McLennan Baseball opens season with win over Midland
The McLennan Highlanders opened the 2020 season with a 5-4 victory over the Midland Chaparrals this afternoon at Bosque River Ballpark.
Midland began the scoring with two runs in the top of the first. Deylan Pigford drew a lead-off walk and Ryan Hunt reached on an error. Ethan Mann followed with a double to score Pigford, and Hunt scored on a sacrifice fly by Jarred Gibson.
McLennan tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the inning. Jalen Battles and Garrett Martin led off with back-to-back singles. Cole Moore followed with a sacrifice fly to score Battles. Martin then scored on a double by Jimmy Crooks.
The Chaparrals took the lead with a run in the fourth as Cooper Jauz singled, moved to second on a single by Pigford and scored on a single by Hunt.
The Highlanders tied the game again with Moore's solo home run in the fifth.
McLennan took the lead in the sixth as Miguel Santos tripled and scored on a wild pitch.
Midland's final run came in the top of the seventh as Mason Weathers doubled, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on a single by Randy Huerta.
The Highlanders' winning run came in the bottom of the seventh as Crooks doubled and scored on a double by Santos.
McLennan and Midland will complete the three-game series with a noon doubleheader tomorrow at Bosque River Ballpark.
McLennan 5, Midland 4
Midland 200 100 100 – 4 11 1
McLennan 200 011 10x – 5 10 2
Jordan Bach, Derek Kloswowski (5), Gavi Coldiron (6). Connor Phillips, Kevin Skweres (4), Brady Rose (7) and Jimmy Crooks. WP: Rose; LP: Coldiron. Leading hitters – Midland: Ruan Hunt (1-4, RBI), Ethan Mann (2-5, 2B, RBI), Jarred Gibson (1-4, RBI), Mason Weathers (1-5, 2B), Randy Huerta (3-4, RBI); McLennan: Jalen Battles (2-3), Garrett Martin (2-4), Cole Moore (1-3, HR, 2 RBI), Jimmy Crooks (2-3, 3 3B, RBI) and Miguel Santos (2-3, 2B, 3B, RBI). Record: McLennan 1-0.