Highlanders fall to North Central

The McLennan Highlanders dropped both games of Wednesday's conference opening doubleheader with the North Central Lions at Bosque River Ballpark.

North Central defeated McLennan 6-5 in game one with Sterling Wynn taking the loss on the mound. Zac Valenzuela led the Highlanders at the plate, going 2-4 with a triple and three RBIs. Matt Campbell and Evan Williams recorded two hits each, and Andrew Rhodes picked up two RBIs.

The Lions defeated the Highlanders 5-2 in the nightcap with Enrique Oquendo taking the loss. Campbell and Trevor Podsednik both went 1-4 at the plate with an RBI each, and Williams hit a double.

The teams will complete the four-game series on Saturday with a noon doubleheader in Gainesville.

North Central 6, McLennan 5
North Central 300 201 0 - 6 12 0 
McLennan 200 002 1 - 5 11 1
Kadon Simmons, Eduardo Jimenez (5) and Garrett Crook. Sterling Wynn, Conner Camacho (5) and Mason George. WP: Simmons; LP: Wynn; Save: Jimenez.Leading hitters - North Central: Tyler Staub (2-4, RBI), Slayton Vaughan (2-3, RBI), Landon Darwin (1-3, 2 RBI), Hunter Henderson (3-2, 2B, RBI) and Garrett Crook (0-2, RBI); McLennan: Matt Campbell (2-3), Evan Williams (2-4), Zac Valenzuela (2-4, 3B, 3 RBI) and Andrew Rhodes (1-1, 2 RBI). Record: McLennan 11-8 (0-1).

North Central 5, McLennan 2
North Central 041 000 000 - 5 11 2
McLennan 001 100 000 - 2 6 0
Stephen Caillet, Alexander Pina (8), Austin Smith (9) and Garrett Crook. Enrique Oquendo, Patrick Herbelin and Dalton Rodriguez. WP: Calliet; LP: Oquendp; Save: Smith. Leading hitters - North Central: Tyler Staub (1-4, RBI), Slayton Vaughan (2-4), Kevin Markham (3-4, HR, RBI), Hunter Henderson (2-4, 2B, RBI) and Trae Patterson (2-4, 2 2B, RBI); McLennan: Matt Campbell (1-4, RBI), Trevor Podsednik (1-4, RBI) and Evan Williams (1-4, 2B). Record: McLennan 11-9 (0-2).