Mustangs continue to tear through District 22-5A opponents.

By Julian Gunther, The Kingwood Observer

 The Kingwood Mustang baseball team continued their tear through District 22-5A play on Thursday, by posting a 10-5 victory over the Dobie Longhorns, to improve their district record to 5-1 and 13-4 overall.

 Those in attendance were treated to an exhibition of pitching and hitting, as well as resiliency, as the Mustangs came from behind to eventually overwhelm their opposition.

 The Mustangs got off to a rocky start, when in the first inning, they ceded three runs, including a home run to allow Dobie to take a 3-0 lead, while they themselves were unable to score any runs.

 Pitcher Lance Pendleton regained his composure in the second inning, and promptly struck out the first two batters with a combination of curve and fastballs. The third batter was able to connect, but a great play at third resulted in a routine out to end the inning.

 Senior Mike Buckalo got the Mustangs started, when he hit a line drive through the centerfield gap for a double. Catcher, Michael Flower, then stepped up and got hit by a pitch in the ankle, placing Mustang runners at first and second base. Kingwood centerfielder Ryan Pope then sent another ball to the fence, which sent Flower and Buckalo home to make the score 3-2, and Pope was safe at second. Pendleton then stepped up to the plate, and on the first pitch the catcher bobbled the ball and that resulted in Pope moving to third.

 The next pitch saw Pendleton send the ball approximately 330 feet over the right field wall, and put the Mustangs in control, 4-3. Shortstop J.B. Sowyrda then sent a fastball skipping across the grass for a triple, and scoring senior David Hoke, who had been walked earlier. At the end of the second inning, the Mustangs were firmly in control 5-3, after an impressive hitting and running display.

 The third inning progressed much like the second; three batters up for Dobie resulted in two fly balls, and one strikeout to end the inning in quick fashion. Unfortunately for the Mustangs, the third inning also resulted in two strikeouts and a pop fly to send them back to the dugout before they could increase their lead.

 Dobie didn’t have much success in the fourth, as Pendleton continued his domination, striking out the first batter, and then making a reaction save for the easy out on the next hitter. The Longhorns third batter managed two foul tips, but that only prevented the inevitable as a fastball retired the side.

 Junior Dustin Walls got the Mustangs of early, when he sent his second pitch off the centerfield wall for a double. Junior Ryan Pipe hit a ball down the first baseline earning a single, and Walls showed his impressive speed, by rounding third and then diving headfirst around the catcher to score, and increasing the Mustang lead to 6-3. Pitcher Lance Pendleton was then able to score Pope, when he hit a shot through the left field gap for a triple. After walking David Hoke and J.B. Sowyrda, Kingwood had the bass loaded, and forced Dobie to call a time out for a conference on the mound. Junior Ricky Cratty sent a shot down the left baseline, scoring Hoke and Pendleton, increasing the lead to 9-3, and landing two more Mustangs at first and second base.

 Dobie continued to show signs of fatigue, as a stray pitch resulted in the Mustangs moving to second and third, then Justin Murphy was walked to first, thus loading the bases again, and that forcing the Longhorns to change pitchers.

 J.B. Sowyrda then ended the rout, when he scored from third after the Dobie catcher wasn’t able to control a pitch and that resulted in the Mustangs taking a dominating 10-3 lead.

 The fifth inning started off with the Mustangs showing off their defensive skills, when the Longhorns hit a fierce line drive at shortstop J.B. Sowyrda, who made an excellent play resulting in a double play at second and first to end the inning.

 Lance Pendleton showed off his speed when he beat what appeared to be a routine out at first; however, the next two pitches were simple catches for the Dobie outfield, and the score remained 10-3 after five innings.

 The sixth inning progressed just as the fourth ended, the first three Longhorn batters fell without making a dent in the Mustang lead.  Kingwood seemed poised to increase their lead after junior Michael Hopper was walked to first; however Dobie showed their defensive prowess by picking off both Hopper and senior Mike Buckalo at second and first base respectively, in a double play to end the inning.

 Longhorn Jared Garza seemed to ignite the Dobie offense with a solo homerun at the top of the seventh inning, decreasing the Mustang lead to 10-4; it was Garza’s second homerun of the evening. Kingwood regained their composure and picked off the next two batters with another impressive doubleplay, and seemed poised to end the contest, but Dobie still had one last fury..

 A line drive down the left baseline scored Dobie one more run, and placed a runner at second. Pendleton was ready to end the contest, and before Dobie could score any more points, he struck out their next batter to complete the game.

 Despite what appeared to be a lopsided victory, the Mustangs faced stiff opposition in Dobie and were able to gain a positive result through the combined effort on both the offensive and defensive fronts.