Missouri prep notebook: Cougars extend win streak to 18, three qualify for state tennis tourney, Keller sets Monroe City record

EWING, Mo. — The No. 1-ranked softball team in Missouri Class 2 is charging into the postseason with a full head of steam.

Highland finished its regular season Monday night with a 15-0 victory over Scotland County, putting a stamp on a 26-2 record. The Cougars have won 18 games in a row, and their last six victories have been by a combined score of 78-6.

Overall, the Cougars have outscored their opponents 287-76 and set a single-season program record with 31 home runs. Add 71 doubles and a team slugging percentage of .647 to that and it’s understandable why the Cougars are ranked No. 1.

Six starters are hitting .410 or better, led by all-stater Emma Harshberger at .563. Haleigh Winter and Olivia Ritterbusch top the power charts with seven home runs apiece and are among four players with 34 or more RBIs. Six players have 30 or more hits as well.

Highland opens play in the Class 2 District 5 tournament at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in Shelbina against either South Shelby or Mark Twain. The district championship is scheduled for next Monday at 5:30 p.m.

Palmyra duo, Hannibal’s Privett head to state

Northeast Missouri will be represented in Class 1 and Class 2 at the girls tennis state tournament, taking place Thursday through Saturday at the Cooper Tennis Complex in Springfield, Mo.

The Palmyra doubles team of Laura Noland and Molly Gottman advanced in Class 1 by beating Columbia Independent’s Lillian Thies and Eleanor Young 6-2, 6-1 at the Mexico Sectional last week.

Meanwhile, in Class 2, Hannibal’s Lanie Privett finished fourth in singles at the Clayton Sectional last week.

Panthers’ Weiman returns to state golf tourney 

Ava Weiman joined the Northeast Missouri crew heading to the girls state golf tournaments.

The Palmyra senior advanced to the Class 2 tourney after shooting a 97 at the District 1 tournament at Quail Creek Golf Course in St. Louis. This is the second year in a row Weiman has qualified for the state tournament. She shot a 102 at the district tournament last year.

Weiman will play in the Class 2 state tournament next Monday and Tuesday at Twin Hills Golf and Country Club in Joplin, Mo.

She joins three golfers each from Highland and Canton who qualified for the Class 1 tournament at Sedalia Country Club and the Hannibal girls team, which took second in districts and will play in Class 3 at Crown Pointe Golf Club in Farmington.

Keller sets Monroe City cross country record

While taking second place last weekend at the Brian T. Simpson Invitational, held by Harrisburg and run at the Gans Creek course in Columbia, Monroe City freshman Bradi Keller broke the Panthers’ record for fastest 3-mile race.

Keller finished in 20 minutes, 25.56 seconds, breaking the mark of 20:30.60 previously held by Emmalee Williams.