Game 2 of the Pete Runnels Texas Shootout 2004

Game 2 of the 2004 Pete Runnels Texas Shootout was between the Kingwood Mustangs and host Lufkin Panthers. The game was played at noon Friday, March 12, 2004, in the Panther’s home stadium.

Kingwood wasted no time getting on the scoreboard. Mustang lead off hitter Senior third baseman Greg Gossett delivered an infield hit and moved all the way to third on an errant throw. Two hole hitter Junior centerfielder Kenneth Negron drove in Gossett with an RBI sacrifice fly to center field making the score 1-0. Junior shortstop Johnny Whittleman walked, stole second, and was driven in by a single from Sophomore right fielder Doug Simmons. Senior designated hitter Ryan Mize reached on an error by the Lufkin shortstop, which also moved Simmons to third. Simmons scored on a sacrifice fly by Senior catcher Andrew Brooks, which made the score Kingwood Mustangs 3 - Lufkin Panthers 0 after ½ innings of play.

As in the first game of the tournament, that was all Kingwood pitching needed. Junior lefthander Blake Hancock went 6 innings, gave up 1 hit, no runs and recorded 9 strike outs in a game that would be called on time after 6 innings.

Hancock, while in control of the Panthers, was aided by two excellent fielding plays by first baseman Austin Wood, who fielded two difficult ground balls and recorded unassisted outs.

Kingwood continued to tack on runs against the Panthers in the 2^nd inning. Junior second baseman Josh Fountain reached base on an error and was sacrifice bunted to second by Junior leftfielder Thomas McCormick. Following a free pass to lead off hitter Gossett, Whittleman drove in Fountain with a base hit up the middle, which made the score after 1 ½ innings Mustangs 4 - Panthers 0.

Kingwood scored again in the 4^th inning. With two outs, Whittleman tripled to the right centerfield gap and was driven in by a Simmons single which made the score 5-0.

The Mustangs scored their final 3 runs in the 5^th inning. Wood singled, Fountain singled, and Junior leftfielder A.J. Pendleton walked to load the bases. Gossett was then hit by a pitch which scored Wood and kept the bases loaded. Negron hit a sacrifice fly to left field which scored Fountain. Whittleman closed out the scoring as he hit and drove in Pendleton, making the score after 4 ½ innings Kingwood Mustangs 8 - Lufkin Panthers 0.

Offensively, Kingwood was led by Johnny Whittleman who was 3-3, with a triple, 2 runs scored, 2 RBI’s, a stolen base and on base a perfect 4-4.

Wood 3-4, with a double, 1 run scored

Gossett 1-2, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, on base 3-4

Simmons 2-4, 1 run scored, 2 RBI’s

Fountain 1-4, 2 runs scored, reached base on error twice