In looking back on the roller coaster ride that was the 2010 campaign of the Lake Highlands Wildcats baseball team, you really only need one word to define the 'Cats squad this year.

Gutsy.

Like Game 1 of the Regional Quarterfinal series against Belton, Game 2 was within reach for the 'Cats.

Starting pitcher, Judson Luther, who had 5 strike outs in the game, kept the powerful Tiger offense nearly silent for most of the game.

It was a gutsy performance by the senior, who stood tall against a Belton team that in the previous two rounds of their playoff run had outscored their opponents 40-2.

Meanwhile, Luther's counterpart, Tiger's junior pitcher Taylor Vail, was nearly flawless through five and a third innings with the 'Cats only base runner coming after Vail hit freshman Michael Ketchmark with a pitch in the 2nd inning.

Trailing by one run with one out in the fifth inning, 'Cats junior center fielder, Taylor Stell, broke up Vail's no hitter with a single to left field. The 'Cats next batter, senior Cameron Bodell, also singled to left field putting two men on with only one out.

Judson Luther advanced the runners with a sacrifice bunt, allowing senior Ryan Browder to register the 'Cats only RBI of the game on a sac-fly, which scored Stell from third.

However, the 1-1 tie game wouldn't last long.

With the momentum of the game clearly in the 'Cats favor, the Tigers very next batter, senior short stop Shane Hoelscher, stepped into the batters box in the top of the sixth inning and smashed his school record 14th homer run of the season. It was a crushing blow for the Wildcats.

The Tigers added to their score in the seventh inning, bringing in three runs on four hits to take a 5-1 lead.

With two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, senior Ryan Browder would claim the final hit of the season for the 'Cats, reaching base on a single.

Any chance of a miraculous two out rally by the 'Cats was quickly put to bed when Vail ended the game with a strike out.

While ending the season at home in the Regional Quarterfinals wasn't in the plans for the Coach Higgins squad, the Wildcats have much to be proud of in their 2010 campaign.

In the end, they left it all on the field.

Congrats on a great 2009-'10 season. See you at The 'Cat next year!