Highlanders, Ponies split

The McLennan Highlanders and Panola Ponies split Wednesday's doubleheader in Carthage.

The Highlanders shut out the Ponies 5-0 in game one with Sterling Wynn picking up the win on the mound.

The game was scoreless through the first three innings of play. McLennan's Matt Campbell led off the top of the fourth inning with a double and advanced to third on a groundout by Max Hogan. Andrew Rhodes followed with a double to score Campbell.

The Highlanders added three runs in the fifth. Mason George and Miles Manning were both hit by the pitch and advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Evan Williams. Hogan then hit a home run over the right-field fence to clear the bases.

The final run came in the top of the sixth. Trevor Podsednik singled to start the inning. Sydney Daley followed with a bunt single, advancing Podsednik to third. Podsednik then scored on a groundout double play by Manning. 

Panola bounced back to defeat McLennan 2-0 in the nightcap. Enrique Oquendo recorded nine strikeouts in six inning of work but took the loss. Campbell, Dalton Rodriguez and Zach Gonzalez all singled for the Highlanders.

"I am very pleased with the way our pitchers threw the ball today," coach Mitch Thompson said. "It wasn't an easy day to pitch with the wind blowing out all day. Wynn and Oquendo both competed hard for us. If those guys can throw like that the rest of the season, we will win a lot of games.

 "Offensively I am disappointed we didn't compete better in the second game. The Panola pitcher was throwing three pitches for strikes. He competed well, but he did not have overpowering stuff. We have to do a better job of making adjustments offensively and not getting ourselves out."

Complete statistics were not available for the games.