Minute Maid High School Classic

 

 

Kingwood came out with a bang Thursday afternoon in the Minute Maid Field High School Classic Invitational versus Cy Creek.

 

The Mustangs came out swinging the bats early as Kingwood scored 7 runs in the bottom of the 1st inning.  Second baseman, Josh Fountain led off with a walk and was singled to second by DH Kenneth Negron.  Following a fly out, right fielder, Doug Simmons, reached 1st on an infield hit and all runners advanced on a throwing error that scored Fountain and moved Negron and Simmons to 3rd and 2nd base.  Greg Gossett then crushed a line drive that bounced off the 362 sign in left center for a double that drove in both Negron and Simmons.

 

Gossett was immediately singled home by first baseman, Austin Wood.  Left fielder, Thomas McCormick walked and both Wood and McCormick moved to 3rd and 2nd on a wild pitch.  Catcher Andrew Brooks stepped to the plate and promptly laced a line drive single to left, scoring Woods and McCormick.  Brooks, after going to 2nd on the throw to the plate, was replaced by pinch runner Bruce Williams, who immediately stole 3rd and then scored on a sacrifice fly by Stefan Savarino.

 

Kingwood got on the score board again in the 2nd inning as shortstop Johnny Whittleman doubled into the right centerfield gap and moved to 3rd on a ground out.  Gossett was hit by a pitch and promptly stole 2nd base.  With Whittleman and Gossett on 3rd and 2nd bases, Austin Wood walked to load the bases.  McCormick then singled to left scoring Whittleman and Gossett.  Catcher Andrew Brooks was hit by a pitch loading the bases again.  Center fielder, Stefan Savarino, was hit by a pitch which forced in Austin Wood for Kingwood’s third and final run of the 2nd inning and making the score after two full innings 10-2 in favor of the Mustangs.

 

Kingwood would strike again in the 3rd inning as Kenneth Negron singled, stole second, and advanced on an error to third. Gossett then singled to rightfield driving in the Mustangs 11th run.  That was all the scoring until the bottom of the 6th inning when Greg Gossett led off with an infield hit, moved to 3rd on a line drive single to right field by Ryan Mize, and scored on a sacrifice fly by AJ Pendleton which ended the game on the 10 run rule with Kingwood on top of Cy Creek 12-2.

 

Offensively, Kingwood was led by third baseman, Greg Gossett, who was 3-3 with a double and HBP, scored 3 runs, drove in 3 runs and stole a base.  Left fielder, Thomas McCormick was 2-2, with a walk, 1 run scored and 2 RBI’s.  Kenneth Negron was 2-4, 2 runs scored and a stolen base.  Whittleman was 1-4 with a double.  Austin Wood was 1-2 with a walk, 2 runs scored with an RBI.  Andrew Brooks was 1-2 and HBP, 1 run and 2 RBI’s.  Ryan Mize was 1-1.

 

On the mound for the Mustangs was lefthander, Blake Hancock.  Hancock pitched 4 innings giving up 3 hits, 2 runs, striking out 8 and receiving the win.

 

Sophomore right hander, Ryan Torres, came in the 5th inning and was immediately helped by two outstanding defensive plays with one out.  The Cy Creek second baseman singled to right field on a Texas league style hit that had all right side fielders pursuing it.  Torres alertly slipped in behind the runner who was picked off by a strong throw by right fielder, Doug Simmons.  Torres got the final out of the 5th inning when Kingwood Mustang third baseman, Greg Gossett, went horizontal to snag a hard hit Cy Creek ball on the 3rd base line.  He popped up and gunned out the runner at first.  Torres came out in the 6th inning and recorded the save without anymore serious threats.