Highlanders romp over Johnson County
| Final | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 14 | 13 | 0 |
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0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 8 | 4 |
The McLennan Highlanders opened the 2025 Alpine Bank JUCO World Series with a 14-7 romp over the Johnson County Cavaliers in Grand Junction, Colorado. Kadyn Leon picked up the win on the mound in relief of starter Isaac Godard.
The Highlander began the scoring with two runs in the top of the second inning. McClane Helton walked, and Owen Smith was hit by the pitch. Brody Chyr walked, loading the bases. Abdiel Hernandez-Sostre walked, scoring Helton. Owen Smith then scored on a fielder's choice by Sherman Johnson.
McLennan added a run in the third. Marcus Smith walked and advanced on a wild pitch. Daniel Harden also walked. A double play put Harden out at second and Deiten Lachance out at first. Helton then singled to score Marcus Smith.
Johnson County got on the board with two runs in the fourth. Jake McClure walked and stole second. Jeremy Comer followed with a two-run homer.
The Highlanders put another run on in the sixth with Johnson's solo home run.
The Cavaliers took the lead with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. Bo Shinkle and Miken Miller both singled and advanced on a wild pitch. Comer followed with a three-run homer.
McLennan went back on top with three runs in the top of the seventh. Harden walked and Helton singled. Harden scored on a sac bunt by Owen Smith, and Chyr reached on an error to score Helton. Hernandez-Sostre was hit by the pitch. Johnson then singled to score Chyr.
Three more Highlander runs scored in the eighth. Harden and Lachance both singled. Helton's fielder's choice scored Harden and put Lachance out at second. Helton advanced on an error, and Owen Smith followed with a two-run homer.
Johnson County scored one in the bottom of the eighth as McClure tripled and scored on a fly out by Shinkle.
McLennan tacked on four runs in the top of the ninth. Hernandez-Sostre reached on an error, and Johnson walked. Both runners advanced on a sac bunt by Spencer Butt and scored on a Marcus Smith's home run. Harden singled and Lachance walked. Harden then stole third and scored on a sac fly by Helton.
The Cavaliers rounded out the scoring with a run in the bottom of the ninth. Boston Bruce singled and Easton Roe walked. Tyrus Petsche came in as a pinch runner for Brue. Ryker Edwards singled, and Petsche scored when Briggs Roe grounded into a double play.
McLennan will face the winner of Walters State/Eastern Oklahoma State at 7 p.m. (CT) Monday. Johnson County moves to the elimination bracket and will face the loser of the Walters State/Eastern Oklahoma State game at 3 p.m. (CT) Sunday.
McLennan 14, Johnson County 7
McLennan 021 001 334 – 14 13 0
Johnson County 000 203 011 – 7 8 4
Isaac Godard, Kadyn Leon (4), Cade Waibel (7), John Carmichael (9) and Deiten Lachance. Josiah Golden, Christian Bobzin (3), Cooper Westra (4), Sam Novtony (4), Keston Holman (7), Ronin Vicenti (9), Jackson Downing (9) and Miken Miller. WP: Leon; LP: Novotny. Leading hitters – McLennan: Sherman Johnson (2-5, HR, 3 RBI), Marcus Smith (2-5, HR, 3 RBI), McClane Helton (2-4, 3 RBI), Owen Smith (2-, HR, 3 RBI) and Abdiel Hernandez (1-3, RBI); Johnson County: Jake McClure (1-3, 3B), Bo Shinkle (1-3, RBI), Jeremy Comer (2-4, 2 HR, 5 RBI) and Ryker Edwards (2-4). Record: McLennan 46-16 (23-9).