By THE HERALD-WHIG STAFF

On Thursday night, Highland did what no softball team has been able to do for two decades.

Hand Putnam County a district softball tournament loss.

The Midgets' streak of 20 straight district championships was snapped with a 1-0 loss to Highland in a semifinal game of the Class 2 District 12 Tournament at Memphis.

The Cougars scored the only run of the game when Amanda Hinkle doubled home Ashlan Knoche from first base with two outs in th top of the fourth inning.

Highland freshman Julie Schultz struck out 11 batters and allowed only two hits.

"We battled and we worked hard," Highland coach Paul Scifres said. "The girls came out with a lot of confidence, stayed loose and played a great game."

Highland (12-7) advances to Saturday's championship game where it will meet Clark County. The Lady Indians were a 5-3 semifinal winner over Schuyler County.

Rachel Daw's two-run single, which scored Morgan Bertelli and Cady Flood, put Clark County (10-11) on the scoreboard in the first inning. The rest of the Lady Indians' runs came in the fifth and seventh innings.

Class 2 Palmyra District: Taylor Baxter made sure Palmyra's defense of its two straight state championships got off to a perfect start.

The Lady Panthers' junior pitched a perfect in an 11-0 semifinal victory over Van-Far in the Class 2 District 11 Tournament at Flower City Park.

Baxter, who raised her record to 16-1, struck out 11 batters. Palmyra took a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a two-run single by Brittany White. Jessica VanNostrand's bases-loaded double in the fourth capped off a 3-for-4 performance.

Palmyra will play Mark Twain in Saturday's championship game. The Lady Tigers blanked Elsberry 8-0 in the other semifinal.

Kachina Hudson led Mark Twain (15-4) by striking out 14 batters and allowing only two hits. Hudson also doubled, drove in two runs and stole two bases.

Class 1 LaPlata District: Canton and North Shelby both advanced to Saturday's championship game with semifinal wins.

Canton needed eight innings to edge Brashear 1-0. The Lady Tigers executed three straight bunts in the bottom of the eighth, including the game-winner by Kristyn Caldwell.

Caldwell also delivered on the mound, striking out 15 batters and walking three while allowing only three hits for Canton (16-7).

Jillian Yoder struck out 11 and walked none in North Shelby's 6-2 win over LaPlata.

A two-run single by Jessica Linberger in the fourth inning gave the Lady Raiders a 4-2 lead. Olivia Ahern also drove in two runs for North Shelby.

-- sports@whig.com/221-3365