Softball Game Preview: Highland Rams vs. Hillcrest Knights

The Highland Rams will face off against the Hillcrest Knights at 3:30 p.m. on Friday. Highland is strutting in with some hitting muscle as they've averaged 8.1 runs per game this season.

Highland is coming in fresh off a high-stakes matchup with another one of Idaho's top teams: Pocatello, who was ranked fifth at the time (Highland was ranked 11th). The Rams narrowly escaped with a victory as the squad sidled past the Thunder 2-1. Those two runs were actually the fewest the Rams have put up all season, but given the result they're probably not too concerned.

McKenna Sutton spent all seven innings on the mound, and it's clear why: she surrendered only one earned run on six hits and racked up ten Ks. She has been nothing but reliable: she hasn't tossed less than five strikeouts in four consecutive appearances.

Reece Bybee

Stolen Base

04/02/25 @ Pocatello	2
03/29/25 @ Centennial	1
03/29/25 @ Centennial	2
03/28/25 @ Rocky Mountain	3
03/28/25 @ Rocky Mountain	2

At the plate, the team relied heavily on Reece Bybee, who scored two runs and stole two bases while going 3-for-4. She has been hot, having posted at least one stolen base the last five times she's played. The team also got some help courtesy of Emerson Gifford, who went 2-for-3 with two RBI and one double.

Meanwhile, Hillcrest came up short against Shelley on Tuesday and fell 12-7.

Hillcrest's loss ended a five-game streak of wins at home dating back to last season and dropped them to 4-3. As for Highland, their win bumped their record up to 7-3.

Highland suffered a grim 11-5 defeat to Hillcrest in their previous meeting back in March of 2024. Can the Rams avenge their defeat or is history doomed to repeat itself? We'll find out soon enough.