.

          Amicone says Luke Shepherd delivered a big hit for them in a clutch situation.  “With two outs and a runner on third Luke Shepherd did a great job for us.  He got a lot of big hits for us (Thursday) night.  It was the ninth inning and both of us were running low on pitching and we needed that hit.  It was a great baseball game.  It was one of the best I have ever been part of,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “We were fortunate to get that win against a first class team like Highland.  It was just huge for our program.  I can’t say enough good things about the Highland program.  I am just extremely impressed with how they good about their business.  Getting Highland in the “MOAC” is a huge win for the league as a whole.”

          Highland coach Donnie Kline says it was a tough loss, but they still control their own destiny.  “What a fun game to be involved with.  We are obviously disappointed to lose, but Shelby had a really good ball team.  They are disciplined and well coached.  They made a few more plays and that is why they won.  We told the boys they needed to keep their heads up, they played well.  Going nine innings with a team like Shelby is going to make us better in the long run.  From a league standpoint, we still control our own destiny.  From a season standpoint, these types of games make a team stronger and we hope that is where it will help us in the long run,” said Kline.

          Shelby threw their ace Marshall Shepherd on Wednesday, but Amicone says they had some other kids step up big.  “Landon Kennard, who has kind of stepped up to be our two, did a really nice job for us.  He got us through six innings and Jeremy Holloway and Alex Bruskotter went the final three.  All of our pitchers did a really good job.  It seemed like Highland had a lot of traffic on the bases throughout the game and our guys were able to get the big out when we needed it,” he said.

          Shelby (7-3,4-3), #5 in our poll, is scheduled to play host to Lexington on Friday and travel to Edison, the “SBC” Bay leader, on Saturday in non-conference games and Amicone says they just want to get on the field.  “Everybody wants to play and all of the coaches I talk to say the same thing.  Let’s just get out on the field and play the game.  We were very fortunate to be able to pick up a game on Saturday.  It is nice to be able to play (Friday) and Saturday.  We just want our kids to play.  Enough with the practice and hitting the ball inside.  These kids have really worked hard, as have all the kids in North Central Ohio, and they deserve to play, so hopefully we will get the weather to do that,” said Amicone.

Published 4/22/22

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Takes “MOAC” Lead

          Highland took sole possession of first place in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference after a (6-0) win over defending champion Shelby on Wednesday evening in Morrow County.

          Clear Fork fell a game back after a (7-3) loss to Marion Pleasant on Wednesday.  Shelby is now two back.

          Highland coach Donnie Kline says they got a strong effort on the mound from Blake Jodrey.  “The boys played really well.  Shelby is a very balanced and very compete team.  They are well coached and hove athletes everywhere.  It looked like it might be a game where we struggled early on,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “Blake Jodrey, the senior, was on the mound.  He had the bases loaded in the first inning, worked out of it, and went the distance and only allowed two hits the entire game.  He pitched very well and the defense did well behind him.  Just found a way to score some runs.”

          Shelby coach Jon Amicone says they couldn’t get anything going against Jodrey.  “I thought Jodrey was sensational.  He had a good two pitch mix that kept us off balance the whole game.  He was in control from start to finish.  You have to tip your cap,” he said.

          It was the first loss of the season for Shelby starter Marshall Shepherd.

          Kline says they were able to get in some good counts.  “That kid is a stud.  The boys have a lot of respect for Marshall Shepherd.  He does a fantastic job.  They were really impressed with his pitches and how he threw them.  We just got some plus counts where we could get on base a little bit and we barreled some baseballs up.  Overall, Marshall Shepherd is the best pitcher we have seen all year and we have seen some good ones,” said Kline.

          If it doesn’t rain too much on Thursday, the two teams are supposed to play again this time in Shelby.

          Kline says you have to be ready every time you take the field in this league.  “This league is a lot of fun and anybody can beat anybody, which we have seen already.  After every game we have parents and players running to their cell phones to check out scores and see who is doing what.  It is a league where you can’t take a night off and if you do you will probably pay the price for it,” he said.

Published 4/21/22

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Back in “MOAC”

          Highland, who has been one of the best baseball schools in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference, has moved back to the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference.

          Coach Donnie Kline says it is a different challenge.  “We are headed back to the “MOAC”.  We have been members before.  It has been a few years.  There are some new faces, so new schools in the league.  Just a lot of good baseball played in the “MOAC”,” he said.

          Clear Fork, Ontario and Shelby are now part of the “MOAC”.

          Kline says they have been able to get a good look at their kids.  “I think every coach has question marks as to where they are at.  Getting a chance to play some different jerseys this past week was fun.  We got a chance to play Gahanna and Buckeye Valley and Cardington.  It was good to see some different jerseys.  The boys handled themselves pretty well,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday night, “We are a senior laden team.  We have a lot of experience and high baseball I.Q.’s.  Some guys have moved positions and you always worry about team chemistry.”

          Kline says their goal is to develop players with versatility.  “We try not to make position players, we try to develop baseball players.  Not necessarily a third baseman or a shortstop or second baseman.  We have a lot of Swiss army knives.  A lot of guys with versatility.  I think one of the challenges for us this year will be can we get the right guys in position in time.  A lot of the guys can play infield or they can catch or play in the outfield.  A lot of guys have arms that can throw.  It is just a matter of the staff finding the right guy for the right spot,” he said.

          Highland does have some depth on the pitching mound and Kline says that will be key for them.  “Well, pitching is the life blood of any program.  We have some senior pitchers back.  We have Blake Jodrey, who had a fantastic year last year.  He was 8-1 with a 1.10 ERA, all-district kind of guy.  We have Rider Minnick back, Zach Pinkerton, Copper Merckling and juniors like Brock Church and Zach Schmidt will throw as well.  You never think you have enough arms, but I will say he have a lot guys that can fill up the zone.  If they do, we hope the gloves can play defense behind them,” said Kline.

Published 3/25/22

© Swankonsports.com

Your First Source For All Things Sports

“Out of Bounds” every Friday From 10 to midnight

“Sports Saturday” every week 10 AM to 1 PM

Highland Gets Defending State Champs in Regional

          Highland takes on Gilmour Academy in the volleyball division II regional semifinal at Lexington High School on Thursday night.

          Other semi as Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division champion Vermilion against Elida.

          The Lady Scots (22-4) were unbeaten this year in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference in their return to that conference.

          Coach Rob Terrill says they are very proud of their non conference schedule.  “Our non-league schedule, our 13 non-league games, we try to play all division one and division two successful schools, top 10, top 20 in their division.  We just want to play that type of competition all of the time,” he said.

          Gilmour Academy has sort of reloaded its squad this year, but Terrill says they are really talented.  “They are the defending state champs.  The lost their two top hitters from last year, their libero and their setter.  They have a freshman setter, two hitters are freshmen and their new libero is a junior.  So, they have a lot of youth to mix in.  They have three losses this year.  One at least pretty close to us in Olentangy Liberty.  We have some film on them and we hope we can compete with them,” said Terrill.

          Terrill says they have to find a way around the blocks they will see from Gilmour Academy and make their serve a weapon.  “They are the taller team.  All of their hitters and 5’11” to 6’1” and they are very good at blocking, so we have to try and we call it “going through the fence” and move their blockers around and stretch their defense, so that is one key for us.  We feel we have an advantage serving, we are a very good serving team,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday, “So, we are hoping to use that to our advantage.  Create some different angles from the setter to their hitters and hopefully we will be successful there.  We have to play hard and anticipate and get to balls that typically would fall.  I thought we did that last week in districts.  If we do that, I think we will be successful.”

Published 11/04/21

© Swankonsports.com

A special edition of “Out of Bounds”

Will air Saturday 10 PM to midnight

“Your First Source for All Things Sports”

Highland Faces Unbeaten Bloom-Carroll

          Highland, the co-champion of the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference, will travel to Bloom-Carroll to face the unbeaten Bulldogs in a regional quarterfinal in division IV on Friday night.

          They lost to Bloom-Carroll (49-17) in the regular season opener August 20.

          The Scots (8-3) advanced with a (41-6) pounding of Columbus Linden McKinley last week, scoring three times early to assume control.

          Coach Ty Stover says they were able to do what was on the game plan.  “I was happy with the way we played Friday night.  We hustled to the football on defense and owned the box on offense.  So, everything we asked for we got down on Friday night and happy to play again this week,” he said.

          Bloom-Carroll had their way with Vincent Warren in the first round winning (49-0) at home.  They have pitched four shutouts this season and four more times allowed only one score.

          Stover says they are really good.  “I’ll tell you what that is a heck of a Bloom Carroll team.  I believe they are something like 22-1 the last two years.  I believe they have 11 shutouts marked up the last two years.  We are excited to get another chance at it.  We know how good they are.  It’s a good test for us to see where we are with the program and how far we have come this year.  We want to go down there and try and sustain drives, play solid defense, and see what happens,” he said.

          Stover says on Friday night, they have to do a solid job of running the football and keeping the ball in their hands, plus stop the Bulldog running game.  “We have to stop the run if we want to be more competitive.  Honestly, we scored early and fast.  We scored two touchdowns with in the first five minutes and as odd as it sounds it almost hurt us a little bit because our defense was on the field so much,” he told Swankonsports.com on Tuesday, “We forced four fumbles I think in the first quarter and only got one of them.  So, that allowed them to sustain some drives and stuff.  It is going to be one of those things where we are going to try and eat some clock up and play some solid defense.  Play Highland football and see what happens.”

Published 11/03/21

© Swankonsports.com

A special edition of “Out of Bounds”

Will air Saturday 10 PM to midnight

“Your First Source for All Things Sports”

Highland Faces Big Play Linden McKinley

          Highland, the co-champion of the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference, plays host to the Columbus Linden McKinley Panthers on Friday night in a first round playoff game in division IV.

          Last week, the Fighting Scots pounded Northmor (38-7) to earn a share of the title with East Knox.  Sophomore Dane Nauman ran for 132 yards, but the usually run heavy Scots got 143 yards passing a two TD’s from Copper Merckling.

          Coach Ty Stover says it was a solid win.  “Really happy with the momentum we developed last week.  Hopefully, we can continue it this week with a very athletic Linden team,” he said.

          This is an 8-9 game between Highland (7-3) and Linden McKinley (8-2) on Friday night.  Linden beat rival Columbus East (20-6) last week and has won it’s last three.  They average over 30 points a game.

          Stover says they have some gamebreakers.  “They play in a very athletic Columbus City League.  They do a lot of different things.  Really impressed by their skilled guys and their quarterback, who is a duel threat in the running and the passing game,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday afternoon, “So, we have our hands full.  Defensively, they will be playing a lot of lock up man coverage.  I’m sure they will have eight or nine in the box (Friday) night and we’ll see who can own the box and go from there.”

          Stover says they are going to have to be great individual tacklers or they are going to give up some points.  “They are great in space and we have worked on that.  That has kind of been our idea all year long to continue to get better with our hips and our feet in space.  The object is to get the player down not to make a big hit.  Hopefully, (Friday) night we can gather our balance and make tackles the way we have been efficiently and create some plays on defense,” said Stover.

Published 10/29/21

© Swankonsports.com

On Friday and Saturday night log onto our scoreboard

At www.swankonsportshosting247.com

For constant score updates

Your First Source for All Things Sports

Highland Expects Physical Battle with Northmor

          Highland wins no less than a share of the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference title with a win at Northmor on Friday night.

          They currently are tied for first with Northmor and East Knox.  The Bulldogs play at Danville Friday night.

          This will be the last ever “KMAC” game for Highland.  The football program moves to the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference next year.  All the other sports already compete there.

          East Knox scored with 14 seconds remaining last Friday to beat Highland (27-20) and hand the Scots their first conference loss.

          Coach Ty Stover says they have to quit hurting themselves.  “We just have to start playing cleaner.  Last week, was probably our second consecutive game when I thought we didn’t play very clean.  So, we worked on that this week.  Of course, we have to shore up turnovers,” he told Swankonsports.com on Thursday, “We turned the ball over three, four times, especially in the second half.  That is our own fault.  Those are things that we are all dedicated to cleaning up this week and hopefully we do.”

          Highland (6-2,5-1) is at Northmor (8-1,5-1) on Friday night.  The Golden Knights lost for the first time all year last week when Centerburg beat them (14-12), which helped create this logjam at the top of the conference standings.

          Stover says Northmor is very physical and they won’t be in a very good mood.  “They are 8-1 right now and they lost to Centerburg and I’m sure they are not happy about that situation.  Their size and physicality and all of that stuff is a concern for us.  We are just going to go up there and try and clean up some things and let the chips fall where they may.  Hopefully, our kids will play hard and get after it (Friday) night,” said Stover.

          Both teams want to be physical run first kinds of teams.  Stover believes this game is going to be won and lost up front.  “There is no doubt it is going to won right they in the box Friday night again.  We have done a great job tis year of just getting better and putting in a lot of effort.  We have got backs that are running hard.  We will see (Friday) night because like I said they are petty physical on both sides of the football.  Our defense really has a challenge ahead of it.  Our kids know that.  We will see who can gain those six inches at a time and see what happens,” he said.

Published 10/22/21

© Swankonsports.com

On Friday nights log onto our scoreboard

At www.swankonsportshosting247.com

For constant score updates

Your First Source for All Things Sports

Highland Controlling Line of Scrimmage

          Highland, the co-leader in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference, plays at East Knox in an important game for both on Friday night.

          The Bulldogs trail Highland and Northmor by a game in the conference standings and must have a win to have any chance at sharing the conference title.

          The Fighting Scots have put together a five game winning streak since entering conference play and coach Ty Stover says they have been focused and working hard during practice and games.  “The first reason is we have great kids.  The kids work hard every day.  It always helps when you can run the football and play defense and that seems to be what we are doing best right now,” he said.

          Sophomore running back Dane Nauman has 1,797 and 18 TD’s this season and they have been punishing defenses with the run game.

          Stover says sometimes they have actually scored too quickly.  “We have been lucky to have a wonderful sophomore back.  He has 1,800 yards right now.  It does help us take some time off the clock, but if you talk to our defensive coordinator, he is saying we are scoring too fast.  It is kind of a double edged sword when our offensive line is handling business in the box and we get one for 50 and then the defense has to come right back on the field.  So, things are good when those are our issues,” said Stover.

          Highland (6-2,5-0) beat Cardington (45-26) last week in a conference game.  East Knox (6-2,3-1) responded to a loss to Northmor (24-7) to hammer Fredericktown (49-8) on week eight.

          Stover says the Bulldog’s spread offense is difficult to stop and they have an outstanding defensive lineman too.  “They are senior heavy.  They have a wonderful quarterback in the (Peyton) Lester kid.  They have two receivers that really push you on the edge and then a back that is just strong.  So, their spread offense is going to be a challenge.  Then up front defensively, #72 for them really gets after it,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday, “So, our kids have a big challenge.  East Knox has had a wonderful program there the last several years under coach (Cody) Reese.  We are going to go up to Howard there and Friday night and see what we can do.”

Published 10/12/21

© Swankonsports.com

For the latest in local sports

Go to the listen line at the top of the page

At www.swankonsports.com

Highland Rallies for District Win

          Highland scored two in the fourth and two more in the fifth to rally and beat Columbus Bishop Hartley (4-3) in a division II district semifinal on Tuesday evening at Highland.

          They will host Hebron Lakewood, a (3-2) winner over Licking Valley on Tuesday, in the district championship game on Thursday.

          Hartley put a three spot in the board in the second inning to take the lead, but Highland coach Donnie Kline says they were resilient.  “It was an exciting one.  We tip our cap to a very good Hartley team.  They jumped out in the second inning and got three runs, but they boys were resilient and kept fighting,” he said.

          Wyatt Groves and Blake Jodrey did not allow the Hawks to cross the plate again and that was key in the Scots comeback.

          Kline says after they fell behind, he remined the players why the play baseball at Highland.  “When you have a team that has had success you have to win these kinds of games, but the reality is a lot of the baseball games we have played this year we have played from in front,” he told Swankonsports.com after the win, “You remind the guys this is fun, this is why we play, we are not going to be uptight, we are not going to be nervous.  This is why you play baseball at Highland.  This is a lot of fun.”

          Highland (27-2), #2 in the final Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the large school division, shared the title this season the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference with Fredericktown, who advanced in the division III tournament with a (10-4) win over Mt. Gilead on Tuesday.

          K.J. Johnson and Brock Church had RBI singles in the bottom of the fourth to cut the deficit to (3-2) and Kline says that put them in position to get the win.  “I think the coaching point with the boys was let’s just get one.  Let’s pop the bubble.  Let’s get one on the board and then we can feel a little better about ourselves.  When you do think that way, one turns into two and 3-2 is a much more manageable game and it put us in striking position if you will,” said Kline.

          In their half of the fifth Highland took the lead when Randy Cain started the inning with a single and scored the tying run an error by the Hawks.  Zach Pinkerton hit sacrifice fly that allowed pinch runner Layton Shaffer to score what proved to be the winning run.

          Kline says they were able to take advantage.  “It was a situation where the momentum kept switching our way and the boys kept fighting.  That’s the way we look at our offense, just keep coming at them with waves and waves and waves.  It worked out (Tuesday) we kept getting base runners.  We found a couple of barrels there and made it interesting in the end,” he said.

Published 5/26/21

© Swankonsports.com

For baseball and softball scores

Go to our scoreboard at

www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Highland One Step Away

          Wyatt Groves Owen Mott combined on a three hitter and Rider Minnick pounded a three run homer and Highland beat Northmor (6-3) Thursday evening in Knox Morrow Athletic Conference action.

          They have lost only once in conference play this season, yet they have to beat Northmor at home on Friday or they may go home with nothing when it comes to the conference title.

          They are tied with Fredericktown, both are (12-1) in conference play.  The Freddies beat Centerburg (14-3) on Thursday and are scheduled to play the Trojans again Friday, weather permitting.

          Highland coach Donnie Kline says they are  pumped to have this opportunity.  “We are very excited with where we are at from the standpoint that we are still in the league hunt with a game to play.  It has kind of got that tournament feel.  If you win you are in and you lose you are out.  Ever since the split with Fredericktown that has been our season.  Every game has been life or death for us.  Hopefully that makes us a stronger team as we head for the tournament run.  It’s one game to hang a banner or say, hey, we were very close,” said Kline.

          Northmor (14-7,7-6) has played some excellent baseball this year too.

          Kline says the Golden Knights are going to make it tough on them.  “I think Northmor is one of the more underrated teams in our area.  I think they are well coached.  Buck Workman does a fantastic jog over there.  He is an experienced guy.  They have some pieces, they really do.  The young man that threw against us (Thursday) night, the freshmen, Grant Bentley, did a fantastic job, kind of kept us off balance for a while,” he told Swankosports.com after the win on Thursday, “We were able to get a couple of guys on and get one over the fence.  Rider Minnick hit a home run to put us up by three.  It wasn’t over until the very last out as they had a chance to tie it up at the very end.  (Thursday) was the easy one, (Friday) is the hard one.”

          Northmor certainly put a scare into the Scots on Thursday.  Coach Buck Workman says they just made a few too many mistakes.  “Highland is a very good team.  We made a couple of mistakes that good teams exploit,” he said.

          Highland (19-1,12-1), #3 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the large school division, has a great season, but Kline says it all comes down to Friday.  “This what we say all of the time, this is why you play at Highland follows.  If you want to be in blowouts and in games that don’t matter there are a lot of programs around where that can happen.  At Highland we are very blessed that these games matter.  We usually see a team’s best pitching and we get team’s best shot.  We are excited by that, we like that at Highland.  It has been a fun run, but (Friday) is why you put in the winter workouts, all of the weights.  Everything comes down to one game and we wouldn’t have it any other way,” said Kline.

Published 5/07/21

© Swankonsports.com

For baseball and softball scores

Go to our scoreboard at

www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Highland Goes to Danville and Wins

          Cooper Merckling and Owen Mott combined on a no hitter on Wednesday as the Highland Scots handled Danville (9-1) in a Knox Morrow Athletic Conference game.

          The win kept Highland (16-1,10-1), #2 in the Swankonsports.com baseball coaches poll in the large school division, in a share of first place in the conference with Fredericktown, who beat Norrthmor (2-1) on Wednesday.

          Coach Donnie Kline says they took the bus to Danville and did what they had to do.  “I think anytime you go on the road in a conference game and you come home with a win, that’s a good night.  We had two pitchers combined for a no hitter. Cooper Merckling, a junior, and Owen Mott, a senior, they did a really nice job kind of keeping Danville off the bases for the most part.  We got some timely hitting and scored some runs late to kind of pull away,” he said.

          Highland did not score in the first three innings, but would score at least one in each of the final four.

          Merckling went the first four and two thirds innings, striking out nine, while Mott finished up striking out five over the final two and a third innings.

          Kline says it was kind one of those situations where you didn’t even realize what was happening.  “The boys have been pretty effective and credit to pitching coach Andrew Westbrook, he has done a really nice job just setting the guys up and put them in good position to have success.  It was one of those situations where the boys just keep pitching well,” he told Swankonsports.com on Wednesday night, “We didn’t even realize it until it was late.  It wasn’t one of those ones where everybody has to count down and crewing our fingernails.  It was like after the game, hey, there was a no hitter there.  It was just a fun game overall, the boys played well, and got a couple of big hits late.”

          Highland got 13 hits in the game, including a home run from Zach Pinkerton, who had five RBI on the day.

          Kline says it wasn’t their best effort, but it was still pretty good.  “That is one of the challenges of high school baseball.  Danville is not having the best season, but they are a well coached team, they are good guys over there, and at the end of the day they are high school athletes.  They are going to give us their best.  For our guys they have to understand regardless of who is on the schedule they have got to bring their “A” game.  (Wednesday) was probably our B+ game, it wasn’t our “A” game, but the boys found a way to win.  A couple of long balls late and pulled away,” said Kline.

Published 4/29/21

© Swankonsports.com

For baseball and softball scores

Go to our scoreboard at

www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Highland Stays on Top

          Highland maintained its share of the lead in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference by getting two wins over Cardington on Monday, one was a continuation of a game started Friday, but postponed due to rain.

          The Scots (8-0,4-0) share first place in the “KMAC” with Fredericktown, a game in front of Northmor.

          They beat the Pirates (22-0) behind Rider Minnick and (7-1) with Wyatt Groves getting the win.

          Coach Donnie Kline says those were two good wins.  “That is a pretty challenging Cardington team this year.  The boys jumped up on the early on Friday.  I don’t want to say that game was over before it was finished, but I think both teams knew where it was headed.  The second game was a real pitcher’s duel.  They threw their ace and we thew one of our aces and it was 0-0 going into the fourth.  It was a close game and eventually the boys stretched out the lead and made it a 7-1 game, but very good game,” said Kline.

          Kline says they have found an approach this year that is working for them and they are going to stay with it.  “We have preached to the boys this year, let’s keep it simple.  Let’s get them on, get them over and get them in and that seems to work.  Maybe with the kids we have this year, we don’t have as much experience as the teams we have had in the past.  We have had to simplify things and it seems to have really worked out for us so far,” said Kline.

          He adds that one of the big things a coach is charged with doing is finding what buttons to push.  “Every year is a different family.  Every year is a different culture.  Even a lot of times you have the same boys, but they develop different throughout the years.  Some of the kids spend some time in the summer developing their game and some others focus on some other sports.  Coming to together every year is kind of a challenge,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday, “Without being able to play last year, we didn’t know what kind of family we were going to have this year.  So, for us to be able to put it together so far it has been a lot of fun and the boys have been playing some very good baseball.”

Published 4/13/21

© Swankonsports.com

For baseball and softball scores

Go to our scoreboard at

www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Highland Takes Down DeSales

          Highland opened the baseball season with an outstanding win on Monday by traveling to Columbus DeSales and knocking off the Stallions (5-2) in a non-conference game.

          Seniors Wyatt Groves and Owen Mott scattered seven hits and the Scotts made only one error in picking up the win.  Groves faced the minimum through three and Mott recorded a strikeout with the bases loaded in the fourth.

          Coach Donnie Kline says it was a very good start to the season for the Scots.  “It is good to go on the road and get a win.  It’s always fun way to start a season against a program like DeSales, they have had our number the last couple of years.  It was a really good team win, really happy for the boys,” he said.

          Kline says pitching and defense have been the backbone of this team so far.  “It is the old adage that pitching and defense wins games and so far we have lived by that.  We had four scrimmages and had success against some really good opponents and some traditional powerhouses in Buckeye Valley and Gahanna, Lexington and Utica.  Our success has really come from pitching and fielding.  The boys have really been filling up the strike zone and playing really solid defense, it has been really fun to watch that,” said Kline.

          Randy Cain and Dominic Carter had RBI hits for Highland and Rider Minnick accomplished a rare defense feat with four outfield assists.

          Highland (1-0) hosts Clear Fork (0-2), a (7-3) loser to Medina Buckeye on Monday, in a non-conference game on Tuesday.  This becomes a league game next year when Highland leaves the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference for the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference.

          Kline says you don’t get a lot of publicity for defense, but he says that’s how you win championships.  “I know that a play at first or blocking a ball in the dirt is not going to get you on ESPN most of the time, but that is really wat win championships.  We have a couple of kids that are really taken leadership on the infield and the outfield,” he told Swankonsports.com on Monday night, “It is great to see guys like Dominic Carter at first base and Luke Cain behind the plate.  These guys are selling out.  They are using their bodies to block balls and keeping everything on the infield.  It has been really fun to see defense put together like that.  A very fun approach to the game.”

Published 3/30/21

© Swankonsports.com

For baseball and softball scores

Go to our scoreboard at

www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Check out our scoreboard at www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Check out our scoreboard at www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Check out our scoreboard at www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Check out our scoreboard at www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Check out our scoreboard at www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Check out our scoreboard at www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Check out our scoreboard at www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Check out our scoreboard at www.swankonsportshosting247.com

Check out our Scoreboard at www.swankonsportshosting247.com for the latest baseball scores

Check out our scoreboard at www.swankonsportshosting247.com for the latest baseball scores

Check out our scoreboard at www.swankonsportshosting247.com for the latest baseball results

Highland Expects to be in “KMAC” Race

Check out our 24/7 listen line for the latest in baseball news

Highland Scots news can also be heard on the SwankonSports 24/7 Listen Line