Highlanders fall to Hill
The Hill Rebels swept the McLennan Highlanders on Saturday afternoon at Bosque River Ballpark.
Hill took game one 11-9 with Chris Glover taking the loss on the mound.
The Rebels began the scoring with one run in the top of the first as Cameron Warner doubled and scored on a single by Dylan Lemons.
McLennan scored one run in the bottom of the inning as Braxton Hollenshead tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Kirby McGuire.
Hill added four runs in the second. Ben Hollas drew a walk, stole second, advanced to third on a Highlander error and scored on a single by Tommy Nawa. Philip Ingram also drew a walk. Greg Greene followed with a three-run homer.
The Highlanders tied the game with four runs in the bottom of the third. McGuire and Johnson both singled and scored on a triple by Brandon Grudzielanek. Grudzielanek came in to score on a wild pitch. James Rudkin then drew a walk, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a single by Jon Tauzin.
The Rebels took the lead with three runs in the fifth. Warner walked and Hollas singled. Caleb Dean followed with a double, scoring Warner and Hollas. Ryan Roderick then singled to score Dean.
McLennan cut the lead to one with two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Johnson doubled and scored on a double by Grudzielanek. Grudzielanek moved to third on a groundout by Rudkin and scored on a single by Tauzin.
Hill added three runs in the top of the sixth. Greene walked, Omar Salinas doubled and Warner was given the intentional walk to load the bases. Lemons followed with a double, scoring all three runners.
The Highlanders scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh to round out the scoring. Grudzielanek, Rudkin and Dimas Ojeda all singled, loading the bases. Tauzin hit into a double play, putting Grudzielanek out at home and himself out at first. Braxton Wilks then tripled to score Rudkin and Ojeda.
The Rebels defeated the Highlanders 20-12 in the nightcap with Nathan Bertness taking the loss.
Hill scored five runs in the top of the third. Salinas was hit by the pitch. Warner and Lemons both singled to load the bases. Hollas reached first and advanced to second on a pair of Highlander errors, bringing Salinas and Warner in to score. Dean followed with the three-run homer.
McLennan responded with five runs in the bottom of the inning. Noah McGowan led off with a double and Sydney Daley was safe on a bunt. McGowan came in to score on a Hill error. Johnson followed with a double to score Daley. Fox was hit by the pitch and McGuire singled, loading the bases. Grudzielanek followed with a fielder's choice that was misplayed, allowing Johnson and Fox to score. McGuire then scored on a sacrifice fly by Rudkin.
The Rebels added two runs in the fourth as Greene singled and Salinas hit a home run.
The Highlanders scored one run in the bottom of the fifth as McGuire doubled and scored on a single by Grudzielanek.
Hill increased its lead with three runs in the sixth. Ingram doubled and scored on a double by Greene. Greene advanced to third on a groundout by Salinas and scored on a sacrifice fly by Warner. Lemons hit a solo home run. Hollas then singled, moved to second on the walk of Dean, stole third and scored on a Highlander error.
McLennan added two runs in the bottom of the sixth. Mason George and Wilks both singled. Johnson singled to score George and Wilks scored on a single by Fox.
The Rebels scored one run in the seventh as Saul Guardado singled and scored on a double by Nawa.
Hill scored two in the eighth. Salinas doubled and Warner walked. Both runners scored on a triple by Hollas.
The Highlanders' final four runs came in the bottom of the eighth. Wilks hit a solo home run. Johnson drew a walk and scored on a home run by Fox. McGuire then doubled and scored on a double by Grudzielanek.
The Rebels exploded for six run in the top of the ninth. Nawa and Ingram singled. Greene walked, loading the bases. Salinas followed with a double, scoring Nawa and Ingram. Lemons walked to reload the bases. Dean followed with a grand slam.
"Today's final results are not exactly what we were hoping for," said coach Mitch Thompson. "Hill's hitters really had a good weekend. They swung the bats well, and our bullpen didn't perform up to their capabilities. Our hitters battled all day and we scored a bunch of runs, but in the end we came up a little short.
"We will get ready for our series against Ranger. We control our destiny and I expect our guys to bounce back just fine."
Hill 11, McLennan 9
Hill 140 033 0 – 11 10 0
McLennan 104 020 2 – 9 13 0
Aidan Barrera, Nate Ken (3), Tyler Gant (4), Drew Grime (5), Cameron Linck (6), Kyle Loson (7) and Tommy Nawa. Chris Glover, Jordan Mattlage (5), Cole Ridgely (7) and Jon Tauzin. WP: Gant; LP: Glover. Leading hitters – Hill: Greg Greene (1-3, HR, 3 RBI), Omar Salinas (1-4, 2B), Cameron Warner (2-2, 2 2B), Dylan Lemons (2-4, 2B, 4 RBI), Caleb Dean (1-3, 2B, 2 RBI), Ryan Roderick (1-4, RBI) and Tommy Nawa (1-4, RBI); McLennan: Braxton Hollenshead (1-3, 3B), Kirby McGuire (1-3, RBI), Tucker Johnson (2-3, 2B), Brandon Grudzielanek (4-4 , 2B, 3B, 3 RBI), Jon Tauzin (2-4, 2 RBI) and Braxton Wilks (1-1, 3B, 2 RBI). Record: 27-17 (15-12).
Hill 20, McLennan 12
Hill 005 204 126 – 20 19 1
McLennan 005 012 040 –12 16 5
Pedro Mercado, Hunter Vasquez (4), Colby Fowler (6), Cameron Linck (6), Tyler Gant (8), Nate Harris (8), Drew Grimes (9) and Tommy Nawa. Nathan Bertness, Jerry Murillo (4), Dustin Jourdan (6), Daniel Bullard (8), Jamie Andriot (9), Zach Kornely (9) and Mason George.WP: Vasquez; LP: Bertness. Leading hitters – Hill: Greg Greene (2-5, 2B, RBI), Omar Salinsas (3-5, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI), Cameron Warner (1-3, RBI), Dylan Lemons (2-5, HR, RBI), Ben Hollas (2-5, 3B), Caleb Dean (2-4, 2 HR, 7 RBI), Tommy Nawa (3-5, 2 2B, RBI) and Philip Ingram (3-5, 2B); McLennan: Tucker Johnson (2-4, 2B), Will Fox (2-3, HR, 3 RBI), Kirby McGuire (3-5, 2 2B), Brandon Grudzielanek (2-5, 2B, 4 RBI), James Rudkin (0-4, RBI), Noah McGowan (1-4, 2B), Mason George (2-5, 2B) and Braxton Wilks (2-4, HR, RBI). Record: McLennan 27-18 (15-13).