No. 11 Highlanders edge out No. 4 Blinn
The No. 11 McLennan Highlanders edged out the No. 4 Blinn Buccaneers 9-8 in extra innings on the first day of the Tyler Spring Tournament.
Blinn began the scoring with one run in the bottom of the first. Brandon Bishop drew a lead-off walk and stole second. Back-to-back ground outs by Tanner Reaves and Cade Climie brought Bishop in to score.
McLennan tied the game with a run in the top of the third. Landon Underhill singled and advanced to third on a single by Phoenix Meza. Underhill then scored on a passed ball.
The Buccaneers put five runs on the board in the bottom of the third. Bishop walked and advanced on a wild pitch. Reaves also walked, and Climie doubled to score Bishop. Coy DeFury walked but was out at second on a fielder's choice by Lane Allen. Reaves scored on an error and Climie scored on a wild pitch. Connor McGinnis was hit by the pitch, and both runners advanced on a passed ball. Allen and McGinnis both scored on another error.
The Highlanders responded with six runs in the fourth to tie the game. Marcus Smith walked. Logan Duffy, Xander McAfee and Landon Underhill all singled, scoring Smith and leaving the bases loaded. Phoenix Meza followed with a grand slam. Sam Flores walked and moved around to third on a single by Mac Rose. Deiten Lachance then singled to score Flores.
Blinn tied the game once again with a run in the bottom of the fourth as Bishop walked, stole second, moved to third on a walk and scored on a single by DeFury.
McLennan scored a run in the top of the sixth to take the lead. Meza singled and advanced on a wild pitch. Lachance then singled to score Meza.
Blinn tied the game in the bottom of the seventh. Allen drew a lead-off walk and McGinnis reached on an error. Caden Ferrero hit into a double play but Allen was able to score, forcing extra innings.
The Highlanders scored the winning run in the top of the eighth as Rose doubled and scored on a single by Lachance.
McLennan 001 601 01 – 9 15 3
Blinn 105 100 10 – 8 6 0
Gavyn Jones, Clayton Freshcorn (3), Connor Zaruba (4), Nick Greaney (5), Lucas Kelly (7) and Deiten Lachance. Lucas Davenport, Jake Kolkhorst (4), Brendan Sweeney (6), Bryson Dudley (7) and Ethan Gonzalez, Matt Whitting (8). WP: Kelly; LP: Dudley. Leading hitters – McLennan: Phoenix Meza (3-5, HR, 4 RBI), Mac Rose (2-5, 2B), Deiten Lachance (3-5, 3 RBI),and Landon Underhill (2-4, RBI); Blinn: Tanner Reaves (1-4, 2B), Cade Climie (1-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Coy DeFury (1-3, RBI) and Marshall Lipsey (2-4). Record: McLennan 2-3.