McLennan Highlanders headed back to JUCO World Series

The No. 3 McLennan Highlander punched their ticket for a return trip to the JUCO World Region V Championship. Will Carsten got the win on the mound for the Highlanders.
 
McLennan took the lead with bac-to-back solo home runs by Ty Johnson and Hunter Grimes in the bottom of the third inning.
 
The Highlanders added three more runs in the bottom of the eighth. Cole Fontenelle led off with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Daniel Altman was given the intentional walk. John Ceccoli followed with a three-run homer.
 
All of Midlands runs came in the top of the ninth. Michael Weidner singled and Ryan Blackwell was hit by the pitch. With two outs on the board, Garrett Williams reached on an error bringing Weidner and Blackwell in to score. Gibrian Pena also reached on an error, and Williams scored on a fielder's choice by Tyler Wulfert.
 
McLennan, the defending JUCO Champions, will be back in the JUCO World Series beginning May 28 in Grand Junction, Colorado.
 
McLennan 5, Midland 3
Midland 000 000 003 – 3 10 1
McLennan 002 000 03x – 5 7 4
Luke Young, Luis Rodriguez (3), Alizaeh Gutierrez (7) and Ryan Blackwell. Will Carsten, Austin Ford (9) and Hank Bard. WP: Carsten; LP: Young. Leading hitters – Midland: Gibrian Pena (2-5, 2 2B) and Tyler Wulfert (1-4, RBI); McLennan: Ty Johnson (1-4, HR, RBI), Hunter Grimes (1-4, HR, RBI), Daniel Altman (2-2), John Ceccoli (2-2, HR, 3 RBI), Cole Fontenelle (1-4, 2B) and Mateo Zeppieri (1-4, 2B). Record: McLennan 49-11-1 (28-4).