Highlanders fall in Region V opener, move into elimination bracket
The McLennan Highlanders fell to the Midland Chaparrals 9-3 in the opening game of the Region V Tournament in Weatherford.
Midland scored three runs in the bottom of the first. Cody Grebeck led off with a double, stole third and scored on a ground out by Rhett Clark. Xavier Melendez then singled and scored on Hudson Parker's home run.
The Chaparrals added a run in the third. Jake Martinez drew a lead-off walk and Clark singled. A fielder's choice by Melendez put Martinez out at the plate. Clark then scored on an error.
McLennan's first run came in the top of the fourth. Ty Johnson singled and advanced around to third on an error. Britton Moore then singled to score Johnson.
Three more Midland runs scored in the bottom of the fourth. Justin Rumfield was hit by the pitch, Brock Tijerina walked and Kyle Lewis singled to load the bases. Rumfield scored on a ground out by Grebeck. Clark then singled to score Tijerina and Lewis.
The Highlanders added two runs in the eighth as Katcher Halligan doubled and scored on a Sam Flores home run.
Midland rounded out the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the eighth. Parker, Frayner Chavez and Rumfield all singled, loading the bases. Tijerina walked to score Parker, and Martinez walked to score Chavez.
Midland 9, McLennan 3
McLennan 000 100 020 – 3 11 1
Midland 301 300 02x – 9 11 1
Will Clements, Henry Cone (4), Cooper Hrbacek (5), Wyatt Wiatrek (8) and Jason Hawkins. Tyler Boudreau, Matthew Guthmiller (9) and Hudson Parker. WP: Boudreau' LP: Clements. Leading hitters – McLennan: Ty Johnson (2-4), Britton Moore (1-5, RBI), Katcher Halligan (3-4, 2 2B) and Sam Flores (1-4, HR, 2 RBI); Midland: Cody Grebeck (1-4, 2B, RBI), Jake Martinez (0-2, RBI), Rhett Clark (2-5, 3 RBI), Hudson Parker (3-4, HR, 2 RBI), Brock Tijerina (0-2, RBI) and Kyle Lewis (2-4). Record: McLennan 38-19 (20-12).