Highlanders Baseball Team Sweeps Lon Morris
 By: Candice Kelm SuperCentex.com Correspondent
 January 31, 2010

The McLennan Highlanders started the 2010 baseball season on a high note as they shutout the Lon Morris Bearcats 8-0 and 9-0 this afternoon at Bosque River Ballpark.

In the first game, MCC got on the board with one run in the bottom of the fourth inning. Braden Embry and Mat Beasley both singled and Andrew Batten drew a walk to load the bases. Embry then scored on a sacrifice fly by Steve Singleton.

The Highlanders added two runs in the bottom of the fifth. Troy McCartney reached on an error to start the inning. Hunter Bailey also reached on error, advancing all the way to third and allowing McCartney to score. Garrett Carey followed with a single to score Bailey.

MCC rounded out the scoring in the first game with five runs in the sixth. De’Mario Thibodeaux reached on a Bearcat error, McCartney doubled and Bailey was given the intentional walk to load the bases. Carey followed with a single to score Thibodeaux and McCartney. Embry then doubled, scoring Bailey. Carey and Embry scored on a double by Batten.

The Highlanders began the scoring early in the nightcap with one run in the bottom of the first as Carey walked and scored on a Bearcat error that put Embry on second base.

MCC’s other eight runs came in the fifth inning. Thibodeaux drew a walk, McCartney reached on an error and Bailey singled to load the bases with no outs. Carey then cleared the bases with a triple to centerfield and scored on a sacrifice fly by Embry. Beasley walked and Batten singled, both advancing on a passed ball. Clayton Rabbe’s sacrifice fly to leftfield allowed Beasley to score. Joel Quintanilla drew a walk and Thibodeaux followed with a double, scoring Batten and Quintanilla.

Collin Reynolds and James Ferguson picked up wins for the Highlanders.

MCC returns to action on Tuesday, hosting San Jacinto for a noon doubleheader.

McLennan 8, Lon Morris 0
Lon Morris      000 000 0 – 0 4 5
McLennan      000 125 x – 8 9 0
Ross Miller, Clay Hamblett (5) and Albert Reyes. Collin Reynolds, Ryan Turner (7) and Steve Singleton. WP: Reynolds; LP: Miller. Leading hitters – McLennan: Troy McCartney (2B), Garrett Carey (2-3, 3 RBI), Braden Embry (2-4, 2B, RBI), Mat Beasley (2-3), Andrew Batten (2B, 2 RBI) and Steve Singleton (RBI).

McLennan 9, Lon Morris 0
Lon Morris      000 000 0 – 0 4 3
McLennan      100 080 x – 9 5 1
Reese Evans, J.R. Bethel (5), Patrick Escobar (5) and Carlos Gonzalez. James Ferguson, Travis Martin (5), Daniel Minor (6), Cliff Archibald (7) and Joel Quintanilla. WP: James Ferguson; LP: Reese Evans. Leading hitters – Lon Morris: Jacob Gregory (2-2); McLennan: Garrett Carey (1-2, 3B, RBI), Braden Embry (2 RBI), Clayton Rabbe (RBI) and De’Mario Thibodeaux (1-2, 2B, RBI). Records: McLennan 2-0.