Highlanders drop game at Navarro

The McLennan Highlanders dropped the series finale with the Navarro Bulldogs 4-3 in Corsicana. Levi David took the loss on the mound for the Highlanders.

Navarro took the early lead with two runs in the bottom of the second inning. Beau Orlando was hit by the pitch to lead off the inning, and Tim Bechtold singled. Noah Menchaca followed with a double to score Orlando and Bechtold.

Dylan Neuse's solo home run in the top of the third put McLennan on the board.

The Bulldogs added two runs in the third inning. Kalen Hammer reached first safely on an error and scored on a double by Josh Ragan. Ragan then advanced to third on an overthrow and scored on a single by Scott Hastings.

The Highlanders added a run in the sixth as Thomas Santos doubled and scored on a single by Aidan Shepardson.

McLennan's final run came in the seventh. Keaton Milford doubled and Nick Thornquist walked. Santos followed with a single to score Milford.

"It was a close ballgame, and both teams pitched the ball pretty well. We created a few more opportunities for Navarro's offensive than they did for us, so I give their pitchers credit. They kept us off balance," head coach Mitch Thompson said.

"We just didn't have a really good game plan offensively. We didn't do a good job of getting runners in once they got into scoring position. We just had too many strikeouts and not enough really competitive at-bats. As a coach, I take that on myself. That's something we've got to be better at. Obviously, we've got to get to work and get back to doing things right," Thompson said.

"We had a lot of guys that threw the ball well for us on the mound, but in the end we just didn't get enough hits and had too many opportunities missed. We tried to play catch-up the entire ballgame and just ended up a run short," Thompson said.

Navarro 4, McLennan 3
McLennan 001 001 010 – 3 11 1
Navarro 022 000 000 – 4 8 1
Levi David, Shane Daughety (3), Nick Urbantke (5), Daniel Cole (6), Connor Heffron (7), Josh Breaux (8) and Jackson Nichols, Nick Thornquist (8). Paul Dickens, Tanner Riley (6), Johnny Panatex (7), Asher Cook (9) and Beau Orlando. WP: Dickens; LP: David; SV: Cook. Leading hitters – McLennan: Dylan Neuse (2-5, HR, RBI), Josh Breaux (2-4), Keaton Milford (3-5, 2B), Thomas Santos (2-4, 3B, RBI), Aidan Shepardson (1-4, RBI); Navarro: Josh Ragan (1-4, 2B, RBI), Scott Hastings (1-4, RBI), Beau Orlando (2-2, 2B), Noah Menchaca (1-4, 2B, 2 RBI). Record: McLennan 10-3.