Shane Mills entered the game on the mound for the Highlanders with one out in the sixth inning, and was sensational for McLean. Mills struck out four Seahawk batters, including their 2, 3, and 4 hitters in order in the bottom of the seventh inning. "Shane knows how to turn the lights out", Coach Thomas said. "Once again, he stepped up and delivered when we needed him. His excellent stuff, competitive attitude, and ability to deliver in the clutch are why we feel he is the best closer in the Region."

The Highlanders did not have their best game offensively, but were nonetheless able to do just enough for the win. Tyler Thompson and Drew Morgan led the Highlanders with two hits apiece, and Kyle Meagher had a base hit, two stolen bases, and a run in the leadoff spot. Sammy Kaiser entered the game twice as a courtesy runner for catcher Mike McCollough and scored two of McLean’s three runs, stealing two bases in the process. "We got some significant contributions from our bench tonight", said Coach Thomas. Sammy Kaiser did an excellent job for us on the bases, and Kendall Wilkins stepped up and laid down a great sacrifice bunt to set up what turned out to be the game-winning run. We are fortunate to have a bunch of guys who can come in the game at any time and do the little things well."

McLean stepped out of Liberty District competition again on April 6^th for a rare Thursday night game against the Chantilly Chargers, a talented squad from the vaunted Concorde District. The game was McLean’s first of five contests in the 2006 Spring Break Classic. Chantilly had recently come off of beating Herndon High School, a team ranked 5^th in The Washington Post. The Chargers jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, but the Highlanders never panicked and battled back to win their fourth straight game by a 6-2 margin. Andrew Stowe ignited the offense in the top of the fourth inning with a 3 run homerun to leftfield, the first of the season for McLean and the first of Stowe’s career. The shot provided McLean’s first runs of the evening and turned a two run deficit into a one run Highlander lead. "A huge hit for our team", is how McLean First Base Coach Ryan Ayoub described Stowe’s shot.

Also for McLean offensively, Kyle Meagher had two base hits two stolen bases, and a run, Bird Sweeny added a base hit, two walks, and a run, Cavanaugh chipped in with two hits, a run and an RBI, and Shane Mills added a single and two RBI. Quinn Pippin walked four times and scored a run from the #6 spot in the order, and Drew Morgan had a base hit and a run scored.

Frankie Cavanaugh started on the mound for McLean and was very sharp, giving up just two runs (one earned) in 5 1/3 innings of work. He scattered three hits and twice pitched out of difficult jams to bail his team out. "Our secret is out", Coach Thomas proclaimed. "Frankie has proven to his teammates and to himself that he is extremely valuable to our team on the mound. He showed what a bulldog he is again tonight by getting us out of a couple of nasty jams. We did not play great defense behind him, but Frankie never lost his poise and he is the reason why we beat a very solid team tonight." Catcher Mike McCollough played a large part in Cavanaugh’s performance, continuing his steady play behind the plate for McLean. "Mike McCollough is a Senior and he has worked very hard to improve his defensive and his leadership abilities", Coach Thomas said. "Both of those things were keys to our win tonight." McCollough made a spectacular barehanded grab on a foul ball bunt attempt to help squash a potential Charger rally in the 5^th inning. "A great clutch play", is how McLean Assistant Coach Jason McMahon, who works with the Highlander catchers, described it.

Closer Shane Mills came in to relieve Cavanaugh with a runner on second and one out in the 6^th inning. Mills struck out the next two Charger hitters, all on fastballs, to get McLean back in the dugout. He added two more K’s in the seventh to secure the win and notch his third save of the young season.

McLean was set to return to Liberty District play the next day at Marshall High School, but the game was postponed until Wednesday, April 19^th due to rain. The bad weather also forced the Highlanders April 8^th match up with Annandale High School to be postponed as well.