Lake Highland Prep Rally Falls Short In Loss To McKeel

The McKeel Academy Wildcats built an early lead against the Lake Highland Prep Highlanders on the road Tuesday and added a couple runs late to secure the 5-2 victory in a non-district match-up.

The Wildcats (8-2) came into this road game still perfect away from home. Josh Jano got things going in the second when he took the first pitch he saw and hit a deep fly-ball into left field that dropped for a double. The extra-base hit brought home Dylan LeFebvre and Blaine Wellslager for the 2-0 lead. A Joe Rivera sacrifice during the next at-bat scored the third run of the inning to give the Wildcats a 3-0 advantage that they never lost.

The Highlanders were held in check most of the night by the pitching of the Wildcats. The Highlanders broke through in the fifth when Logan Jamieson doubled to right field to bring home Luke Henson and Ryan Demaree to pull to within one of the Wildcats. The rally was short-lived as the Wildcats quickly retook a three-run lead by adding two more runs in the sixth. The loss snaps a four-game winning streak for the Highlanders (7-3).

A tough couple of innings for Will Saxton ruined an otherwise sold performance on the mound for the Highlanders. Saxton went five-and-a-third innings and threw 100 pitches, striking out six batters. Walker Bancroft came in to pitch the rest of the way, allowing no runs and no hits.

Bryce Barter picked up the victory for the Wildcats. Barter threw 71 pitches over five innings allowing five hits and two runs while striking out two. Brian Barbosa came in for the sixth and struck out two in his one inning of work. In the seventh, Clark Grenfell came into to pick up the save and secured the third straight victory for the Wildcats.

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