McLennan Softball ends season as Region V North Runner-Up
The McLennan Highlassies fought in the blazing Texas sun for three games and 21 innings at the Region V North Tournament with hopes of securing a national tournament berth, but despite a valiant effort that trip to Utah slipped away.
McLennan began the day with a 5-2 victory over Weatherford to secure a spot in the championship. Victoria Vasquez got the win in the circle.
Both of Weatherford’s runs came in the top of the second inning. Analiese Galdeano reached first and moved to second on a Highlassie error, and Camden Rasmussen drew a walk. Amanda Vallejo singled to score Galdeano, and Rasmussen stole home.
McLennan got on the board with a run in the bottom of the fourth as Ariana Hernandez reached first safely on an error, stole second, moved to third on a fly out by Brittany Montoya, and scored on a single by Emeri Eubanks.
The Highlassies took the lead with three runs in the fifth. Breanna Heredia and Olivia Lantigua both singled and scored on a triple by Kaitlin Richards. Richards then scored on a fly out by Genisa Marrero-Carter.
McLennan rounded out the scoring with a run in the sixth as Heredia singled and came around to score on a single by Cassie Pavlas.
The Highlassies shut out the Temple Lady Leopards 2-0 in eight innings of the championship game to force the “if necessary game” to determine the regional champion. Once again, Vasquez got the win in relief of Emily Gray and Emily Klanika.
McLennan scored both runs in the top of the eighth inning. Zayra Olguin and Pavlas both singled. Lantigua followed with a single to score Olguin and move Pavlas to third. Pavlas then stole home.
The Highlassies came up short in the final game of the day, falling to Temple 11-3.
Temple scored five runs in the third inning. Kaitlyn Jones singled and Haley Moore reached first safely on an error. Daisy Gonzalez followed with a double to score Jones and Moore. Kelsie Murie followed with a double to score Gonzalez. Murie then moved to third on a ground out by Lindsey Taylor and scored on a home run by Madilyn Weatherly.
The Lady Leopards added a run in the fifth as Moore singled, stole second and third, and scored on a passed ball.
All three McLennan runs came in the top of the sixth. Pavlas reached first safely on an error and Lantigua singled, both scoring on a double by Marrero-Carter. Marrero-Carter then moved to third on an error and scored on a single by Maddie Warhol.
Temple scored five runs in the bottom of the sixth to secure the run-rule win. Weatherly led off with a home run, and Skye Koehl drew a walk. Kylie Mica followed with a triple, scoring Koehl, and Jones singled to score Mica. Jones stole second, moved to third on a passed ball and scored on a single by Moore. Moore then stole second and scored on a double by Gonzalez to end the game.
McLennan ends the season as the Region V North Runner-Up with an overall record of 30-13.
McLennan 5, Weatherford 2
Weatherford 020 000 0 – 2 2 1
McLennan 000 131 x – 5 10 2
Camden Rasmussen, Katy Simon (4) and Analiese Galdeano. Victoria Vasquez and Breanna Heredia. WP: Vasquez; LP: Rasmussen. Leading hitters – Weatherford: Amanda Vallejo (1-3, RBI); McLennan: Emeri Eubanks (1-3, RBI), Cassie Pavlas (2-4, 2B, RBI), Genisa Marrero-Carter (0-2, RBI), Breanna Heredia (2-3), Ariana Hernandez (2-3) and Kaitlin Richards (2-3, 3B, 2 RBI). Record: McLennan 29-12 (22-10).
McLennan 2, Temple 0
McLennan 000 000 02 – 2 6 0
Temple 000 000 00 – 0 3 0
Emily Klanika, Emily Gray (6), Victoria Vasquez (8) and Breanna Heredia. Dalilah Barrera and Kylie Mica. WP: Vasquez; LP: Barrera. Leading hitters – McLennan: Olivia Lantigua (1-4, RBI) and Ariana Hernandez (1-3, 2B). Record: McLennan 30-12 (22-10).
Temple 11, McLennan 3
McLennan 000 003 – 3 5 1
Temple 005 015 – 11 11 2
Karina Sanchez, Dalilah Barrera (6) and Maycie Walton, Kylie Mica (5).
Victoria Vasquez, Emily Gray (3), Emily Klanika (3), Vasquez (6) and Breanna Heredia. WP: Sanchez; LP: Gray. Leading hitters – McLennan: Genisa Marrero-Carter (1-3, 2B, 2 RBI) and Maddie Warhol (1-1, RBI); Temple: Madilyn Weatherly (2-3, 2 HR, 3 RBI), Daisy Gonzalez (2-3, 2 2B, 3 RBI), Kylie Mica (1-1, 3B, RBI), Kaitlyn Jones (2-3, RBI), Kelsie Murie (1-3, 3B, RBI) and Haley Moore (2-4, RBI). Record: McLennan 30-13 (22-10).
