Highlanders slam San Jacinto in non-conference tilt

The McLennan Highlanders jumped out early and never looked back as they defeated the San Jacinto Gators 16-11 in a non-conference battle Monday afternoon at Bosque River Ballpark. Nick Urbantke picked up the win on the mound for the Highlanders.

San Jac began the scoring with one run in the top of the first as Michael Smith tripled and scored on a passed ball.

McLennan took control of the game in the bottom of the first with nine runs scored. Lead-off batter Chris Roller was hit by the pitch, moved to second on an error and stole third. Joe Breaux was also hit by the pitch. Brendan Venter followed with a double to score Roller and Joe Breaux. Chase Sortor doubled and Venter scored on a passed ball. Cole Haring reached first safely on an error and stole second. Jackson Nichols followed with a single to score Sortor and Haring. Mario Vela also reached first on an error and Geroge Callil singled. Roller followed with a single to score Nichols and Vela. Joe Breaux then tripled to score Callil and Roller.

The Gators scored two in the top of the second. Luke Watson singled and moved to second on a passed ball. Nick Perez followed with a double. Watson scored on a wild pitch and Perez scored on a ground out by Wyatt Cross.

The Highlanders added a run in the second with Haring's solo home run.

Another Highlander run scored in the third as Venter singled, advanced to second on an error, moved to third on a single by Josh Breaux and scored on a double by Sortor.

San Jacinto added two runs in the top of the sixth. Ryan Johnson and Nick Perez drew back-to-back walks and Tanner Schuetz was hit by the pitch to load the bases. Aaron Bond followed with a single to score Johnson and Perez. 

McLennan tacked on five runs in the bottom of the sixth. Haring and Vela both singled, and Callil followed with a double to score Haring. Roller singled to score Vela, and Joe Breaux followed with a three-run homer over the right-field fence. 

The Gators added a run in the seventh. Wright and Iser both walked. Johnson then doubled to score Wright.

Four more San Jacinto runs scored in the eighth. Schuetz doubled and Bond walked. Wright singled to score Schuetz and Iser hit a three-run homer.

The final San Jacinto run came in the top of the ninth as Bond singled and scored on a single by Wright. 

"It was an interesting day. You are trying to get as many people into the ballgame as you can and keep your pitching ready to go for conference on Wednesday while also getting other guys opportunities to throw. Any time you can get that done and get away with a win, you've got to be happy, especially when you are playing somebody of San Jac's caliber," head coach Mitch Thompson said.

"I'm real pleased with the win and real pleased with the way we swung the bat. San Jac opened the door for us in the first inning by making a couple errors in the field. When they did, we just continued to run through that door and put a nine-spot on them. That set the tone for the whole ballgame."

"I'm pleased with our guys and now we have to turn our attention towards Hill and get ready to compete again in another conference series. We will start off with a doubleheader here Wednesday at 1 p.m. and I'm sure it will be very competitive."

McLennan 16, San Jacinto 11
San Jacinto 120 002 141 – 11 15 5
McLennan 911 005 00x – 16 16 0
Hunter McClellan, Fletcher Byrd (1), Mike Pascoe (3), Justin Massey (6), Sergio Macias (7), Donny Diaz (8) and Brett Wright. Nathan Gonzales, Coleman Beazley (3), Nick Urbantke (4), Brady Childress (6), Garrett Doiron (6), Hunter Spaeth (7), Michael Cugini (8), Colton Bailey (8), Josh Breaux (9) and Jackson Nichols, Nick Thornquist (2), Ragan Forrest (7). WP: Urbantke; LP: McClellan. Leading hitters – San Jacinto: Michael Smith (1-1, 3B), Brett Wright (2-5, 2 RBI), Herbert Iser (2-4, HR, 3 RBI), Ryan Johnson (3-4, 2 2B, RBI), Nick Perez (1-2, 2B), Wyatt Cross (0-3. RBI), Tanner Schuetz (1-4, 2B) and Aaron Bond (2-3, 2 RBI); McLennan: Chris Roller (2-5, 3 RBI), Joe Breaux (2-4, 3B, HR, 5 RBI), Brendan Venter (2-5, 2B, 2 RBI), Chase Sortor (2-4, 2 2B, RBI), Cole Haring (2-4, HR, RBI), Jackson Nichols (1-1, 2 RBI) and George Callil (2-4, 2B, RBI). Record: McLennan 22-5 (6-2).