The McLennan Highlanders opened the final conference series of the season with a doubleheader sweep of the North Central Lions on the road in Gainesville.
The Highlanders shut out the Lions 9-0 in the opener with Kadyn Leon picking up the win on the mound.
One run scored in the first. Sherman Johnson and Spencer Butt both singled. Both runners stole a base and Johnson scored on an error.
Six more McLennan runs scored in the third. Spencer Butt walked and scored on Marcus Smith's home run. McClane Helton and AJ Goytia both singled, and Brody Chyr walked toe load the bases. Cage McCloud then doubled to score all three runners. Johnson then doubled to score McCloud.
The Highlanders added another run in the fourth. Daniel Harden was hit by the pitch and stole second. Deiten Lachance then singled to score Harden.
McLennan rounded out the scoring with a run in the top of the seventh. Walker Freeman and McCloud both singled and advanced on a passed ball. Freeman then scored on a sacrifice fly by Johnson.
The Highlanders defeated the Lions 13-5 in game two with Mason Cook picking up the win.
Two Highlander runs scored in the first. Johnson drew a lead-off walk and Butt singled. Both runners stole a base, and Johnson scored on a passed ball. Smith walked, and Butt scored on a sac fly by Harden.
North Central took the lead with four runs in the second. Dylan Robinson was hit by the pitch and advanced on a sac bunt by Colson Wood. Vince Villegas was also hit by the pitch, and Meki Betancis singled to score Robinson. Cole Rager reached on an error, scoring Villegas and Betancis. Sean Rabe then doubled to score Rager.
McLennan scored three in the third to regain the lead. Johnson and Smith both singled. Johnson scored on a ground out by Harden, and Lachance followed with a two-run homer.
Another Highlander run scored in the fifth. Butt walked and Harden reached on an error. Lachance walked to load the bases. McClane Helton also walked, scoring Butt.
Two more McLennan runs scored in the sixth. McCloud walked and advanced on a wild pitch. Butt walked, and both runners advanced on a double steal. Harden walked to load the bases, Lachance then singled to score McCloud and Butt.
The Lions added a run in the bottom of the sixth. Robinson and was replaced by pinch runner Jonathan Edwards. Wood singled and Edwards was out at second. Jackson Ridge also singled, and Wood scored on an error.
Five McLennan runs in the top of the ninth rounded out the scoring. Goytia single and scored on a double by McCloud. McCloud stole third and scored on a single by Johnson. Johnson advanced on an error and scored on single by Butt. Butt stole second and scored on a Harden home run.
McLennan 9, North Central 0
McLennan 106 100 1 – 9 11 0
North Central 000 000 0 – 0 3 1
Isaac Godard, Kadyn Leon (3), Stevie Doty (7) and Deiten Lachance. Aaron Montanez, Jacob Hamilton (4) and Colson Wood. WP: Leon; LP: Montanez. Leading hitters – McLennan: Sherman Johnson (2-3, 2B, 2 RBI), Marcus Smith (1-4, HR, 2 RBI), Deiten Lachance (1-4, 2 RBI) and Cage McCloud (2-3, 2B, 3 RBI); Record: McLennan 37-16 (20-9).
McLennan 13, North Central 5
McLennan 203 012 005 – 13 14 3
North Central 040 001 000 – 5 7 2
Cade Waibel, Mason Cook (3). Gage Goldman (9) and AJ Goytia. Brayden Stout, Asher Goehmann (5), Kole Allen (7) and Meki Betancis. WP: Cook; LP: Stout. Leading hitters – McLennan: Sherman Johnson (2-5, RBI), Spencer Butt (2-4, RBI), Daniel Harden (2-4, HR, 4 RBI), Deiten Lachance (3-4, HR, 4 RBI), McClane Helton (1-5, RBI) and Cage McCloud (2-4, 2B, RBI); North Central: Sean Rabe (2-5, 2 2B, RBI), Colson Wood (2-3) and Meki Betancis (1-4, RBI). Record: McLennan 38-16 (21-9).
