MARENGO — The Fighting Scots defended their Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference title.
Kort Sears tossed a complete game five-hitter as Highland knocked off Ontario 3-0 Tuesday at Highland.
The Scots (21-2, 10-2) clinched at least a share of the MOAC championship. Highland has a two-game lead in the loss column over Clear Fork, Shelby and Galion. Ontario (12-9, 8-5) is three games back.
Highland has won three straight MOAC crowns since re-entering the league in 2022.
Sears walked two and struck out seven. He helped his own cause with a pair of hits and two runs scored.
Hayden Kline was 2-for-2 with two runs batted in for Highland. Jace Brooks had two hits in three trips to the plate.
Peyton Dzugan went the distance for the Warriors. He allowed two earned runs while striking out seven and walking a pair.
Highland scored the only run it would need in the home half of the first. Sears singled with one out and moved to third when Zach Church’s ground ball was misplayed for an error. Sears scored on Hayden Kline’s infield single.
The Scots added a pair of insurance runs in the third. Sears and Church drew back-to-back walks to start the inning. Kline laid down a sacrifice bunt and Sears scored from second on the play. Church moved to third on a Brooks single and scored on Gavin Wiggand’s sacrifice bunt.
The teams will conclude the home-and-home series Wednesday at Ontario. The Scots can clinch the outright crown with a win Wednesday or at home against Marion Harding on Saturday.