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JR Linscheid worked into the seventh inning Friday and helped Highland's baseball team advance to the Division 4 Sectionals on an 8-1 win over Barneveld.
Linscheid struck out a dozen while allowing only two hits and one earned run. He also led the offense with a grand slam home run in the second that sent the Cardinals to an early 7-0 lead. The Cardinals found their way on to the scoreboard in the bottom of the first. Nate Robinson started it with a hard grounder that got through the infield into centerfield. Evan Rusch sacrificed and Robinson continued to third base. Austin Yager's liner to right went for a double and scored Robinson then he scored himself on an rbi single to right by Nate Michek.
The Cards had their most productive inning in the second when they struck for five runs. Alex Michek reached on a error and went to second on a single by Adam Wolfe. He scored on Robinson's single. With two runners on at second and third the Eagles gave Yager a free pass to load the bases. Linscheid then launched a shot over the centerfield wall for a grand slam home run and pushed the lead to 7-0.
Highland added a run in the sixth. Wolfe led off with an infield single and scored on Robinson's double to right.
The Eagles finally broke the ice in the top of the seventh. Will Clausen singled then Wes Williams, Trevor Siegenthaler and Colton Sullivan all walked to force in a run. Reliever Nate Michek then struck out the last batter he faced to end the game.
Robinson and Wolfe both had two hits for the Cardinals. One of Robinson's was a double and Yager also had a double. Nate Michek and Linscheid had a hit each with Linscheid's the grand slam.
Barneveld managed only two hits, singles by Sullivan and Clausen.
When it came to rbis, Linscheid had four, Robinson two and Nate Michek one for Highland. Sullivan got the lone Barneveld rbi.
Linscheid went 6 1/3 for the win. He gave up both Barneveld hits, fanned 12 and walked four. He was charged with the Eagles' run.
Barneveld used a trio of arms. Cole Breuer went 1 1/3, giving up four hits, four runs of which two were earned while striking out one.
Williams worked 3 2/3 frames. He gave up two hits, three runs, all earned, fanned five and walked three.
Trevor Siegenthaler went one inning, gave up two hits, one earned run with no walks or strikeouts.
Highland advanced to the Barneveld Sectional Tuesday where Argyle was their first opponent. The Barneveld Sectional winner will play at the Timber Rattlers Stadium in Appleton at 8 a.m. Wednesday.
"With two walks in the seventh inning, JR made it a little interesting," said Highland coach Terry Cool. "Nate (Michek) has been playing the season with a broken foot. He was grimmacing with every pitch, but gutted it out through the last inning. He will be getting it taken care of with surgery after the season."
"A big key to the win was Alex Michek's diving catch at shortstop that stopped any momentum Barneveld had going earlier in the game," Cool added. "It was a fun game. We have great kids out there. We're just taking it one game at a time."