Highland Rams Fall One Out Short of Regional Sweep as Glenn Drives in 8 Across Both Games
POCATELLO — The Highland Rams came agonizingly close to a perfect first day at the 6A East Regional tournament Friday, routing Centennial before dropping a heartbreaker to Middleton on a walk-off double with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The split leaves Highland at 1-1 heading into Saturday, when the Rams will need to win three consecutive games to punch their ticket to the state tournament. For more on which area teams are still alive, see who’s ready for state as local squads battle for berths in the state tournament.
Glenn Carries Highland Offense Through Both Contests
Senior shortstop Marshall Glenn was the story of the day for the Rams, delivering at the plate in every situation the tournament threw at him. In game one against Centennial, Glenn launched the second home run of his high school career — a three-run shot in the fourth inning that put the game firmly out of reach. He finished the opener a perfect 3-for-3 with two walks, four runs scored and five RBIs.
In the nightcap against Middleton, Glenn’s biggest moment came in a five-run fifth inning, when he cleared the bases with a three-run double to put Highland in front 5-3. He finished the day with eight RBIs across both games, a performance that had head coach Christian Colonel shaking his head in admiration.
“That’s nothing new, I’ve seen it since he was seven years old,” Colonel said of his leadoff hitter. “He may forget his belt, and he may forget his socks, but he’ll come to play.”
Colonel also couldn’t resist noting his shortstop’s physical profile. “He’s skinny, but he’s strong. I guess they call that wiry strong,” the coach said. “He’d be really strong if he knew where the weight room was.”
Centennial Rout Gives Rams Early Momentum
Highland wasted little time in game one, erupting for seven runs in the first inning against Centennial’s tall right-handed starter before adding more damage in the third, fourth and fifth innings to win 20-5 under the mercy rule. Junior Kai Jones — one of Highland’s most consistent bats all season — shook off a quiet start at the plate to collect two hits including a double, finishing with four RBIs.
On the mound, senior Nash Randall pitched all five innings for the victory, limiting the Patriots to one earned run despite three errors behind him that led to four unearned runs. Randall struck out two and walked just one, consistently forcing contact and letting his defense work.
Colonel praised his two primary pitchers as a reliable tandem. “The resiliency and the leadership is second to none,” he said. “They’re a good one-two punch — when they’re out there, we trust them and they trust us.”
Middleton Delivers Gut Punch in Final At-Bat
Game two had the makings of a Highland victory before a stunning seventh-inning collapse. Jones started and surrendered two runs in a difficult first frame before settling in, holding Middleton’s offense largely in check through five-plus innings. Sophomore Aiden Ellett relieved Jones with one out in the sixth, immediately picking off an inherited baserunner before getting a groundout to escape the inning.
Carrying that 5-3 lead into the final frame, Highland recorded two outs with runners on second and third — one out from a regional sweep. But Middleton refused to go quietly, singling home one run and then doubling in the tying and winning runs to end the game and the Rams’ bid for a perfect opening day.
Colonel acknowledged the sting in the dugout but kept perspective. “That’s just baseball, man. You have highs, and you have lows,” he said. “We’ve walked off five different games this year, now we got walked off. When you’re 16, 17, 18 years old, you get some raw emotions, and it hurts.”
What Comes Next
The Highland Rams return to action Saturday in the 6A East Regional, needing three straight wins to advance to the state tournament. The path is difficult but not unprecedented for a team that has shown resilience throughout the season. See the full regional bracket and how local teams learned their opponents heading into the state regional round. A loss at any point Saturday will end Highland’s season. Glenn, Randall, Jones and Ellett will all figure into the Rams’ rotation and lineup decisions as they chase the three-game run they need to keep their season alive.