Highlanders hold off Chattahoochee Valley for first win
The 11th-ranked McLennan Highlanders held off a late rally by the Chattahoochee Valley Pirates to pick up their first victory of the season, 5-3. Stefan Stahl got the win on the mound with Lucas Kelly picking up the save.
McLennan score two runs in the top of the second as Marcus Smith singled and scored on Aidan Kuni's home run.
Three more Highlander runs scored in the fifth. Xander McAfee bunted for a single and advanced around to third on an error. Sam Flores reached on an error but was out at second on a fielder's choice by Mac Rose. Deiten Lachance then doubled to score McAfee and Rose. Daniel Harden walked, and Smith doubled to score Lachance.
Chattahoochee Valley put a run on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Landon Tyler singled but was out on a fielder's choice by Michael Defrancisco. A fielder's choice by Silas Mason put Defrancisco out at second. Cole Meyer and Drew Jolley both singled, loading the bases. Zach Johnpeer then drew a walk, scoring Mason.
Two more Chattahoochee Valley runs scored in the sixth. JD Chase led off the bottom of the sixth with a solo home run for the Pirates. Another run scored as Tyler tripled and scored on a ground out by Defrancisco.
McLennan 5, Chattahoochee Valley 3
McLennan 020 030 0 – 5 10 0
Chattahoochee Valley 000 012 0 – 3 7 2
Stefan Stahl, Austin Ford (4), Kyndall Cassidy (6), Lucas Kelly (6) and Mac Rose. William Turner, Brad Grasser (5) and Silas Mason. WP: Stahl; LP: Turner; SV: Kelly. Leading hitters – McLennan: Xander McAfee (2-4), Sam Flores (2-4, 2B, RBI), Deiten Lachance (1-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Marcus Smith (3-3, 2B, RBI) and Aidan Kuni (2-3, HR, 2 RBI); Chattahoochee Valley: Cole Meyer (2-3), Zach Johnpeer (0-3, RBI), JD Chase (2-3, HR, RBI), Landon Tyler (2-3, 3B) and Michael Defrancisco (0-2, RBI). Record: McLennan 1-2.