Highlanders sweep Grayson to clinch conference title

The No. 4 McLennan Highlanders swept this afternoon's conference doubleheader with the No. 13 Grayson Vikings to claim the North Texas Junior College Athletic Conference Championship. 

McLennan took game one 14-5 with Nick Greaney picking up the win on the mound.

The Highlanders began the scoring with a run in the bottom of the first. Hunter Grimes singled, Ty Johnson walked and Cole Fontenelle was hit by the pitch, loading the bases. Grimes then scored on a sacrifice fly by Cole Dillon.

Grayson tied the game with a J.D. Gregson home run in the top of the second. 

McLennan scored three runs in the second to take the lead. Hank Bard doubled, Chase Brown walked and Marquis Jackson singled to load the bases. Johnson walked to score Bard, and Fontenelle singled to score Brown and Jackson. 

The Vikings scored four runs in the fifth to take the lead. Davin Warner doubled but was out at third on a fielder's choice by Dax Dathe. Connor McGinnis singled but was out at second on a fielder's choice by Davis Powell. Dalton Beck singled to score Dathe. Gregson followed with a three-run homer. 

The Highlanders sealed the win with 10 runs in the bottom of the sixth. Grimes led off with a double, Johnson singled and Fontenelle walked to load the bases. Katcher Halligan singled, scoring Grimes, and Izzy Lopez singled to score Johnson. Fontenelle scored on an error, and Bard singled to score Halligan and Lopez. Elijah Rodriguez singled and Jackson walked, reloading the bases. Johnson singled to score Bard, and Fontenelle followed with a grand slam. 

McLennan dominated in game two with a 10-2 walk-off run-rule victory. Devin Bennett picked up the win. 

The Highlanders scored two in the first as Johnson singled and scored on Fontenelle's home run. 

A Yanluis Ortiz homer in the second put Grayson on the board. 

McLennan added a run in the third as Jackson walked, stole second and scored on a double by Fontenelle. 

Two more Highlander runs scored in the fourth. Lopez singled and Rodriguez walked. Both runners scored on a single by Jackson. 

The Vikings' final run came in the top of the seventh. Chayton Krauss singled and Albert Serrano was hit by the pitch. Beck then singled to score Krauss. 

McLennan added two runs in the bottom of the seventh. Grimes reached on an error, advanced on a sacrifice bunt by Johnson and scored on a double by Fontenelle. Daniel Altman then singled to score Fontenelle. 

The Highlanders sealed the win with three runs in the eighth. Jason Hawkins reached on a dropped third strike and advanced to second on an error. Jackson walked, and Grimes doubled to score both runners. Halligan followed with a walk-off single, scoring Grimes and ending the game. 

McLennan and Grayson will complete the four-games series with a noon doubleheader at Grayson on Saturday. 

McLennan 14, Grayson 5
Grayson 010 040 0 – 5 9 2
McLennan 130 0010 x – 14 15 1
Dalton Beck, Tate Bethel (2), Rye Gunter (5), Gunner Morris (6) and J.D. Gregson. Devin Bennett, Nick Greaney (6) and Hank Bard. WP: Greaney; LP: Gunter. Leading hitters – Grayson: Dalton Beck (1-4, RBI), J.D. Gregson (3-4, 2 HR, 4 RBI) and Devin Warner (2-3, 2B); McLennan: Hunter Grimes (2-5, 2B), Ty Johnson (2-3, 2 RBI), Cole Fontenelle (3-3, GS, 6 RBI), Cole Dillon (RBI), Izzy Lopez (2-4, RBI) and Hank Bard (3-3, 2B, 2 RBI). Record: McLennan 41-9-1 (26-3). 

McLennan 10, Grayson 2
Grayson 010 000 10 – 2 6 3
McLennan 201 200 23 – 10 11 0
Clark Candiotti, Sam Crain (6) and J. D. Gregson, Luke Piper (6). Devin Bennett, Jared Matheson (7) and Jason Hawkins. WP: Bennett; LP: Candiotti. Leading hitters – Grayson: Dalton Beck (1-4, RBI) and Yanluis Ortiz (1-4, HR, RBI); McLennan: Marquis Jackson (1-3, 2 RBI), Hunter Grimes (1-5, 2B, 2 RBI), Cole Fontenelle (3-5, 2 2B, HR, 4 RBI), Katcher Halligan (1-5, RBI), Daniel Altman (1-2, RBI) and Izzy Lopez (2-4). Record: McLennan 42-9-1 (27-3).