Highlanders come from behind to defeat Ponies

The McLennan Highlanders came from behind to defeat the Panola Ponies 17-13 this afternoon at Bosque River Ballpark. Landry Wideman picked up the win on the mound for the Highlanders.
 
Panola scored four runs in the top of the first. Cameron Pradia singled and Tristen Jamison doubled. Matt Abshire followed with a single to score Pradia and Jamison. Dylan Heim singled and both runners advanced on a ground out by Raphael LeBlanc. Mateo Beltran then singled to score Abshire and Helm.
 
The Ponies added four more runs in the second. Gavin Machado singled and Pradia walked. Jamison hit into a double play, putting himself out at first and Machado out at third. Easton Parrish doubled to score Pradia, and Abshire singled to score Parrish. Heim and LeBlanc both singled, bringing Abshire and Helm around to score.
 
McLennan got on the board with six runs in the bottom of the second. Garrett Martin and Jimmy Crooks both singled, and Hank Bard walked to load the bases. A fielder's choice by Miguel Santos scored Martin and put Crooks out at third. Seth Morrow then singled to score Bard. Jalen Battles followed with a double to score Santos and Morrow. Battles moved to third on an error and Caleb Balgaard walked. A balk brought Battles in to score and moved Balgaard to second. Brett Squires then doubled to score Balgaard.
 
The Highlanders tied the game with two runs in the fourth as Balgaard singled and scored on Squires' first home run of the day.
 
Panola took the lead again with a run in the fifth. Beltran led off with a triple and Jeremy Abreu walked. Machado hit into a double play, allowing Beltran to score.
 
The Ponies added another run in the sixth as Jamieson singled, moved around to third on a single by Parrish and scored on a sacrifice fly by Heim.
 
McLennan took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Bard doubled and scored on a double by Santos. Morrow was given an intentional walk, and Jaylen Williams walked to load the bases. Battles was hit by the pitch, bringing Santos in to score. Morrow then scored on a wild pitch.
 
The Highlanders added four runs in the seventh. Squires led off with a solo home run, his second of the day. Martin walked and stole second. Bard and Morrow both walked to load the bases. Martin scored on a wild pitch, and Williams doubled to score Bard and Morrow.
 
McLennan's final two runs came in the bottom of the eighth as Balgaard walked and scored on Squires' third home run of the afternoon.
 
Panola rounded out the scoring with three runs in the ninth. Beltran was hit by the pitch and Abreu walked. Machado followed with the three-run homer.
 
McLennan returns to conference play Wednesday, traveling to Temple for a 1 p.m. doubleheader.
 
McLennan 17, Panola 13
Panola 440 011 003 – 1316 3
McLennan 060 203 42x – 17 15 1
Chase Dunn, Danny O'Donnell (2), Josiah Castro (4), Michael Soisson (5), Dylan Conde (7), Cameron Stansbury (9) and Gavin Machado. Dawson Sweatt, Andrew Cossio (2), Brant Bennett (2), Jack Williams (5), Landry Wideman (6), Joey Martin (7), Landon Dorman (9), Kevin Skweres (9) and Jimmy Crooks, Health Pickhardt (9). WP: Wideman; LP: Soisson. Leading hitters – Panola: Tristen Jamison (2-6, 2B), Easton Parrish (3-6, 2B, RBI), Matt Abshire (2-6, 3 RBI), Dylan Heim (2-3, RBI), Raphael Le Blanc (1-5, 2 RBI), Mateo Beltran (23-3, 3B, 2 RBI), and Gavin Machado (2-5, HR, RBI); McLennan: Jalen Battles (1-4, 2B, 3 RBI), Brett Squires (4-6, 2B, 3 HR, 6 RBI), Hank Bard (1-2, 2B), Miguel Santos (3-6, 2B, 2 RBI), Seth Morrow (1-2, RBI) and Jaylen Williams (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI). Record: 17-5 (3-1).