Highlassies bid for national tournament berth comes up short

The McLennan Highlassies opened the Region V Tournament with an 8-6 loss to the North Central Lady Lions on Friday evening. Errors played a major role in the outcome of the game.

North Central began the scoring with two runs in the top of the first inning. Leadoff batter Kenedi Jackson was safe at first and advanced to second on a Highlassie error. Laura Mabary followed with a bunt single, moving Jackson to third. A double steal brought Jackson home and two more McLennan errors brought Mabary in to score.

McLennan took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the first. Natali Duron was safe on an error and scored on a double by Danielle Gregory. Gregory advanced to third on an error and scored on a wild pitch. Courtney Mica followed with a home run.

The Lady Lions scored five runs in the second inning. Kacie Bann walked but was out at second on a fielder's choice by Jackson. Mabary singled and Molly Davison walked to load the bases. Celina Ortiz singled to score Jackson, and Mabary scored on a single by Taylor Alexander. Davison and Ortiz both scored on a Highlassie error. Vanessa Tankesly then singled to score Alexander.

North Central added one run in the fourth as Mabary was hit by the pitch, moved around to third on a single by Davison and scored on an Ortiz single.

The Highlassies rounded out the scoring with three runs in the fifth. Summer Dolezel walked and Kaymee Gooden was safe on a bunt. Amber Mills followed with a double to score Dolezel and Gooden. Mills then scored on a groundout by Taylor Davis.

The loss moved McLennan to the loser's bracket game with the Grayson Lady Vikings. The Highlassies defeated Grayson 6-1 on Saturday afternoon to keep their season alive.

The Highlassies began the scoring with two runs in the bottom of the first. Ashley Mills drew a leadoff walk and moved to second on a groundout by Duron. Taylor Davis was safe on an error. Gregory followed with a single to score Mills. Mica then singled to score Davis.

McLennan added three runs in the second inning. Kaymee Gooden walked, Mills singled and Duron walked to load the bases. Davis walked, bringing Gooden in to score. Mills and Duron both scored on a single by Gregory.

Grayson's only run came in the top of the fourth as Diana Rodriguez was hit by the pitch, moved to second on a passed ball and scored on a McLennan error.

The Highlassies rounded out the scoring with a run in the fifth as Gregory singled and came around to score on a single by Abby White.

The season came to an end on Sunday morning with a 10-3 loss to the Weatherford Lady Coyotes. The game began on Saturday night, but a power outage postponed the game after two innings were complete. Errors once again caused the Highlassies to fall.

Weatherford scored one run in the top of the first as Carlie Jenkins was hit by the pitch, moved to second on a Highlassie error and scored on a single by Cierra Davis.

The Lady Coyotes took control of the game with four runs in the second inning. Aundrea Zuniga-Romero singled, Randi Cookus walked and Molly Holliday was safe on an error to load the bases. Mackenzie Bay followed with a single to score Zuniga-Romero. Jenkins followed with a fielder's choice, putting Cookus out at the plate. Alex Kovacs singled and moved to second on another error, scoring Holliday, Bay and Jenkins.

McLennan got on the board with one run in the bottom of the third as Gooden walked, stole second and third, and scored on a Weatherford error.

The Highlassies cut the lead to two with two runs in the fifth inning. Gooden and Amber Mills both walked. Duron followed with a single to score Gooden, and Mills scored on a single by Davis.

Weatherford rounded out the scoring with five runs in the top of the seventh. Jordan Griffith walked and advanced around to third on a double by Bailee Wortham. Cookus bunted for a single and Kelsie Fairbanks was safe on an error, bringing Griffith in to score. Bay followed with a single to score Wortham. Jenkins' fielder's choice put Cookus out at home plate. Kovacs then doubled to score Fairbanks, Bay and Jenkins.

McLennan ends the season with an overall record of 46-10.

North Central 8, McLennan 6
North Central 250 100 0 – 8 9 2
McLennan 300 030 0 – 6 7 4
Celese Tirres, Taylor Ramsey (7) and Jaiden Pelton. Ashley Mills, Stacey Underwood (4) and Natali Duron. WP: Tirres; LP: Mills; SV: Ramsey. Leading hitters – North Central: Laura Mabary (2-3), Molly Davison (2-3, 2B), Celina Ortiz (2-4, 2 RBI), Taylor Alexander (1-3, RBI) and Vanessa Tankesly (1-2, RBI); McLennan: Amber Mills (1-4, 2B, 2 RBI), Danielle Gregory (2-3, 2B, RBI), Courtney Mica (1-3, HR, RBI) and Kaymee Gooden (2-3). Record: McLennan 45-9 (29-3).   

Weatherford 10, McLennan 3
Weatherford 140 000 5 – 10 13 2
McLennan 001 020 0 – 3 6 5
Ashley Mills, Stacey Underwood (2) and Natali Duron. Aundrea Zuniga-Romero, Bailee Wortham (5) and Lauren Gunter. WP: Zuniga-Romero; LP: Mills. Leading hitters – Weatherford: Molly Holliday (2-4), Carlie Jenkins (1-3, 2B), Kelsie Fairbanks (0-1, RBI), Mackenzie Bay (2-4, 2 RBI), Alex Kovaks (2-5, 2 2B, 6 RBI), Cierra Davis (3-5, 2B, RBI) and Lauren Gunter (1-4, 2B) Bailee Wortham (1-1, 2B). Record: McLennan 46-10 (29-3).