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Mineral Point's baseball team challenged one of the top ranked Division 3 teams in the state and hung around with them for most of the game Thursday.
The Pointers took on Wisconsin Heights who holds down the fifth spot in the Wisconsin High School Baseball Coaches Association Division 3 rankings. The Pointers trailed early then got within a run at 7-6 before the Vanguards pulled away for a 12-8 non-conference win.
The Pointers pounded out 11 hits with the usual hitters having multiple hit games
Turner Poad was 2x4 and led in rbis with three. He drove in a run in the third with a ground out then knocked in a pair in a two run fifth with a single.
Tarek Oellerich and Sy Staver gave life to the top of the order as Oellerich, who leads off, and Staver, who hits second, both were 2x3.
Gabe Ottoway knocked in a pair of runs with a single in the third and hammered a double in the seventh.
"We swung the bats well today," said coach Dan Burreson.
The Pointers also got a lift from sophomore Dylan Macgilvra's arm as he turned in a strong relief appearance.
"Dylan threw well in relief," said Burreson "He has had a couple good outings in his last two appearances."
The Vanguards plated a pair of runs in the first and added five more in the second for a 7-0 lead.
The Pointers answered with a four run third and tacked on two more in the fifth to pull within one.
But, Heights came back strong and sent home four in the fifth and one in the sixth to pull away.
The Pointers got a pair in the top of the seventh but could not catch up.
Alec Schmitz and Ottoway both saw some mound time for the Pointers.
"Heights is a really good baseball team," Burreson said. "A little disappointed in the way we started. You cannot give teams like Heights extra outs, but I am pleased at the way we battled back. "