Highlanders advance to championship of Region V Tournament

The No. 13 McLennan Highlanders punched their ticket to the championship of the Region V Tournament with a 10-2 run-rule victory over the Temple Leopards this afternoon in Grand Prairie. Tristen Bayless got the complete-game victory on the mound.

The Highlanders jumped on the Leopard pitching early, scoring seven runs in the bottom of the first. Dylan Neuse and Josh Breaux led off with back-to-back singles. Keaton Milford followed with a three-run homer. Thomas Santos singled and Griffin Paxton drew a walk. Aidan Shepardson was safe at first on an error, bringing Santos in to score, and Chase Sortor singled to score Paxton. Neuse then tripled to score Shepardson and Sortor.

Both of Temple's runs came in the top of the third. Reid Hesse and Dalton Watts both singled. Watts was out at second. Breck Potvin singled and Joey Orsak walked to load the bases. Preston Macik then singled to score Hesse and Potvin.

The Highlanders rounded out the scoring with three runs in the bottom of the third. Sortor led off with a solo home run. George Callil drew a walk and Neuse singled. Breaux also walked, loading the bases. Milford hit into a double play, allowing Neuse to score.

McLennan 10, Temple 2
Temple 002 000 0 – 2 5 1
McLennan 703 000 x – 10 11 1
Jacob Little, Kernie Baker (2), Jared Hart (5) and Anthony Flores. Tristen Bayless and Josh Breaux. WP: Bayless; LP: Little. Leading hitters – Temple: Preston Macik (1-3, 2 RBI); McLennan: Dylan Neuse (3-4, 3B, 2 RBI), Keaton Milford (2-4, HR, 3 RBI), Thomas Santos (2-4, RBI), Aidan Shepardson (0-3, RBI) and Chase Sortor (2-3, HR, 2 RBI). Record: McLennan 45-15 (26-7).