Playing teams other than those in the 5A Central Region, Highland's baseball team has done well.

Clinging to a postseason berth with two weeks left, however, the Hawks need to collect some Central Region wins to hang on to that playoff spot.

Their final four games of the regular season did not start off well Tuesday afternoon as Mesa Mountain View dealt the Hawks a tough 4-2 loss at Mountain View.

It was the eighth loss for Highland (10-14 overall) in nine region games. Still the Hawks are 6-9 in power-point games and residing around 13th to 15th in the power rankings. The top 16 teams qualify for state, which begins April 30.

"We're playing everybody tough," Highland assistant coach Terry Fair,, who was filling in for head coach Scott Cook who was serving a one-game suspension, said. "Coach Cook told them last week we still control our own destiny and we do. This group continues to come to practice and work hard. They're resilient despite some of the tough losses we've taken."

Mountain View (18-9, 6-4 Central) snapped a scoreless tie with a three-run fourth. A solo homer to right by Colten Nielsen, who later threw out a runner at third to aid the Toros defensively, opened the rally. Highland starter Nolan Whittlesey, who pitched a solid game, looked as though he would get out of the inning down just 1-0.

But Whittlesey issued two-out walks to Jake Keller and Beau Stapley. A balk moved the runners up a base each. Then Mountain View catcher Zack Hyzdu grounded a 3-2 pitch up the middle to drive in what proved to be two big runs.

"The bottom of our order did a nice job today," Mountain View coach Mike Thiel said. "I think Travis (Taylor) had a couple hits, Colten a home run. They picked us up."

Taylor and Keller supplied an insurance run in the bottom of the sixth after Highland pulled within 3-2. Taylor singled and stole second and Keller followed with a double in to the left-field corner.

Mountain View received a boost late in the game when ace left-hander Hayden Rogers made his first appearance since breaking his glove hand on March 25 in a game against Corona del Sol Rogers pitched a scoreless seventh, but made it the team sweat a bit after giving up a walk and single to start the seventh. He struck ou the Hawks No. 3 and No. 4 hitters to close out the contest.

"Our other pitchers have done a good job compensating for us not having Hayden," Thiel said. "C.J. Bahn has really stepped up after a slow start."

Bahn won his third consecutive start with 4 1/3 innings of work on Tuesday. He allowed one run, three hits, struck out three and did not walk a batter. Bahn has beaten Tolleson, Dobson and Highland in his three starts from late March to Tuesday.