On March 24, the Highlanders traveled to Capital One Park to face the Langley Saxons in their first district matchup and the first game of two in the series. After a 12-5 loss by Gainesville the Highlanders needed a get-right game against their rival.
“Our game versus Gainesville mainly showed us what we need to work on and what we need to think about, come into this game,” sophomore right hand pitcher Charlie Coats said.
In the first inning, McLean showed poor offense, only getting one runner on base off an error, and two strikeouts followed. Starting on the bump was sophomore pitcher Alex Inget who started off cold with 4 balls in a row and two line-drive hits, along with a pair of sacrifice fly balls, allowing two runs.
“After that first inning, [Inget] was able to really settle in and throw well,” head coach for the Highlanders John Dowling said.
The second inning went by quickly, with the Highlanders yet again failing to get the offense going. Inget finally began to settle in and threw two quick strike outs along with a fly ball to cap it off.
In the third, the offense for McLean began to ramp up as well, with Prell leading off with an easy double to right center and a walk got two runners on base. Wormington hit a Sacrifice fly ball to get Prell in to score, but a looking strikeout for Reid Turner finished the top of the third with a 2-1 score line in favor of the Saxons.
“We adapted by kind of getting to know our opponents better because it was a very different team from what they had last year,” Coats said.
The Highlanders finished off the bottom of the inning with another pop-up and two strike-outs.
Despite the offense getting into a groove in the third, the same could not be said for the fourth as one walk was the only piece of offense seen from the Highlanders.
With Inget now being in for three innings a pitcher change was inevitable, Dowling decided to bring in another sophomore pitcher Charlie Coats.
“It was a little nerve racking being put in because it was my first varsity game, but coach Dowling gave some advice prior and I’m very thankful for that,” Coats said.
Coats almost immediately had an error allowing the Saxons to get one on second. A sac bunt and wild pitch allowed the runner to get home making the score 3-1. Coats was able to get out of the inning with a pop fly and a strikeout.
In the fifth Highlander offense continued on the same downward trend, with three batters and three outs. Fortunately for Coats he was able to find a rhythm and get three strikeouts.
The sixth inning kicked off by going back to the top of order, meaning Wormington was at bat and he was able to capitalize with a single. Reid Turner then was walked to have runners on second and third, but two pop flies lowered McLeans hopes. McLean then had another walk and a hit by pitch which got Wormington to run in to make the score 3-2.
Coats was able to get 3 batters out only walking one to quickly end the inning and leaving the top of the seventh inning the only hope for McLean. Unfortunately for McLean two close at bats which ended in outs made the chances slim and to finish it off a pop out ended the game 3-2.
McLean will face Langley on March 26, for the second game in the series and the team is hopeful for a win and are optimistic about the season.
“We expect to win the next one,” Coats said. “If our hitting can get more consistent then we will win because of how great our pitching staff is.”
