The Kingwood Mustangs opened tournament play this weekend in the Humble ISD Invitational.

The first game of the tournament was played on Thursday, February 26, 2004, between Kingwood and the Westfield Mustangs. Despite a well pitched game by Kingwood’s Daniel Edwards, Kingwood lost 2-1. Edwards went the distance, finishing the 7 inning game with 7 strike outs, 4 hits allowed, and 1 earned run.

Kingwood scored their only run of the game when Josh Fountain walked and stole second base; Greg Gossett followed with a walk; and Johnny Whittleman singled home Fountain. Kingwood threatened in the bottom of the 7^th when A.J. Pendleton singled and John Seitz hit a pinch hit double to give Kingwood runners on second and third with one out. It was not to be Kingwood’s day, however, as early season base running miscues ran the Mustangs out of the inning.

Offensively for the Mustangs: Gossett walk; Whittleman 1-3 single, RBI; Ryan Mize 1-3, single; A.J. Pendleton 1-3, single; Andrew Brooks 1-2, single; John Seitz 1-1, double; and Fountain with a walk.

The second game of the Humble ISD tournament produced more favorable results for the Kingwood Mustangs.

Behind Zach Tumlinson, who pitched a 6 inning (10 run limit) 1 hitter, Kingwood defeated Clear Creek 10-0. The Mustangs opened up the 2^nd inning with a lead off single by Doug Simmons, A.J. Pendleton reached on an error and Austin Wood was hit by a pitch to load the bases. An Andrew Brooks fly ball was then misplayed by the Clear Creek centerfielder, which allowed Simmons to score from 3^rd. Josh Fountain promptly doubled home Pendleton and Brooks. Gossett was then hit by a pitch and Ryan Mize singled home Fountain with Kingwood’s 4^th run of the inning.

It would be the 5^th inning before Kingwood would score again. A.J. Pendleton singled and Austin Wood followed with a towering opposite field 2 run homer. The 6^th and final inning of the game came with 4 runs. Fountain singled, Steil walked, and Mize was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Johnny Whittleman then singled home Fountain and Steil. With Mize on third, Whittleman stole second. One batter later, A.J. Pendleton singled home Mize and Whittleman to end the game.

Offensively for Kingwood: Ryan Mize 2-3, HBP; Johnny Whittleman 2-4; Doug Simmons 1-4; A.J. Pendleton 3-4; Austin Wood 1-1, home run, HBP, SAC bunt; and Josh Fountain 2-3, with a double.

The second game on Friday and the third game over all was won by Kingwood 13-2 over Louisiana’s visiting De La Salle High School.

Ryan Torres opened for the Mustangs and would get the win going 4 innings and giving up 3 hits and 2 runs. Torres was supported by excellent fielding plays by Greg Gossett’s diving stop at third and Kenneth Negron’s diving catch in center to end the first inning and an excellent play by SS, Johnny Whittleman from deep in the hole in the 4^th. Kyle Denny pitched the 5^th inning giving up no runs and Jonathan Beatty set 3 up and 3 down with 2 strike outs to record the save for Kingwood.

Offensively, Kingwood got things going early as Kenneth Negron reached on an error, stole third and was scored on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Mize. Johnny Whittleman and Doug Simmons followed Mize with back to back doubles, with Simmons driving in Whittleman for the second run of the inning. With 1 out in the second inning, Greg Gossett hit a line drive over the centerfielder’s head for a double and stole third on the first pitch to the next batter. Following a walk to Josh Fountain, Kenneth Negron singled Gossett home. Scoring picked up again in the 4^th as Mize walked and Johnny Whittleman hit a 2 run homer over the right field fence. Kingwood closed out the scoring in the 4^th as Doug Simmons walked, advanced on a ground out, and scored on a misplayed ground ball hit by Ryan Williams.

Gossett opened the 5^th inning by being hit by a pitch, stealing second, and scoring on a Blake Steil single to rightfield. Negron then reached first base on an error, advanced to second on an error and scored on a sacrifice fly by Ryan Mize. The 6^th and final inning was opened by first baseman, Austin Wood, singling sharply up the middle. Following a walk to catcher, John Seitz, third baseman, Greg Gossett scored Wood with a base hit to right field. Centerfielder, Kenneth Negron, then reached base on an error by the short stop, which loading the bases. Gossett, Steil, and Negron scored on walks to Mize and Whittleman and a Thomas McCormick sacrifice fly.

Offensively for the Mustangs: Kenneth Negron 2-5, reached base 3 times on errors, scored 3 runs and drove in a run; Greg Gossett 2-2 with a double, was hit by a pitch and walked, scored 3 runs and driving in one; Johnny Whittleman 2-2 with a homerun, a double, 3 walks, 2 runs scored and 3 RBI’s; Doug Simmons 1-2 with a RBI double; Austin Wood 1-4; and Blake Steil 1-1 RBI- HBP 2 runs scored.

In the fourth game of the Humble ISD tournament, Kingwood would face a determined Klein Collins’s team.

Blake Hancock opened on the mound for the Mustangs and went 4 2/3 innings while giving up 6 runs – 3 unearned as the normally reliable Kingwood defense lapsed behind him. Blake Steil pitched 1 1/3 with no runs and no hits and Jonathan Beatty closed the 7^th with no runs and no hits.

Offensively, the Mustangs only score came in the third inning when Josh Fountain doubled and was singled home by the next batter, Kenneth Negron. While Kingwood hit numerous balls hard, good defensive plays by Klein Collins kept scoring down, which helped give the Mustangs a 6-1 loss.

Offensively, Kenneth Negron 1-3, 1 RBI; Johnny Whittleman 1-3; Doug Simmons 1-3; and Josh Fountain was 1-1 with double and a walk.

On Saturday, February 28, 2004, Kingwood closed out the Humble I.S.D. tournament against intense rival, Austin Westlake.

Jimmy Jordan started on the mound for the Mustangs. After giving up three runs in the first inning, Jordan settled down and pitched well into the 5^th inning. He was relieved by Blake Stiel who also pitched the 6^th inning giving up no runs. Jonathan Beaty closed out the 7^th inning giving up no runs.

Offensively, Kingwood got it started in the 1^st inning as shortstop Johnny Whittleman walked; moved to 2^nd when right fielder Doug Simmons was hit by a pitch; and scored on a line drive by DH Ryan Mize to make the score 3-1 at the end of the 1^st inning. The Mustangs continued to work on the Westlake lead again in the 2^nd inning as catcher Thomas McCormick was hit by a pitch, stole second and was doubled home by Josh Fountain. Next Kenneth Negron walked and a wild pitch advanced both runners. Shortstop Johnny Whittleman drove in both runs with a base hit putting Kingwood on top after two innings 4-3. It would continue that way until the 5^th inning when Westlake was able to score two runs and hang to a 5-4 lead despite numerous Kingwood threats.

Offensively, Kingwood was lead by Whittleman 1-2, 2 walks, 2 RBI’s, 1 run scored. Mize, 2-4, 1 RBI. Josh Fountain, 1-4 double, 1 RBI, 1 run scored.