The McLennan Highlanders completed the four-game series sweep of the North Central Lions with a pair of wins today in Gainesville.
The Highlanders took game one 6-0 with Lucas Kelly getting the win on the mound.
McLennan scored three runs in the second. Owen Smith singled and Landon Underhill reached on an error. Brecken Menuet then singled to load the bases. Smith scored on a sacrifice fly by Daniel Harden, and Underhill scored on a wild pitch. Menuet stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Mac Rose.
Another Highlander run scored in the fourth. Smith walked and Menuet was hit by the pitch. Smith stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Harden.
The final two McLennan runs cored in the sixth. Smith walked, Underhill singled and Menuet walked to load the bases. Smith was out at home on a fielder's choice by Harden, and Underhill scored on a fielder's choice by Rose. Menuet then scored on a wild pitch.
The Highlander picked up a 13-1 run-rule victory in game two with Connor Zaruba getting the win on the mound.
McLennan scored five runs in the second inning. Walker Freeman doubled. Underhill reached first and advanced to second on an error, scoring Freeman. Menuet then doubled to score Underhill. Menuet scored on a pair of wild pitches, and Harden walked. Rose singled, and both runners advanced on another wild pitch. Kuni walked, loading the bases. Deiten Lachance walked to score Harden, and Flores walked to score Rose.
Two more Highlander runs scored in the third. Freeman walked, Underhill was hit by the pitch and Menuet singled, loading the bases. A double play put Freeman out at the plate and Harden out at first. Rose then singled to score Underhill and Menuet.
McLennan added three runs in the fifth. Harden triple and scored on a single by Rose. Kuni was hit by the pitch, and both runners stole a base. Lachance then doubled to score Rose and Kuni.
North Central's only run came in the bottom of the fifth. Daniel Swirsky was hit by the pitch and advanced on a ground out by Jack Davis. Cade Warmke singled, and Swirsky scored on a fielder's choice by Austin Wallace.
The Highlanders sealed the run rule with three runs in the sixth. Underhill walked, advanced to second on a balk, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a wild pitch. Menuet reached on an error and both runners were safe on a fielder's choice by Marcus Smith. Kuni walked to load the bases. Menuet scored on a fielder's choice by Lachance that put Kuni out at second. Flores then reached on an error, scoring Marcus Smith.
McLennan 6, North Central 0
McLennan 030 102 0 – 6 3 0
North Central 000 000 0 – 0 4 2
Lucas Kelly, Devin Bennett (7) and Brodey Williams. Cade Warmke, Parker Hillis (4), Keith Kennermer (7) and Jack Hamilton. WP: Kelly; LP: Warmke. Leading hitters – McLennan: Daniel Harden (0-2, 2 RBI) and Mac Rose (0-2, 2 RBI); North Central: Drew Thompson (2-3, 2B). Record: McLennan 16-9 (5-2).
McLennan 13, North Central 1
McLennan 052 033 – 13 8 0
North Central 000 010 – 1 6 5
Connor Zaruba, Nick Greaney (5), John Carmichael (6) and Deiten Lachance. Drew Thompson, Dakota McCaskill (2), Braden Bean (6), Blake Paradis (6) and Jack Davis. WP: Zaruba; LP: Thompson. Leading hitters – McLennan: Daniel Harden (1-3, 3B), Mac Rose (3-4, 3 RBI), Deiten Lachance (1-4, 2B, 4 RBI), Sam Flores (0-3, RBI), Brecken Menuet (2-4, 2B, RBI) and Walker Freeman (1-3, 2B); North Central: Austin Wallace (1-3, 2B, RBI), Sean Rabe (2-2) and Jack Hamilton (2-3). Record: McLennan 17-9 (6-2).
