#18 Highlanders fall to #6 Chaparrals

In a high-scoring nine-inning game, the #18 McLennan Highlanders fell to the #6 Midland Chaparrals 19-17 on the campus of Abilene Christian University in Abilene.
 
The Highlanders began the scoring with two runs in the first. Sherman Johnson singled and advanced on a passed ball. McClane Helton walked, and both runners advanced on a another passed ball. Johnson scored on a ground out by Marcus Smith, and Helton scored on a ground out by Daniel Harden.
 
The Chaparrals got on the board with a run in the bottom of the inning. Dylon Myrow drew a lead-off walk and stole his way to third before scoring on a ground out by Josh Wulfert.
 
McLennan extended the lead with two runs in the second. Brody Chyr and Ty Waid both walked. Chyr stole third and scored on an error. Johnson then doubled to score Waid.
 
Midland took the lead with seven runs in the bottom of the second. Caleb Boswell was hit by the pitch, and AJ Velarde singled. Luke Wheatley singled to score Boswell, and Isaac Perez reached on an error. Jorge Gil followed with a double to score all three runners, and Wulfert doubled to score Gil. Colin Fisher singled, and Boswell doubled to score Wulfert and Fisher.
 
The Highlanders added a run with a Deiten Lachance solo home run in the third.
 
The Chaparrals also added a run on Wheatley's home run in the bottom of the third.
 
Another Highlander run score in the fourth. Owen Egan singled, advanced to second on an error and stole third. Johnson walked, and Egan scored on the double steal.
 
Wulfert led off the bottom of the fourth with a solo home run for Midland.
 
Five Chaparral runs scored in the fifth. Wheatley singled but was out at second on a fielder's choice by Perez. Myrow tripled to score Perez, and Myrow scored on a wild pitch. Wulfert singled and Fisher doubled. Boswell followed with a three-run homer.
 
McLennan added four runs in the sixth. Waid was hit by the pitch, and both Highlanders were safe on Spencer Butt's fielder's choice. Egan walked to load the bases. Johnson followed with a grand slam.
 
Midland scored four in the seventh. Myrow led off with a home run. Gil walked and stole second before scoring on a single by Wulfert. Wulfert stole second and scored on a single by Fisher. Boswell was hit by the pitch but Velarde hit into a double play putting Fisher out at third. Boswell then scored on an error.
 
The Highlanders trimmed the lead with five runs in the eighth. Helton led off with a home run. Walker Freeman and Lachance both singled and advanced on an error. Chyr walked to load the bases. Waid then tripled to score all three runners. Butt's sac fly scored Waid.
 
Two McLennan runs in the ninth rounded out the scoring. Helton and Smith were both hit by the pitch. Lachance doubled to score Helton, and Smith scored on a wild pitch.
 
Midland 19, McLennan 17
McLennan 221 104 052 – 17 14 2
Midland 171 150 40x – 19 19 3
Hawk Bowers, Drake Threadgill (2), Stevie Doty (4), AJ Ripley (5), Trevor Ainsworth (7), Charlie Kincaid (7), Gavin McCullough (8) and Deiten Lachance. Brock Thorndell, Carson Gibson (3), Augden Hallmark (5), Jacob Morgan (7), Timothy Haynes (8), Aiden Cline (9) and Colin Fisher. WP: Thorndell; LP: Bowers; SV: Cline. Leading hitters – McLennan: Sherman Johnson (3-5, 2B, HR, 5 RBI), McClane Helton (1-4, HR, RBI), Marcus Smith (0-5, RBI), Daniel Harden (0-3, RBI), Walker Freeman (2-3, 2B), Deiten Lachance (3-5, 2B, HR, 2 RBI), Brody Chyr (2-4), Ty Waid (1-3, 3B, 3 RBI), Spencer Butt (0-1, RBI) and Owen Egan (2-4); Midland: Dylon Morrow (3-5, 3B, HR, 2 RBI), Jorge Gil (1-5, 2B, 3 RBI), Josh Wulfert (4-6, 2B, HR, 4 RBI), Colin Fisher (3-6, 2B, RBI), Caleb Boswell (3-3, 2B, HR, 5 RBI) and Luke Wheatley (3-5, HR, 2 RBI). McLennan 30-13 (14-6).