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HP's Olivia Davis (center) is embraced by Lauren Jackson and Katie Bell after Davis' single drove in the winning run against Mesquite Horn last Friday night.

Last Friday night, the Highland Park High School varsity softball team won an exciting game at home against Mesquite Horn.  HP came back from one run down in the last half of the seventh inning to beat the Lady Jaguars 5-4 in walk-off fashion. 

Prior to Friday's game, on the previous Tuesday, the Lady Scots hammered-out 16 hits on their way to a 12-5 victory over Richardson Pearce at Lady Mustang Field. 

The victories keep Highland Park undefeated in District 10-6A play and in first place by two games with four district games remaining.  The win Friday also ensures the Lady Scots of their second consecutive playoff berth -- a first for Head Varsity Coach Meredith Townsend’s crew -- not to mention the team's earliest post-season qualification.

In their game at JJ Pearce on Tuesday, April 5th, HP would score early and kept JJ Pearce from ever getting close in the game.  HP scored in the first three innings, with key hits from Amanda Reenan, Sunny Bowden and Rennie Orr in the first inning, and by Olivia Davis and Grayson Rutherford in the third. Through three innings, HP would be up 7-2.   

In the Scottie fifth, Highland Park’s sophomore Amanda Reenan (who had a huge week) led off the inning with a solo home run, a deep, towering shot to straight-away center field.  After an Emily Singh walk and another Sunny Bowden base hit, senior Rennie Orr hit a double down the left field line -- knocking in two more HP runs.  When junior Olivia Davis walked, senior third baseman Lauren Jackson then took a 1-0 fastball into left field scoring Davis.  The Lady Scots were up 11-2.

As the top of the 5th started, so did the top of the 6th -- on an Amanda Reenan solo homer.  The dinger was Reenan’s third on the season.  Pearce would score two runs in the 6th on three base hits and another in the 7th before eventually succumbing to the Lady Scots and to senior pitcher Katie Bell.  In registering the win, Bell threw 7 complete innings, faced 28 batters, gave up 9 hits and struck-out 9, walking only one Lady Mustang.

Unlike the win over Pearce, last Friday night's victory against Mesquite Horn wasn’t decided until the bottom of the seventh. Before that, the game was a back-and-forth affair with several lead changes. 

After the Lady Jaguars took an early 1-0 lead in the first, HP matched the run on an Emily Singh one-out double to right.  Singh would advance to third base after fellow senior captain Sunny Bowden hit a line drive over the pitcher’s head and into centerfield for a base hit.  Singh would later score on a tag-up, after Rennie Orr's sacrifice fly to left-center field.  After one, the score was knotted at 1-1.

Singh and Bowden, who, combined, were 5-for-8 on the night, came through again in the Scottie 3rd to break the tie.  Singh led off with a base hit up the middle followed by Bowden’s single to right.  Both Lady Scots would score when junior right fielder Olivia Davis belted a 1-0 off-speed pitch to left for a double.  Through three innings, HP was up 3-1.

Horn kept battling back in the game, however,  scoring one run in the 4th off a solo home run and two more in the 6th after a walk, a double and a base hit.  While the Lady Scots threatened in the bottom of the 6th -- having runners on first and second base with only one out -- HP could not push the runs across and were still down 3-4 going into the 7th inning.

In the circle, Katie Bell would put the Lady Jags away in order in the top of the 7th.  In 7 full innings of work, HP’s senior gave up 4 runs on 5 hits, walked two and struck-out 6.  Bell has 136 strike-outs on the season and is in top 10 in the Dallas area in strikeouts.

Down 3-4, and with the team’s nine-straight district win streak on the line, the Lady Scots' lead-off batter, Amanda Reenan, came to the plate -- she would set the tone for the inning by blasting her fourth home run of the season -- a scorched 1-0 fastball over the centerfield fence.  The game was now tied 4-4. 

That's when seniors Sunny Bowden, Rennie Orr and Katie Bell each came to the plate and hit three consecutive singles -- loading the bases.   Coach Townsend then opted to substitute Bowden for HP's base-running specialist, junior Sarah Hall, who was now on third base and represented the winning run. 

The next Lady Scot batter would be fellow junior Olivia Davis.  With the Horn pitcher clearly rattled, she quickly fell behind 3-0 to Davis.  The HP faithful were cheering wildly, enough so that Davis couldn’t determine that Coach Townsend had given her the take sign on her 3 ball and no strike count.  Imagine Coach Townsend's surprise (and then relief) when Davis whacked the next pitch she saw, a fastball down the middle -- that Davis hit  beyond the Horn shortstop and sharply enough that the field umpire who was situated close to the shortstop, couldn't get out of the way of the ball quickly enough, it hit him in the heel causing the ball to ricochet across the field.  In the confusion, Sarah Hall trotted home with the winning run for Highland Park.

The wins this week were HP's 9th and 10th consecutive district victories and keep the Lady Scots undefeated in District 10-6A play at 10-0 -- guaranteeing them a spot in the post-season.

HP softball is away for their next game at Lake Highlands on 4/12, they then return home on 4/15 to play Mesquite High School on the Lady Scots’ ‘Y’ night.

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At the half-way point of their District 10-6A season, HP softball is undefeated at 7-0.

The Highland Park High School softball team improved to 11-7 overall, and sits in first place atop District 10-6A with a 7-0 record after recent wins over Mesquite, Richardson Berkner and Richardson High School.

The Lady Scots have won these games with superior pitching, sound defense and excellent hitting.

Against Mesquite on March 22nd, four lead changes would mark the game before HP would go ahead in the top of the 7th.  The Lady Scots would hang on to win in the bottom of the inning, 8-6.  Highlights from this game included HP's Emily Singh going 3-for-4 on the night with a double and 3 runs scored, and Sydney Thompson's triple and double, the latter of which knocked-in two runs.  

The game against Berkner last Friday, March 25th, featured two undefeated squads both with top-flight pitchers; HP's Katie Bell, and Richardson Berkner's Texas A&M pledge, Taudrea Sinnie.  Though the Berkner pitch K'd 8 Lady Scots, Bell struck-out 11 Lady Rams on her way to a 6-1 Highland Park victory.  Highlights for HP from this game included senior Sunny Bowden's 3-for-4 performance at the plate, with a double, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI and fellow senior Rennie Orr's 2 double, 2 RBI night.  Both the Skeeter game and the Berkner game were played on the road.

Highland Park returned home last night to face Richardson High School.  In this contest, the Lady Scots banged-out 10 hits on their way to a 12-0 run rule-shortened win.  Two Lady Scots homered in the game; sophomore Amanda Reenan went yard with a solo shot in the 4th, and fellow infielder Rennie Orr hit a grand slam in the bottom of the second (Orr also doubled and singled amassing 6 RBI in the game).  In the circle, Katie Bell struck-out 6, walked only 2 and threw a no-hitter on her way to a 12-0 shut-out win.

At 7-0 the Lady Scots softball team has their best start ever in district play.  This Friday (4/1), HP will start the 2nd half of their district slate with a home game against North Mesquite.  Game time is 7pm.

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Senior Rennie Orr drives a ball to left in the 6th inning last Friday night. The HP catcher was 3-4 with two doubles and 4 RBI.

Senior captains Katie Bell and Rennie Orr combined for 6 of the Lady Scots’ 8 total hits as the 2016 HPHS varsity softball team beat Lake Highlands High School 10-2 last Friday night at the HP Softball Field to remain unbeaten in district at 4-0.

Senior 2nd baseman Sunny Bowden and junior Olivia Davis each added key base hits of their own to help spark three big innings for Highland Park on a chilly evening when HP celebrated its teachers on Teacher Appreciation Night. 

In each of their past two district games, the Lady Scots have let their opponent jump out to an early lead.  Their game Friday against Lake Highlands was no different as the Lady Wildcats took advantage of an uncharacteristic Highland Park fielding error to score the first run of the game after the Lake Highlands lead-off batter singled to left field.  That would be pretty much all Lake Highlands would get at the plate, however, as pitcher Katie Bell and the rest of the experienced Lady Scot defense held Lake Highlands in check most of the night.  For her part, Bell struck-out 9, gave up 6 hits, no walks and no earned runs in securing the win through 7 full innings of work.  HP’s lead pitcher has 90 strikeouts so far this season.

At the plate, HP waited until the bottom of the third inning to rally, scoring 4 runs in the frame.  With two outs in the inning, the Lady Wildcat pitcher walked sophomore Amanda Reenan and senior Emily Singh.  Sunny Bowden, who, lately, seems to find base hits at key junctures of a game, came through yet again when she took a 1-2 pitch through the right side for a base hit, scoring Reenan.  The next batter, Rennie Orr, then bounced a base hit into left field, which scored Singh making it 2-1.  After a fielder’s choice by Bell pushed the runners ahead 60 feet, junior Olivia Davis punched a base hit up the middle, scoring courtesy runners Millenia Perales and Sarah Hall.  The inning would end with HP up 4-1. 

The score was then 4-2 in the 5th when the Lady Scots would strike again.  After Sunny Bowden was hit by a pitch, she would score after a Rennie Orr double.  The next batter, Katie Bell, promptly scorched the first pitch she saw to centerfield.  With two runners on, senior third baseman Lauren Jackson then tapped a slow roller to 3rd, which gave the Lady Wildcats all sorts of issues.  The attempted throw to put Jackson out missed its target at first base, caromed off the dugout wall, and skidded into right field allowing two more Lady Scot runs across the plate.  By the end of five innings the score was HP 7 Lake Highlands 2.

HP would add 3 more runs in the bottom of the 6th after catcher Rennie Orr hit her second double of the night -- a smoked 0-1 fastball that scored Amanda Reenan and Emily Singh who had both walked.  After Katie Bell’s base hit scored Orr, it was HP 10, Lake Highlands 2.

The win improved the Lady Scot’s overall record to 8-7.  Their 4-0 district start is the best start ever for the softball team.  Highland Park has two tough tests upcoming -- both on the road -- at Mesquite on Tuesday, March 22nd and at Richardson Berkner on March 24th. 

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HP's Lauren Jackson shows thumbs-up after safely sliding into 3rd against M. Horn.

The 2016 Highland Park varsity softball team bookended their spring break with key wins over district opponents.  Prior to their respite, Highland Park beat Richardson Pearce 5-1, then, this past Tuesday at the Mesquite Girls Softball Complex, the Lady Scots defeated Mesquite Horn 8-4 in a total team effort. 

The Friday before spring break, the Lady Scots hosted the Lady Mustangs.  HP's bats were quite through the first two innings of the game as they tried to find their timing against Pearce's pitcher, a hard-throwing right-hander who gave up four walks and threw two wild pitches in the first two innings of the game.  Unfortunately, the Lady Scots were unable to capitalize from their early inning base runners despite having them in scoring position.  HP's courtesy runners seemed uncertain on the base paths.

In the Lady Scot half of the 3rd, sophomore third-baseman Amanda Reenan experienced first-hand the velocity of the JJP hurler's fastball, when she was plucked by the first pitch of the inning.  Senior Sunny Bowden  then came to the plate, and, just as she had done in her team's previous game against N. Mesquite, she rapped a base-hit up the middle to score Reenan.  With Bowden on 1st, senior catcher Rennie Orr then vaporized the first pitch she saw -- sending a line drive over the left-center fence for a two run home run.  The Lady Scots would add one more run in the frame after Katie Bell walked and junior shortstop Olivia Davis smacked a base hit to leftfield which scored the courtesy runner for Bell, junior Sarah Hall.  Through 3 full innings HP was up 4-0.  The Lady Scots would add one more run in the 5th after Rennie Orr (who singled) would score on an Olivia Davis double.

As it turned out, HP senior pitcher Katie Bell would only require minimal offense output from her teammates, as she was in command of the Lady Mustangs all night. Through 7 full innings of work Bell racked-up 8 strikeouts and allowed no earned runs on three hits and no walks.  Bell put the Lady Mustangs away in order in the 5th and 6th, and HP’s defense would do the rest to secure the win.

In their Tuesday night win, HP again got off to a slow start, taking, evidently, a few innings to shake off the last remnants of their spring break. Highland Park was held scoreless through 3 innings, with only one hit, and trailed 1-0, when, in the top of the 4th inning, the Lady Jaguar 2nd baseman couldn’t handle a smash grounder by Katie Bell.  After a line drive by senior slap-hitter Grayson Rutherford, senior Lauren Jackson proceeded to take a 1-1 fastball back up the middle for an RBI single.  With Rutherford at 3rd, she would easily score when sophomore Sydney Thompson hit a soft liner just beyond the Mesquite Horn 2nd baseman.  Through 4 innings, Scotty was up 2-1.

Mesquite Horn would tie the game in the bottom of the 4th, however, after a two-out triple and a base hit by Horn’s 9-hole batter.  In the top of the 5th Highland Park would regain the lead when sophomore Amanda Reenan led-off the inning with a line-shot double to centerfield.  After a bunt single by senior Emily Singh and another single by senior 2nd baseman Sunny Bowden, the bases were loaded for senior catcher Rennie Orr who promptly sent first pitch she saw back up the middle, scoring Reenan.  After a Katie Bell sac. fly, the Lady Scots were ahead 4-2.

Horn added one more run in their half of the 4th before the Lady Scots came to bat in the 6th.  In this inning, HP would score 4 more runs on 2 hits; Amanda Reenan’s single and Rennie Orr’s two-run double.  HP’s final two runs were scored on a walk with the bases loaded and by a fielder’s choice hit by Bell.  HP's four-run sixth would be too much for Horn, particularly with pitcher Katie Bell hitting her spots.  The senior HP hurler put Horn away in order in the 6th and struck-out the last batter in the 7th -- Bell would finish the game with 5 strikeouts, bringing her season total to 81.

With the win Tuesday, Highland Park is now 7-7 overall and 3-0 in district play and is in a great position with three tough district games upcoming against Lake Highlands, Mesquite and Berkner (the latter two are both away games).  HP softball will be at home this Friday, March 18th to host Lake Highlands.  It will also be Teacher Appreciation Night.  The varsity team will acknowledge the hard work and dedication of their high school teachers.  These faculty members will be recognized on the field before the start of the game at 6:30pm.  First pitch is at 7pm.

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HP's Emily Singh beats the throw in stealing 2nd base.

The 2016 HPHS Varsity Softball team returned from their trip to Sugar Land, Texas last week after participating in the Ft. Bend Invitational Tournament. Over three days, the Lady Scot's fastpitch squad played five softball games and came away with a 2-3 record. 

In the tourney, HP came up short against Lamar (Houston), Kincaid and Ft. Bend Christian Academy, but beat St. John's and John Cooper (The Woodlands).  It was in these two victories where the Lady Scots showed their stuff, and on both sides of the ball!

In beating St. John's, senior pitcher Katie Bell threw a no-hitter.  Bell struck-out seven Lady Mavericks, and, were it not for one small fielding error, would have thrown a perfect game in the 5-0 shut-out win.  Against John Cooper, HP logged 9 hits in scoring 8 runs in their 8-6 victory.  Several Lady Scots tagged the John Cooper pitcher for extra bases; including senior Sunny Bowden's double, junior Olivia Davis' double and triple, and senior Rennie Orr's solo home run in the top of the 2nd.

The John Cooper win likely gave the Lady Scots momentum for their district 10-6A opener this past Monday night at the Mesquite Girls Softball Complex.  As they had last season, Highland Park opened their district play against North Mesquite.  A year ago, HP pounded N. Mesquite 18-3 -- but this was a far better team than last year's Lady Stallion crew, but, with 7 returning seniors and 7 returning players with all-district honors, Highland Park's a better team in 2016 as well.  And it showed.

HP recorded 10 hits in beating N. Mesquite 6-0.  The Lady Scots hit the ball hard in every inning scoring 3 runs each in the top of the 1st and top of the 5th innings. Seniors Emily Singh, Rennie Orr and Katie Bell each had multiple hit nights.  Moreover, pitcher Katie Bell went the full 7 innings, gave up only two hits, walked one, and struck-out 12 Lady Stallion batters.

Highland Park next plays rival J.J. Pearce in the Lady Scots district home opener on Friday night at 7pm.  With HP moving back to 5A next season, it may be a while before the Lady Scots host the Lady Mustangs at the HP Softball Field.

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The Lady Scots strategize before taking the field.

After defeating the Carrollton Creekview Mustangs 8-6 in their regular season opener on Feb. 15, the 2016 HPHS Lady Scot Varsity Softball Team participated in the 6th Annual Forney ISD Invitational Softball Tournament last weekend at the Forney Community Park.  Over three days, Highland Park played 5 games in the round robin-style tournament and finished with a 1-4 record in playing some of the top fastpitch teams in the Dallas area. 

The Lady Scots began the tournament, Thursday against a stout Frisco Independence squad.  HP lost the game 3-5.  Though nearly keeping pace with their opponent in hits (8-9), HPs 3 fielding errors were the difference in the game.  Highland Park was led at the plate by senior captains Rennie Orr (who had two base hits and an RBI) and Sunny Bowden (who doubled and scored a run), and by pitcher Katie Bell -- who had a base hit and struck-out 8 of the Independence Knights.

HP’s middle two games were even tougher contests. HP faced Crandall High School, last year’s district 13-4A champ, losing 10-1, and Frisco; last season’s District 9-5A champ and a regional semi-finalist.  The Frisco Racoons pitcher, a Texas A&M commit, one-hit the Lady Scots, striking out 11 on the way to an 11-0 win.

Highland Park’s final two games were Saturday against Waxahachie, who two hit HP on their way to a 1-0 win, and Irving; who was revved-up for this rematch of last season’s bi-district match-up (which HP won).  The Lady Scots came out on top in this contest as well, 10-5.  Highlights from this win included junior shortstop Amanda Reenan’s 2-for-4 day (with a triple) and 1st baseman Sydney Thompson’s base hit and double along with 2 RBI.  Senior pitcher Katie Bell pitched all five games of the tournament for the Lady Scots, tallying 33 innings of work.  Last season’s district 10-6A Pitcher of the Year struck out 24 total batters.

At 2-4 overall, the Highland Park softball team will host Bishop Lynch on Tuesday night before traveling to Houston later this week to play in Ft. Bend Christian Academy’s Invitational Tournament. Similar to the Forney Invitational, Ft. Bend’s tournament will also field some top softball teams, many of which are top private school programs including some of HP’s opponents; Lamar (Houston), St. John’s, Kincaid and Ft. Bend Christian Academy; a four-time TAPPS state champion.

It is Head Varsity Softball Coach Meredith Townsend’s belief that tougher opponents in non-district play will better prepare the Lady Scots for their district, which, for Highland Park, opens on Tuesday, March 1st at N. Mesquite (then at home against JJ Pearce on March 4th).  This is same strategy that netted HP Softball a playoff berth last season and a bi-district championship as well.  Good luck Lady Scots!

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2016 HPHS L. Scot Varsity Softball team

After posting 3 wins and only 1 loss in scrimmaging some good Dallas-area softball teams over the past two weeks, the 2016 HP Lady Scot Varsity softball team will open their regular season with a home game against Carrollton Creekview at the HP Softball Field tonight at 7pm.

The team will use the home opener to hold their 'Meet The Scots Night'.  Fans in attendance will get free Cracker Jacks (while supplies last) and will have opportunities to win free T-shirts, movie tickets, hamburgers and hot dogs through free raffles held throughout the game.

So come on out an support Lady Scot Softball! 

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The 2016 HPHS softball team lends a hand at the N. Texas Food Bank.

January and early February have kept the 2016 Highland Park High School softball teams busy! 

After the teams’ first practices and an intra-squad scrimmage two weeks ago, this past weekend, both the junior varsity and varsity teams spent a full day volunteering at the North Texas Food Bank.  Head Varsity Softball Coach Meredith Townsend thought it would be both a great team-building exercise and a fulfilling day for the Lady Scots – how right she was!  All told, the HPHS softball team sorted, assembled and bagged about 6,200 meals, filling 300 boxes, or 10 pallets of food for the NTFB to disseminate throughout the Metroplex.  The North Texas Food Bank is always happy to take on volunteers or donations, for more information visit; http://web.ntfb.org.

The members of the JV and Varsity softball teams are also trying to raise some money for their own program through a partnership with Studio Movie Grill.  The Highland Park softball players are selling tickets which may be used at any of the 23 Studio Movie Grill locations nationwide – 11 in Texas alone, including, of course, the one at Royal and 75.   Tickets are just $10 per ticket, and never expire.  So catch a movie!  Look for a Lady Scot softball player and buy a bunch of tickets today, or, for more information, email; homeorr@gmail.com.

Back on the softball field, the Lady Scots have two home scrimmages upcoming on February 5th and 12th.  Each of these games will be played at the HPHS Softball Field.  HP’s first regular season game will also be at home on February 16th.  The JV will start at 5p, with first pitch for the Varsity at 7pm.  Highland Park’s first home district softball game will be played on March 4th against JJ Pearce.

Of course the Lady Scots are the District 10-6A runners-up from their historic 2015 season in which the team qualified for the post-season for the first time ever.  This season, with seven seniors and six returning all-district players, expectations are high around the HPHS fastpitch field!  Watch this space for updates all season long.....

Go Scots!

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With the conclusion of the HPHS softball team’s exciting season earlier this month with an area playoff loss to Rockwall, last week HP put the finishing touches on their 2015 campaign with the announcement of their all-district honors as well as the naming their 2016 team captains. 

In recognizing her team’s successful season, Head Varsity Softball Coach Meredith Townsend touted this season’s many accomplishments; the Lady Scots finished 2015 as the District 10-6A runners-up with an impressive 10-4 record, the team qualified for the post-season and swept through the bi-district round of the playoffs; both first-time accomplishments for HP Softball.   The 2015 HP squad also set a handful of team records including; highest team batting average (.322), most doubles (56) and most runs scored (173). 

The 2015 HP Softball team also came-away with the most All-District honors the program has ever had, including Katie Bell being awarded the District 10-6A Pitcher of the Year.   Impressively, the Lady Scots fielded 8 Academic All-District student-athletes as well.

All-District 10-6A Honors;

Honorable Mention:

Grayson Rutherford (Jr.),

Emily Vandermeer (Sr.)

2nd team All-District:

Sunny Bowden (Jr.),

Emily Singh (Jr.)

1st team All-District:

Kate Hodges (Sr.)

Rennie Orr (Jr.)

Amanda Reenan (Fr.)

District 10-6A Pitcher of the Year:

Katie Bell (Jr.)

 

District 10-6A Academic All-District:

Kate Hodges (Sr.)

Julianna Szuwalski (Sr.)

Emily Vandermeer (Sr.)

Katie Bell (Jr.)

Sunny Bowden (Jr.)

Rennie Orr (Jr.)

Grayson Rutherford (Jr.)

Sarah Hall (So.)


The team also named their captains for the 2015-’16 season; Rennie Orr (returning captain, incoming senior), Katie Bell (incoming senior), Sunny Bowden (incoming senior) and Emily Singh (incoming senior).

 

 

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HP Softball - bi-district champs.

The HPHS Lady Scots Softball team kept rolling last Friday night with a 6-0 win over Irving High School to take the best-of-three series two games to zero to advance to the UIL Region 2 area playoffs.

After the fireworks of 16 hits (7 for extra bases) the previous night, Irving started another pitcher (and changed their batting order) to try to tweak things.

Irving's strategy was only slightly effective.  Although the Highland Park bats weren't quite as red-hot as they were Thursday, HP managed 7 hits and forced the Lady Tigers to commit 4 errors by aggressively running the bases - the Lady Scots had five stolen bases in the game.

Highland Park started quickly in the top of the 1st inning after lead-off batter Katie Bell drew a walk.  HP Head Coach Meredith Townsend knew the Irving starting catcher from the Thursday night game was pitching, so with a new catcher behind the plate, going to senior courtesy runner Heather Hansen seemed a smart move - it paid off.  Hansen quickly stole 2nd and advanced to third when leftfielder Emily Singh beat-out an infield hit.  Hansen then easily scored when senior captain Kate Hodges singled up the middle.  HP would tack-on another run in the frame after an Amanda Reenan sac. fly scored Singh.  By the middle of one inning, HP already had a 2-0 lead.

The game stayed 2-0 until the top of the 6th when junior Sunny Bowden smacked a 2-run double scoring Emily Vandermeer & Olivia Davis, who each walked.  After rightfielder Grayson Rutherford's base-hit (which scored Bowden) HP was up 5-0.

That three run 6th expanded to 6-0 when catcher Rennie Orr (who was 2-for-3 on the night with a double) walked in the top of the 7th.  Courtesy runner Sarah Hall then proceeded to advance on another Vandermeer free pass, eventually scoring after stealing a base and being sacrificed home by Olivia Davis.

With a lead the entire game, junior pitcher Katie Bell never flinched at the new-look Lady Tiger batting order.  Bell was masterful in pitching a 3 hit shutout in 7 full innings of work.  Bell struck out 6, walked only one and provided the Lady Scot defense with a steady diet of infield ground balls and harmless flares upon which they feasted; the Scotty defense was solid all evening, registering no errors in helping Katie Bell put away the Irving batters in order in the 3rd, 4th and 5th innings.

Highland Park will now put their playoff success to the test in the area round.  HP will face Rockwall High School, the District 11-6A champ, and an undefeated 22-0-1 squad with several college signees, a national high school ranking, and the distinction of being the #1-ranked high school softball team in Texas.

HP will face Rockwall in another best-of-3 series.  Game 1 will be played Thursday, May 7th at Rockwall High School at 7pm.  Game 2 will be played at the HP Softball Field on Friday, May 8th also at 7pm.  If necessary, game 3 will be played Saturday, May 9th at HP at 11am.