Scots Take Momentum Into 6A Playoffs
Highland Park wasn’t fazed by the transition to Class 6A baseball during the regular season, and now the Scots hope that momentum will continue in the playoffs.
HP takes an 11-game winning streak into a Region II bi-district series against Irving MacArthur that begins at 7:30 p.m. tonight at Scotland Yard. Game 2 is slated for 7:30 p.m. Friday at MacArthur, while a third and deciding game would return to HP at 3 p.m. Saturday, if necessary.
The Scots (22-5) were especially tough during their run to the District 10-6A title, shutting out eight of 14 league opponents. The pitching duo of Layne Looney and William Adair, each of whom has an earned-run average of less than 1 for the season, will make HP tough to beat in any series.
Late in the season, the HP bats came alive, and now seem to be peaking at the right time. The Scots scored at least eight runs in four of their last six games, including a 20-run outburst against Richardson Berkner. Catcher Matthew White has been the most consistent hitter with a .419 average, five home runs, and 31 RBIs.
The Cardinals (14-11) are making their first playoff appearance since 2008. They lost their final four regular-season games — two against Jesuit and two against Irving Nimitz — to drop to fourth place in District 9-6A. They were shut out in three of those games.
Yet while MacArthur’s offense has struggled at times this season, it does have a formidable duo in Jake Lyons and Logan Austin who lead the team both in hitting and pitching.
A year ago, HP advanced to the third round of postseason play before falling in a third game to Prosper. If they win this weekend, the Scots would play either Sachse or Harker Heights in the area round, followed by a possible showdown against powerhouse Jesuit in the regional quarterfinals.
