Kingwood Advances to the Quarter-finals of the Region 3-5A State

Baseball Playoffs with an 8-3 Win over North Shore

 

Kingwood got on the board early in the 3rd and deciding game of round 2 of the Region 3 5A state playoffs by scoring 5 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning.  Two hole hitter Senior designated hitter, Steffen Savarino, started with a walk, Junior shortstop, Johnny Whittleman, reached on an error, and Junior leftfielder, Kenneth Negron, walked to load the bases.  Senior catcher, Andrew Brooks, walked to force home Savarino with the game’s first run.  Sophomore, Doug Simmons, hit into a fielder’s choice retiring Bruce Williams running for Brooks and scoring Whittleman.   Junior 1st baseman, Austin Wood, singled home Negron and Junior pitcher, Blake Hancock, doubled into the right centerfield gap scoring Simmons and Wood.

 

That was all lefthander Hancock needed as he went 7 innings for the win scattering 7 hits, striking out 4 and giving up only 3 earned runs as the Kingwood Mustangs advanced to round 3 of the state 5A playoffs.

 

Offensively for Kingwood:

 

Savarino                         1-2, on base 3-4 (2 walks), scored 1 run

Negron                           1-3, on base 2-4, 2 runs, 1 stolen base

Gossett                           1-3, double, on base 2-4 (HBP), 1 run, 1 stolen base

Simmons                        1-3, 1 run

Wood                             1-3, 1 run, 1 RBI

Hancock                         1-3, double, 2 RBIs

 

 

Defensively, Kingwood turned their record stretching 14th double play of the year in the 1st inning on a 6-4-3 turn that got the Mustangs out of a bases loaded jam while giving up only 1 run – Whittleman to Fountain to Wood.

 

Gossett ended the 5th inning with a hard charging pick up and throw to get a speedy Northshore runner on Wood’s stretch to end the 5th.

 

For the series, Kingwood was lead offensively by Gossett 4-10, on base 7-13, 2 runs, 1 RBI, 1 stolen base, and Whittleman, who was 4-11, on base 5-12, with 2 runs and 1 RBI.

 

Edwards, Tumlinson, and Hancock were outstanding on the hill giving up 4 earned runs in 3 games.  Kingwood advances vs Clear Creek Wednesday night at Baseball USA in round 3 of the 5A State Playoffs.