Highlanders sweep Vernon
The McLennan Highlanders swept Wedneday's conference doubleheader with the Vernon Chaparrals at Bosque River Ballpark.
Reece Calvert picked up the 3-1 complete-game win in game one.
The Highlanders scored one run in the bottom of the first as Will Fox reached first and advanced to second on an error, moved to third on a groundout by Kirby McGuire and scored on a sacrifice fly by Dimas Ojeda.
Vernon tied the game with Josh Timms' home run in the top of the second.
McLennan scored two runs in the fifth to seal the win. Ojeda drew a walk and moved to second on a wild pitch. Tucker Johnson also drew a walk. Braxton Wilks followed with a single to score Ojeda. Noah McGowan then singled to score Johnson.
The Highlanders were on fire in the nightcap, defeating the Chaparrals 18-1 with Jack Finnegan getting the win on the mound.
McLennan began the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the first. Braxton Hollenshead and Fox both singled. Hollenshead came around to score on a Vernon error that put McGuire safe at first. Rudkin then hit into a double play, bringing Fox in to score.
The Highlanders added a run in the second as Johnson walked, stole second, advanced to third on an error and scored on a sacrifice bunt by Sydney Daley.
McLennan added three runs in the third. Rudkin drew a walk, advanced to second on a balk, moved to third on a groundout by Brandon Grudzielanek and scored on a passed ball. Johnson drew a walk and McGowan singled. Another Vernon error brought Johnson in to score. McGowan then scored on a single by Mason George.
The Chaparrals' only run came on Tate Ellison's home run in the top of the fourth.
The Highlanders exploded for six runs in the bottom of the fourth. McGuire singled and scored on a double by Rudkin. Johnson then singled to score Rudkin. McGowan and George both singled, bringing Johnson in to score. Daley singled to score McGowan. Hollenshead then doubled to score George and Daley.
McLennan added three runs in the fifth. Grudzielanek and Johnson both singled. Grudzielanek came in to score on a Vernon error. Brady Sullivan then singled to score Johnson. Sullivan advanced to second on an overthrow and came around to score on a Chaparral error.
The Highlanders rounded out the scoring with three runs in the sixth. Stacy Heinatz led off with a triple and scored on a single by Zach Johnson. Grudzielanek followed with a two-run homer.
"We are starting to show some maturity in our approach, and it is showing up in the results of the game," coach Mitch Thompson said. "The guys are really focused and we are continuing to improve. Things are lining up just as we planned. We have won eight of our last 10 games against some very quality opponents. We want to be playing our best baseball at the end of the year.
"Calvert was outstanding today in the opener. It was awesome to get a complete game out of him and to save our bullpen. It was nice to get Jack Finnegan back pitching after missing the last three weeks with a muscle strain. It was good to start the process of building him back into a full-blown starter.
"Overall I am very happy with today's performance. The challenge will be to do it again on Saturday."
The two teams will complete the four-game series with a doubleheader at 1 p.m. on Saturday in Vernon.
McLennan 3, Vernon 1
Vernon 010 000 0 – 1 10 2
McLennan 100 020 x – 3 7 0
Eddie Avila, Peyton White (5) and Luis Rivas. Reece Calvert and Jon Tauzin. WP: Calvert; LP: Avila. Leading hitters – Vernon: Luis Rivas (2-3, 2B), Josh Timms (1-3, HR, RBI), Xavier Lanham (2-3) and Jaime Del Hoyo (2-3); McLennan: Kirby McGuire (1-4, 2B), Dimas Ojeda (0-1, RBI), Tucker Johnson (2-2, 2B), Braxton Wilks (2-2, RBI), and Noah McGowan (1-3, RBI). Record: McLennan 23-15 (11-10).
McLennan 18, Vernon 1
Vernon 000 100 0 – 1 4 5
McLennan 213 633 x – 18 19 0
Colt Ritzel, Justin Moreno (4), Brandon Stone (4) and Stetson Meek. Jack Finnegan, Zach Kornely (4), Jako Kelm (7) and Mason George, J.T. Stevenson (6). WP: Finnegan; LP: Ritzel. Leading hitters – Vernon: Luis Rivas (1-3, 2B) and Tate Ellison (2-3, 2B, HR, RBI); McLennan: Braxton Hollenshead (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI), James Rudkin (1-3, 2B, RBI), Brandon Grudzielanek (2-5, HR, 2 RBI), Tucker Johnson (2-2, RBI), Noah McGowan (2-3), Mason George (2-2, 2 RBI), Sydney Daleu (1-4, 2 RBI), J.T. Stevenson (1-2, RBI), Stacy Heinatz (1-2, 3B), Brady Sullivan (2-2) and Zach Johnson (1-1, RBI). Record: McLennan 24-15 (12-10).