Kingwood Versus Beaumont Westbrook

For Game 3 of District Play

The Kingwood Mustangs visited the Beaumont Westbrook Bruins for game three of District 22-5A play.

Zach Tumlinson, Kingwood Senior left hander, got the call in this important contest and went 5 innings for the win Saturday. Tumlinson gave up 5 hits and 2 earned runs and struck out 3 batters during his stint on the mound.

Senior catcher Andrew Brooks walked in the third inning. Senior outfielder Stefan Savarino came in as a courtesy runner for Brooks and promptly stole second. Next, Junior first baseman Austin Wood was hit by a pitch.

With no outs Savarino was on second base and Wood on first base. Junior centerfielder Kyle Denny then executed a bunt that the Westbrook pitcher threw away while attempting to get the speedy Denny running to first. Savarino scored from second base and Wood and Denny moved to third base and second base respectively. Senior leadoff hitter third baseman Greg Gossett then hit a sacrifice fly ball to the fence in right centerfield, which scored Wood and advanced Denny.

Denny scored on a wild pitch making the score after 2 ½ innings Kingwood 3 - Westbrook 0.

The Mustangs got back on the scoreboard in the top of the fifth inning. Gossett was hit by a pitch and 2 hole hitter Junior left fielder Kenneth Negron was walked. With runners on first base and second base, Junior shortstop Johnny Whittleman then doubled Gossett home from second.

With Whittleman on second base and Negron on third base Sophomore right fielder Doug Simmons was walked to load the bases. Senior designated hitter Ryan Mize hit a ground ball to the Bruin third baseman that scored Negron from third base. Mize reach first base on an error. Additional scoring opportunities were closed down as Westbrook executed a double play making the score after 5 innings Mustangs 5 - Bruins 0.

Kingwood continued the scoring drive in the sixth inning as Brooks walked, Wood walked, and Denny executed another good bunt that the pitcher could not handle. Like the situation in the third inning, Savarino running for Brooks score from second base and Denny and Wood would end up on second base and third base respectively. Gossett singled both of them home on the next pitch. Following a Gossett steal of second base, Negron was hit by a pitch and Whittleman reached on a misplayed ball by the left fielder. Despite hitting the ball hard, Kingwood left the three runners stranded. The score after 5 innings was Mustangs 5 - Bruins 0.

Defensively for Kingwood, Andrew Brooks continued to handle the pitchers and catch well and caught a twisting pop foul ball in the third inning. Tumlinson, a good fielding pitcher, helped himself with 3 good plays for 1-3 outs on slowly hit ground balls. Gossett made good plays charging ground balls in the 3^rd and 7^th innings to throw out runners at first base.

Whittleman recorded a 6-3 double play on a putout and assist on a ground ball he fielded and touched second base himself prior to completing the double play by throwing out the runner at first base. Kenneth Negron made an outstanding diving catch in left field in the 7^th inning.

Senior pitchers Jonathan Beaty and Jimmy Jordan pitched the 6^th and 7^th innings respectively to preserve the Kingwood victory. Jordan went three Bruins up and 3 Bruins down to close out the game in the 7^th inning.

Offensively for Kingwood:

Whittleman 2-4, double, 1 RBI

Gossett 1-2, 1 run, 3 RBI’s, 1 stolen base, on base 2-3 with a sacrifice fly

Wood 1-2, double, scored 2 runs, on base 3-4

Brooks 2 walks, with Savarino running 2 runs scored

Denny 2 runs scored

Negron 1 run scored, on base 2-4