Kingwood Opens 22-5A District Play

Versus Port Arthur Memorial 3-16-2004

 

 

The Kingwood Mustangs opened District play last night at home at Andy Wells field behind the strong right arm of senior pitcher Daniel Edwards.  Edwards went the full seven innings for the Mustangs throwing a one hit shutout with 11 strikeouts to lead Kingwood to a 5-0 win.

 

Kingwood, fresh off their win of the Pete Runnels Texas Shootout in Lufkin, continued to play excellent defense behind stellar pitching to notch their 7th consecutive win and their 8th straight game without committing an error. 

 

Defensively, Edwards needed little help in the first inning as he fanned the Titan 1, 2 and 3 hitters.  He would receive support on good defensive plays in the 2nd inning with Senior third baseman Greg Gossett cutting off a hard hit ball toward the hole between third and shortstop and throwing out the Port Arthur Memorial runner.  In the third inning, Senior catcher Andrew Brooks caught a foul pop up at the screen with his back to the field.  In the fifth inning, Junior first baseman Austin Wood dug out a low throw from Gossett on a ground ball hit down the third base line down the line.  Junior centerfielder Kyle Denney made an outstanding catch at the warning track shot robbing the Titan hitter of an extra base hit.

 

Offensively, Kingwood got on the board in the 3rd inning.  Denney singled to right center; lead off hitter Greg Gossett was hit by a pitch; and Denney and Gossett executed a double steal of third and second.  Junior second baseman Josh Fountain walked to load the bases and Junior shortstop Johnny Whittleman walked forcing home Denney with the game’s 1st run.  With the base still loaded and nobody out, Senior designated hitter Ryan Mize took the Port Arthur pitcher deep into the count before doubling home Gossett and Fountain with a line drive into the left centerfield gap.  Whittleman scored on a fielder’s choice by Wood bringing the score after 3 full innings of play to Kingwood 4 & Port Arthur 0.

 

The Mustangs would add one more run in the fifth inning as Gossett was hit by a pitch, stole second and was sacrificed bunted to third by Fountain.  Gossett scored on a ground ball to the Titan second baseman (hit by 3 hole hitter Whittleman) who tried unsuccessfully to get Gossett at the plate.  Score after 5 full innings was Mustangs 5 & Titans 0. That would be all the scoring in the contest.

 

Offensive contributors for the Mustangs were:

 

Gossett - on base 2-3, 2 runs scored, 2 stolen bases

Fountain - walk/sacrifice, 1 run

Whittleman - 2 walks, 2 RBI’s, 1 run scored, 1 stolen base      

Mize - 1-3, double, 2 RBI’s

Leftfielder Kenneth Negron - 1-1

Brooks - 1-3

Denney - 1-3, 1 run, 1 stolen base

Wood - 1 RBI