Highlanders Defeat Klein
Bearcats 9-5, Regain Share of District 15-5A Lead
TWHS sophomores jumped on arch rival Klein for four runs in
the first, added two more in the second, and crossed the plate once in the
third, fifth and sixth to win 9-5 in a battle for the 15-5A district lead at
Klein.
The Highlanders kick-started the scoring effort in their
first at-bat when Derek Smith led off with a free pass then advanced to third
on a botched pick-off attempt. Robbie Ray and Chris Frey followed with tough
infield ground balls that were both mishandled by the Kats. Ross Watson
followed with a blast over the right-center wall to propel the sophs to a 4-0
start after one inning of play.
Kirby Kirchner led off the second with a hit but this time
the pick-off move worked. Steven Maxwell followed with a single, advanced to
second on a throwing error and then to third on a wild pitch. Smith drew
another walk, then swiped second. The catcher’s throw ended up in center field
allowing Maxwell to score and Smith to advance to third. Ray followed with a
deep fly to center plating Smith. TWHS increased its lead to
Watson led off the third with a triple and was driven in via
a Paul Goldschmidt base hit.
In the fifth, Josh Bickle doubled driving in Watson who had
also doubled to lead off the at-bat pushing the
In the sixth, Kirchner reached on a walk, Maxwell doubled
over the bag at third, and Smith drew his fourth free pass of the game to load
the sacks. One out later, Frey drove in the lone score of the frame with a fly
to deep right increasing the lead to 9-3.
Klein rallied for two runs in their last at-bat to finalize
the outcome at 9-5 Highlanders.
Ross Watson threw a complete game four-hitter fanning six and
collected three hits and a like number of RBIs to lead the offensive charge.
With the victory, TWHS sophs move to 9-2 in 15-5A play and 12-3 for the ’03
campaign.
By Alan
Smith