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Highlanders win 15-5A title; Tigers trounce Collins
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| By: Darrell Hamlett, Assistant Sports Editor |
April 16, 2003 |
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The Woodlands High School's Trent Elizondo, who had a walk-off grand slam in the fifth inning of Tuesday night's 15-5A clinching victory over Klein, tried to score, at left, in the third inning on Danny Amendola's double. (Staff photo by JERRY BAKER)
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THE WOODLANDS - The No. 3 area-ranked Highlander baseball team clinched the District 15-5A title in grand fashion Tuesday night at Scotland Yard with a 12-1 victory over second-place Klein.
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Trent Elizondo capped off a 10-run fifth inning with a grand slam to invoke the run-rule and give The Woodlands its 11th 15-5A victory against no losses.
"You couldn't finish it better," said TWHS head coach Ron Eastman. "Trent's a senior who has worked hard. He's a three year varsity letterman and two-year starter. He deserved to clinch district like that. ... It was a fitting touch."
Elizondo, who was 2-for-2 with a pair of walks and two runs scored on the night, stepped up to the plate with two outs in the fifth and teammates Matt Ghigna, David Macias, and Jordan Roberts on the bases. The senior took the first pitch from Travis Sartain and drilled straight over the right field fence.
"It was a nice pitch and I just hit it hard and it happen to go out," said Elizondo. "For me it was just icing on the cake. We've had a great year. Everybody has stepped up big."
The hit capped off an offensive explosion by the Highlanders who sent twelve batters to the plate in the inning. The Woodlands had seven hits in the inning off of Sartain and Clint Rushing.
"They came out and deciding to go by committee and not let us get adjusted to one pitcher," said Eastman. "They kept us off balance for four innings. Finally, we made adjustments and started hitting like we have been."
Elliot Roberts started off the inning as he reached on an infield grounder. The ball took a bad bounce and smacked Klein first baseman Joel Doucet in the face forcing the Bearkat junior to leave the game.
Jordan Roberts then singled between third and short before Elizondo walked to load the bases. With Danny Lehmann at the plate, Elliot Roberts came home from third on a passed ball and scored with a head-first slide on a close play at the plate.
Aaron Cook then singled to knock in Jordan Roberts before Danny Amendola smacked a two-RBI single down the third-base line. After Ghigna singled, Cook scored on a passed ball before Macias singled to knock in Amendola. Jordan Roberts then walked to set the stage for Elizondo's heroics.
The Woodlands opened up the game with another long ball as
Jordan Roberts smashed a two-run homer in the first inning. Elliot Roberts scored on the play after leading off the game with a single.
The Highlanders had a chance to add to the lead in the third as Elizondo lead off with a single. After the Bearkats got Lehmann and Cook out, Amendola hit a rope to the centerfield wall but Klein was able to relay the ball in to get Elizondo out at the plate.
The Woodlands started the fifth clinging to a 2-1 after the Bearkats scored on a double by Austin Creps in the top of the inning. With two runners on, the Texas A&M signee got a hit to the right centerfield wall but the Highlanders only allowed one run to score as catcher Danny Lehmann stood his ground and tagged out Trevor Pounds despite being plowed over on the play. TWHS starter Brad Depoy then induced a pop out to end the threat.
Depoy improved to 8-1 on the season. The University of Houston signee allowed just three hits while striking three.
Jordan Roberts finished the game going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and three runs while Elliot Roberts was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs. Amendola went 2-for-2 with a double, a walk and two RBIs.
The victory improves the Highlanders to 21-2 on the season. With three games left in district play, they have already clinched the 15-5A crown with a perfect 11-0 record.
"It definitely takes the pressure off and you can relax and get ready for the playoffs," Eastman said of clinching the title early. "Sometimes, though, you want to play down to the wire so there's some good and bad mixed. It just doesn't happen in this district. But I'll take it. I know I will sleep better the next couple of weeks."
The Woodlands will play at Westfield Thursday night.
Conroe 12, Klein Collins 2
The bats came alive for the Conroe High School baseball team Tuesday night as they run-ruled Klein Collins 12-2 in six innings on the road.
"It's good to see us swing the bats," said Conroe head coach Frank Romero. "We've had our up and downs this year but night we really hit the ball on the nose. I'm real proud of the kids."
Blake Bond got things started in the first as he doubled and was knocked in on a two-out single by Andrew Kainer.
In the second, Duncan Millington and Stephen Spanier both singled and moved up on a wild pick off attempt. Clay Calfee then grounded into a fielder's choice enabling Millington to score. After Marshal Davis was hit by a pitch, Kyle Rice got a two-RBI single to left to make it 4-0.
Collins cut the lead to 4-2 with runs in the second and fourth innings.
Conroe then got back-to-back-to-back doubles from Millington, Spanier, and Jason Duncan to start the fifth. Calfee then smashed his first home run of the year to make it 8-2.
Davis then singled and Rice doubled before Bond hit his first homer of the season to make it 11-2.
In the top of sixth, Rice walked and with two outs and the bases loaded, he scored on a passed ball.
Millington finished the night going 4-for-4 while Calfee had three RBIs.
Bond earned the victory on the mound as he pitched six innings allowing two runs (one earned) on six hits while striking out nine.
The Tigers, now 9-14 and 3-8, will host Klein Oak Thursday at 7 p.m.
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©The Courier 2003
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