MARENGO --- The Highland Scots will play for its first district title in 15 years after coming back to defeat Bishop Hartley 4-3.

 

The #5 Hawks struck first in the top of the second with two out as the bottom of the order came through with RBI by Lukas Graham and Alex Ramicone while another run scored on a wild pitch to make it 3-0.

It would be the majority of their offense, however, as starter Wyatt Groves and Blake Jodrey kept them off the board the rest of the way.

 

Emmet Gillies kept the Scots offense off-balance for the first three innings, but #2 Highland would finally have an answer for him in the fourth loading the bases with one out. KJ Johnson and Brock Church then each hit RBI singles to make it 3-2.

 

The Scots then took the lead in the fifth when Randy Cain led the inning off with a single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Dom Carter then sent a ground ball to short that was collected, but the throw to first was wide allowing Carter to score the tying run while Carter advanced to second.

Layton Shaffer then pinch ran and advanced to third on another wild pitch and one batter later scored on a Zach Pinkerton sac fly to make it 4-3.

 

Hartley did make things interesting in the top of the seventh putting the tying run on third and go-ahead run on second with two out, but Jodrey was able to get a fly out to left to end the game.

 

Highland advances to its first District Championship since 2006 where they won the D3 Grove City District Championship on its way to a Final Four appearance. They will face #6 Lakewood at Highland on Thursday at 5:00.