Bulldogs Open With Three Wins On The Diamond

By Daniel Makarewicz

The intent of Highland sophomore shortstop Trey Koishor’s seventh-inning suicide squeeze bunt was tying the score on Saturday afternoon. Instead, it ended the game.

Koishor’s perfectly executed bunt easily scored Matt Miscik from third base, but also plated Tyler Griesbaum from second. The squeeze helped the Bulldogs snag a 6-5 win over Moline, completing a doubleheader sweep at Glik Park.

Highland opened the day with a 6-3 win.

“I liked the ending (of the week) a lot better than the start,” Highland coach Joel Hawkins said.

The Bulldogs (3-1) opened the week with a 16-12 home loss to reigning Class 2A state champion Freeburg on March 21. In that game, Highland, which received three hits from Luke Darling, allowed six runs in the seventh inning.

Four days later, Trent Clemons threw a gem in a 10-0, 5-inning win over Plano. Clemons struck out 10 and allowed two hits in 4 ⅔ innings. Miscik and Aidan Duft both finished with two RBIs.

Moline built a 3-0 third-inning lead in Game 1 before Highland exploded for two runs in the fourth and four more in the fifth. Blayne Kapp and Grant Fleming both had two hits. Fleming, a freshman, also had two RBIs.

That set up the finale, which ended with Koishor’s bunt. On the play, Miscik and Griesbaum were both running on first movement. Moline pitcher Chase Tholl, pitching out of the windup, fielded the bunt in front of the mound and threw Koishor out at first. However, Griesbaum, who never stopped on the play, was easily able to score on the throw.