The McLennan Highlanders dominated the Vernon Chaparrals today on the road for a pair of run-rule win.
McLennan took the opener 15-4 in six innings with Will Clements getting the win on the mound.
McLennan began the scoring with three runs in the top of the first inning. Elijah Rodriguez drew a lead-off walk and advanced to second on a sac bunt by Jason Hawkins. Ty Johnson followed with a double to score Rodriguez, and Johnson scored on a triple by Cole Dillon. Britton Moore followed with a single to score Dillon.
Two more Highlander runs score in the second. Xander McAfee led off with a solo home run. Jake D'Altrui and Rodriguez both singled. Both runners advanced on an error, and D'Altrui scored on a sacrifice fly by Hawkins.
Vernon scored all four runs in the bottom of the third. Hector Garcia reached on an error but was out at second on a fielder's choice by Alex Montiel. Travis Bragg singled, and Dylan Garcia singled to score Montiel. Zak Skinner followed with a single to score Bragg Jayden Hill singled to score Dylan Garcia, and Skinner scored on a double by Justin Martinez.
McLennan responded with six runs in the top of the fourth inning. D'Altrui hit a solo home run. Rodriguez singled, stole second and advanced to third on a balk. Hawkins followed with a single to score Rodriguez. Hawkins then advanced to second on a wild pitch and scored on a double by Johnson. Dillon singled and Aidan Kuni doubled, scoring Johnson. Britton Moore followed with a single to score Dillon, and Kuni scored on a fielder's choice by McAfee.
The Highlanders sealed the run rule with four runs in the top of the sixth. Johnson led off with a double and Dillon singled. Johnson scored on a wild pitch and Kuni walked. Dillon moved to third on a wild pitch and Kuni was picked off at first, allowing Dillon to steal home. Moore doubled and scored on double by McAfee. Karson Krowka then singled to score McAfee.
It was a 16-5 run-rule in five innings for McLennan in game two with Blake Hansen getting the win on the mound.
The Highlanders jumped out to an early three-run lead. Rodriguez led off the top of the first with a solo home run. Dillon doubled and Johnson was hit by the pitch. Kuni then singled to load the bases. A fielder's choice by Moore put Dillon out at the plate. Johnson scored on a ground out by Katcher Halligan. Brodey Williams then reached on an error, scoring Kuni.
Vernon scored two runs in the second as Christian Febus singled and scored on a Dylan Bojarski home run.
McLennan responded with five runs in the third. Cole Dillon led off with a solo home run. Johnson singled and stole second. Kuni walked, and Moore singled to score Johnson. Kuni scored on a sacrifice fly by Halligan. Williams reached on an error, scoring Moore. Williams advanced on a wild pitch and an error. D'Altrui then doubled to score Williams.
The Chaparrals scored two more runs in the third. Dylan Garcia walked and Hill reached on an error. Both runners advanced on a balk, and Febus singled to score Dylan Garcia. Martinez then singled to score Hill.
The Highlanders put another five runs on the board in the fourth. Dillon walked and Johnson singled. Kuni was hit by the pitch, loading the bases. Dillon scored on a passed ball. Back-to-back sac flies by Moore and Halligan brought Johnson and Kuni in to score. Williams walked and Krowka followed with a two-run homer.
Vernon added a run in the bottom of the fourth. Jean-Beniot Simard Gagnon was hit by the pitch, Montiel singled and Hector Garcia walked to load the bases. Skinner followed with a sacrifice fly to score Simard Gagnon.
McLennan tacked on three more runs in the top of the fifth to seal the run rule. Rodriguez walked and stole second and third. Dillon was hit by the pitch, and Rodriguez scored on a ground out by Johnson. Dillon scored on a passed ball, and Kuni followed with a solo home run.
McLennan 15, Vernon 4
McLennan 320 604 – 15 19 1
Vernon 004 000 – 4 7 1
Will Clements, Henry Cone (5), Max Hamilton (6) and Jason Hawkins. Noah Lindt, Trae Kizlinski (4), Mathys Ayotte (6) and Zak Skinner. WP: Clements; LP: Lindt. Leading hitters – McLennan: Elijah Rodriguez (2-3), Jason Hawkins (1-3, 2 RBI), Ty Johnson (3-4, 3 2B, 2 RBI), Cole Dillon (3-4, 3B, RBI), Aidan Kuni (2-3, 2B, RBI), Britton Moore (3-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Xander McAfee (2-4, 2B,HR, 3 RBI), Karson Krowka (1-4, RBI) and Jake D'Altrui (2-3, HR, RBI). Record: McLennan: 18-7 (3-2).
McLennan 16, Vernon 5
McLennan 305 53 – 16 11 1
Vernon 022 10 – 5 7 4
Blake Hansen, Jackson Mayo (3), Cooper Hrbacek (4), Trey Cehajic (5) and Brodey Williams. Brandon Smith, Ty Sansom (4), Cristian Hernandez (5) and Jean-Beniot Simard Gagnon. WP: Hansen; LP: Smith. Leading hitters – McLennan: (1-3, HR, RBI), Cole Dillon (2-2, 2B, HR, RBI), Ty Johnson (2-3, RBI), Aidan Kuni (2-2, HR, RBI), Britton Moore (1-3, 2B, 2 RBI), Katcher Halligan (0-2, 3 RBI), Brodey Williams (1-3, RBI), Karson Krowka (1-3, HR, 2 RBI) and Jake D'Altrui (1-3, 2B, RBI); Vernon: Zak Skinner (0-2, RBI), Christian Febus (2-3, RBI), Justin Martinez 2-3, RBI) and Dylan Bojarski (1-3, HR, 2 RBI). Record: McLennan: 19-7 (4-2).
