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MCC Highlanders Fall in Championship Game

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The McLennan Community College Highlanders worked their way to the championship game of the Junior College World Series this past Saturday. The last time the Highlanders made it to the final game was 1983.

It had been 32 years since the Highlanders played their last Junior College World Series, which they also won. Saturday night ended their decades-long absence from the championship game but the highlanders were unable to spur an offensive attack and lost to Northwest Florida Raiders, 15-1.

It seemed as if fatigue has set in early on for the Highlanders, who journeyed through 6 rounds during the weeklong tournament held in Grand Junction, Colorado. An impressive feat that exhausted their pitching reserves. Heading into the 4th inning, the game remained tied at 1 a piece. But after several walks, a damaging two-RBI single from the Raider’s Aaron Palmer, and three-run home run the Raiders quickly jumped up 7 to 1. The Highlanders, who were unable to start a defensive counter, saw another 5 Raider runs come in during the 7th inning.

Despite the loss, Head Coach Mitch Thompson told reporters he was proud of the historic run this team made.

"I did expect to be here. I know what kind of caliber of players we have and what kind of team we have and i know they have the ability to do this," Thompson said. 

This is Thompson's second year as head coach.