McLennan Highlanders advance to tournament championship

The McLennan Highlanders held off a late-inning rally by Temple to defeat the Leopards 8-7 and advance to Sunday's championship game of the Region V Tournament at Bosque River Ballpark.
 
McLennan took control of the game early. The Highlanders scored a run in the top of the first. Miguel Santos and Mason Greer both singled. Santos then scored on a single by Dominic Tamez.
 
The Highlanders added three runs in the second Hank Bard singled and Izzy Lopez was hit by the pitch. Bard scored on a fielder's choice by Santos and Izzy Lopez scored on an error. Blake Jackson then singled to score Santos.
 
Another Highlander run scored in the third. Brown and Jaylen drew a pair of walks. Santos then singled to score Bard.
 
McLennan added another run in the fourth to take the 6-0 lead. Garrett Martin led off with a single and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Greer followed with a sacrifice fly to score Martin.
 
Temple got on the board with three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning. Seth Stephenson walked and scored on a Travis Chestnut home run. Clark Henry and Raul Aragon both singled. Jackson Sioson then singled to score Henry.
 
The Highlanders added a run in the top of the seventh. Tamez walked Alex Lopez reached on an error. Izzy Lopez then doubled to score Tamez.
 
The Leopards trimmed the McLennan lead to one with three runs in the seventh, 7-6. Joseph Redfield singled, advanced to second on an error and moved to third on a balk. Stephenson was hit by the pitch and stole second. Cole Payne singled to score Redfield and Stephenson. Henry walked and Andruw Gonzalez singled to score Payne.
 
Ben Rosengard's pinch-hit home run in the top of the ninth gave the Highlanders a two-run lead, 8-6.
 
Temple's final run came in the bottom of the ninth. Chestnut and Payne both singled. Henry hit into a double play, advancing Chestnut to third. Chestnut then scored on a passed ball.  
 
McLennan advances to the championship scheduled for 2 p.m. Sunday, weather permitting. The Highlanders will face the winner of the Midland and Temple game scheduled for 10 a.m. Sunday morning.
 
McLennan 8, Temple 7
McLennan 131 100 101 – 8 9 3
Temple 000 003 301 – 7 10 3
Brady Rose, Gray Harrison (6), Jack Hattrup (7), Jack Williams (8), Landry Wideman (9) and Dominic Tamez. Ulises Quioroga, Mason Brandenberger (7), Jace Walker (7), Marcus Mott (9) and Sammy Diaz. WP: Rose; LP: Quioroga. Leading hitters – McLennan: Miguel Santos (2-5, 2B, 2 RBI), Blake Jackson (1-5, RBI), Garrett Martin (1-3, 2B), Mason Greer (1-4, RBI), Dominic Tamez (1-4, RBI), Ben Rosengard (1-1, HR, RBI) and Izzy Lopez (1-4, 2B, RBI); Temple: Travis Chestnut (2-5, HR, 2 RBI), Cole Payne (2-5, 2 RBI), Andruw Gonzalez (1-2, RBI), Dylan Blomquist (1-1, RBI) and Joseph Redfield (2-4). Record: McLennan 39-16 (24-7).