LA PLUME, PA- The Highlanders record-setting 2019 season ended Saturday afternoon as they fell 5-2 to Keystone College in the CSAC Championship. Despite the immediate sting of a loss, the Highlanders season can only be looked at as a resounding success. The 2019 squad tied the all-time wins record (which they set last season), won the first CSAC playoff game in program history, and also reached the CSAC championship for the first time.
 
In a must-win game against the powerhouse Keystone Giants, the Highlanders fought hard, but simply ran out of firepower against Keystone ace, Nathan Hinkley. The Giants took a 3-0 lead, tacking on a run in the 1^st, 2^nd, and 3^rd innings. Sam Dralle stabilized things for the Highlanders, shutting Keystone down over the next couple innings and giving the offense a chance to get back in the game. Brett Marks knocked a single to right field for the 100^th hit of his career in the top of the 5^th, but the threat was eliminated with a double play one batter later. The Highlanders bats came alive in the 6^th- Josh Melchior and Nate Wilson knocked back-to-back singles to start a two out rally, before senior first basemen Daniel Morales smashed a double into the gap in right centerfield, scoring two and bringing the Highlanders within 1 run of the lead. Unfortunately, one swing from CSAC Player of the Year Chris Panzarella put Keystone ahead two more runs in the bottom of the 7^th. Michael Sorowice singled to centerfield and stole second base in the top of the 8^th but Hinkley buckled down, inducing a fly out and two ground outs to end the threat. Left in in the 9^th, the Highlanders simply could not throw Hinkley off his rhythm and the Giants won another CSAC title.
 
The Highlanders loss saw the end to the careers of their stellar seniors. The 8 standouts were absolutely pivotal in the turnaround of the program over their four years and will certainly be missed. While the Highlanders may have lost, a taste of the limelight in their first CSAC championship appearance can only be viewed as a positive as they'll regroup and come back with the aspirations of another crack at dethroning the Giants next season.