MASON --- The Highland Scots will play for a regional championship after defeating Dayton Carroll 9-3.

 

Highland (29-2) had trouble against Patriots starter Steven Chapman, who struck out four batters through the first two innings. The Scots would have better luck in the third as a mixture of errors and a sudden loss of pitch control allowed them to put up a 5-spot.

 

Carroll (13-15) bounced back in the bottom of the inning scoring twice on a steal of home and an RBI hit to cut the lead to 5-2.

 

Highland then made it 6-2 when Rider Minnick was hit by a pitch and advanced to third on a sac bunt and a wild pitch. He then scored on an errant throw to third.

 

The Patriots got the run back in the fifth when Chapman led off the inning with a single and later scored on a two-out hit.

 

The Scots then blew the game open in the sixth with two out when Zach Pinkerton hit a 2 RBI two-out triple making it 8-3. KJ Johnson then finished things off with a solo home run to right field in the seventh.

 

Carroll made things interesting in the seventh loading the bases with one out, but Tyler Disbennett came in and got a strikeout and a force out to end it.

 

The Scots move on to Sunday morning's regional final where they will face Badin with a spot in the D2 Final Four on the line.

 

Presented By: Knox Community Hospital - www.kch.org