Highlanders drop final game to Hill

The No. 9 McLennan Highlanders dropped the final game of the four-game conference series with the Hill Rebels, 16-11. Tristen Bayless took the loss on the mound for the Highlanders. The first eight innings were played yesterday before darkness forced the suspension of play. The two teams resumed played for the final inning this afternoon.

Hill scored one run in the top of the first as Dean Frew doubled, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a ground out by Elijah Valdez.

The Rebels added three runs in the top of the third. Valdez, Marco Navarro and Zack Wilson all singled to load the bases. Valdez scored on a wild pitch and Josh Smeltzer drew a walk. Grant Bruce was hit by the pitch, bringing Navarro in to score. DeVaughn Gales was also hit by the pitch, scoring Wilson.

McLennan got on the board with three runs in the bottom of the third. Aidan Shepardson singled and Josh Breaux walked. Keaton Milford was safe at first on a Hill error, allowing Shepardson to score. Thomas Santos then singled to score Breaux and Milford.

Hill added another run in the fourth as Valdez singled and scored on a triple by Wilson.

Four more Rebel runs crossed the plate in the fifth. Brian Aguilar walked and moved to second on a wild pitch. Jonathan McKay and Frew also walked, loading the bases. Taylor Daniell singled, bringing Aguilar in to score. Valdez followed with a fielder's choice that put McKay out at the plate. Frew scored on a sacrifice fly by Navarro. Wilson then tripled to score Daniell and Valdez.

Hill increased its lead with another run in the sixth. Bruce singled but was out at second. Aguilar was safe on a sacrifice hit and moved to second on a passed ball. McKay then singled to score Aguilar.

The Highlanders scored one run in the bottom of the sixth. Jackson Nichols was hit by the pitch to lead off the inning. Brooks Embry and George Callil both walked to load the bases. Nichols then scored on a line drive by Dylan Neuse.

The Rebels scored four runs in the seventh. Valdez and Navarro both walked and Wilson was safe on an error, loading the bases. Valdez scored on a wild pitch and Smeltzer singled to score Navarro. Wilson then scored on another wild pitch.

McLennan began to chip away at the Hill lead with three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Griffin Paxton and Thomas Santos both singled. Chase Sortor drew a walk to load the bases. Callil singled to score Paxton, and Santos scored on a sacrifice fly by Neuse.

Hill's final two runs scored in the top of the eighth. Daniell and Navarro both singled. Daniell moved to third on a Highlander error and Navarro reached second on a wild pitch. Wilson singled to score Daniell, and Navarro scored on a sacrifice fly by Smeltzer.

The Highlanders added two runs in the eighth. Breaux and Milford both walked. Paxton singled to score Breaux. Milford then moved to third on an overthrow and scored on a wild pitch.

McLennan rounded out the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the ninth. Callil walked but was out at second on fielder's choice by Neuse. Shepardson followed with another fielder's choice, putting Neuse out. Shepardson moved to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Breaux. Milford then singled to score Breaux.

Hill 16, McLennan 11
Hill             103 141 420 – 16 16 5
McLennan 003 001 322 – 11 11 4
Luke Cronan, Jaiden Black (6), Anthony Laughlin (7), Garet Douglas (8) and Grant Bruce. Tristen Bayless, Daniel Cole (3), Connor Heffron (5), Payton Strambler (7), Christian Larson (9) and Jackson Nichols, Nick Thornquist (8). WP: Cronan; LP: Bayless. Leading hitters – Hill: Dean Frew (1-4, 2B), Taylor Daniell (2-6, RBI), Elijah Valdez (2-5, RBI), Marco Navarro (3-4, RBI), Zack Wilson (4-6, 2 3B, 4 RBI), Josh Smeltzer (1-4, 2 RBI), Grant Bruce (2-5, RBI), DeVaughn Gals (0-2, RBI) and Jonathan McKay (1-3, RBI); McLennan: Dylan Neuse (0-5, 2 RBI), Aidan Shepardson (1-5, 2B), Josh Breaux (1-2, 2B, RBI), Keaton Milford (1-5, RBI), Griffin Paxton (3-5, RBI), Thomas Santos (3-5, 2 RBI), George Callil (2-3, RBI). Record: McLennan 16-6 (3-1).