The district is Highland’s.

    OK, not yet — technically.

    But after another dominating performance by the Rams — an 11-1 beatdown of the Idaho Falls Tigers at Capell Park Thursday afternoon — Highland softball’s one-game lead over second-place Skyline feels safe and sound.

    Highland, 12-5 overall and 6-1 in the 5A Fifth-Sixth District, still has a doubleheader with Idaho Falls today and a three-game series with Madison next week. But with junior Kali McMinn throwing strikes, forcing ground outs and the Rams’ lineup eating up opposing pitching, well, good luck to the rest of the competition.

    Kali McMinn, the Rams’ do-everything starting pitcher, allowed six hits Thursday, but the junior struck out seven and gave up one earned run without any walks.

    With a twisting curveball and a nasty changeup, McMinn kept IF batters off balance and the Rams’ defense did its part to make sure any single to the outfield was anything more damaging.

    “We’re working on keeping our energy up,” McMinn said. “... We want to keep playing our game and not let down.”

    Keeping up the energy started in the dugout with team-wide chants and flowed out into the field in the form of runs.

    McMinn, Dakota Rees, Makenzie Van Sickle and Madi Livermore all finished with at least two hits (Livermore punched out three singles) and eight batters had at least one hit.

    If Highland’s bats weren’t enough for Idaho Falls to deal with, the Rams’ bold baserunning was the final overwhelming factor.

    “We’re very aggressive baserunners,” said Highland head coach Tisha Coverdell.

    Anytime the Rams have runners on third and first, they will attempt to steal second. In a perfect situation, the baserunner going back and forth between first and second — caught in a squeeze — will draw so much attention that the runner on third can waltz home.

    Highland is putting the pressure on its opponent to make a play.

    “That’s our philosophy,” Coverdell said. “We’re going to be aggressive and we’re going to make them (our opponent) play.”

    The Rams scored twice in the second inning with runners forcing the issue, part of a six-run, five-hit outburst. Idaho Falls only hindered its efforts by committing three errors.

    Check part of that to Highland’s running capabilities. It has a tendency to fluster opponents.

    Highland and Idaho Falls finish the three-game series today with a doubleheader in Idaho Falls starting at 4 p.m.

Highland 11, Idaho Falls 1, 5 inn

Idaho Falls    001 00x x — 1 6 4

Highland    260 12x x — 11 12 1

Idaho Falls — S. Stohl and D. Davenport. Highland — Kali McMinn and Mackenzie Van Sickle. 2B — Kali McMinn (H), Pashence Korten (H). 3B — Kim Martin (H).