HUGHES SPRINGS — Harleton's offense picked up where it left off Thursday night at the Mustang Baseball/Softball Complex.

After pouring on 39 runs in three bi-district games last week, the Wildcats eased their way to a 14-2, five-inning win over Mount Pleasant Chapel Hill in Game 1 of a best-of-3 Class 2A, Region III area series clash.

This time, though, Harleton (22-5) let its opponent do the work.

"(Chapel Hill) kind of self-destructed because their pitcher couldn't throw strikes," said Harleton head coach Jackie Lloyd. "We just scored some runs on the opportunities they gave us."

The Wildcats' biggest inning came in the fifth, when they pushed across eight runs — seven of which came with two outs — on just two hits to assume their 14-2 lead.

Brett Bolt led off the frame with the only run that didn't come with two outs when he lifted a fast ball high over the left-center field fence for his sixth home run of the season, three of which have came in the past four games.

Harleton benefited from two hit by pitches, two errors and three walks after that point as its lead continued to climb.

Two of those free passes, one to Clay Oney and another to Trebor Webb, came with the bases filled, forcing home runs.

Chase Jones had the only other hit of the frame, an infield single that scored Josh Salmon to give the 'Cats a 10-2 lead.

Jones finished 2-for-4, including a long double to right in the third, to pace Harleton.

Oney picked up the win, striking out five and scattering six hits in five innings.

Cody Bishop took the loss for the Red Devils (14-6), striking out three in four innings.

Bishop struggled with his command, though, filling the count on nine of the first 18 batters he faced. He wound up filling the count to 11 batters, seven of which reached base afterward.

Bishop walked eight and threw three wild pitches while hitting another batter.

"We felt like we had an advantage after we got him to throw so many pitches in the first three innings," Jones said.

Bishop, Chapel Hill's No. 1 pitcher, threw 125 pitches in his four innings.

Kendall Cochran and Rex Shults also saw time on the mound in the fourth for the Red Devils.

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