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Highlanders gain the upper hand
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| By: Mike Jones, Sports Editor |
May 09, 2003 |
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Brad Depoy pitched a complete-game four-hitter, Danny Amendola homered and shortstop Aaron Cook made a spectacular game-ending assist as The Woodlands High School varsity baseball team began the postseason with a 4-2 victory over Belton in the first game of a best-of-three Region II-5A area series on Thursday night.
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"It was a good game," Depoy said. "We played until the end."
The Highlanders jumped on top in the top of the first, with lead-off hitter Elliot Roberts reaching on a single to right. Jordan Roberts followed with another single to right that was misplayed by the outfielder, allowing Elliot to round the bases and score.
In the bottom of the first, starting pitcher Brad Depoy got lead-off hitter Nolan Smith to fly out, with Brooks Kimmey then reaching on an error. Drew Candlin then singled to left for the Tigers before Depoy got a fly out and a pop out to end the threat.
After TWHS failed to score in the top of the second, Depoy would coax a 4-6-3 inning-ending double-play in the bottom of the frame.
In the top of the third, TWHS went up 2-0. After Elliot Roberts was robbed of a single by diving Belton second baseman Matt Braeuer, Justin Roberts doubled to right-center. Then, after Trent Elizondo's ground out moved him to third, DH John Bailey's hit deep in the hole forced a quick throw that pulled the first baseman off the bag, allowing Roberts to score.
In the bottom of the third, Depoy's fastball broke the bat of Ethan Bush, with the pitcher covering first on the weak grounder. A strikeout and pop out ended a 1-2-3 inning.
Danny Amendola led off the top of the fourth with a shot to left that cleared the 12-foot fence for a homer and a 3-0 advantage.
Belton got a run back in the bottom of the fourth. After lead-off hitter Drew Candlin walked and moved to second on a fielder's choice, he took third by beating a throw to third on a grounder to shortstop. Chance Sebek then lofted a ball to left, allowing Candlin to score on the sacrifice fly to cut the Highlander lead to 3-1.
Belton looked to have something going in the bottom of the fifth. After Depoy opened the frame with a strikeout, Bush hit a solid single to center and went to second on a balk. After a fly out, Kimmey walked, with both runners moving up on a wild pitch. With a pair of runners in scoring position and a single possibly tying things up, Depoy got Candlin to chase a pitch outside and an inspired strikeout to end the threat.
Belton lefty Kyle Pope would then retire the side in order in the top of the sixth.
In the bottom of the inning, Brian Ruggiano smashed a ball to first baseman Jordan Roberts, who deflected the ball and then tossed it to a hustling Depoy for the first out. Depoy then struck out Braeuer before getting Sebek to fan to close out the frame, sending the game into the seventh inning.
In the top of the seventh, with two outs, Jordan Roberts got a hustling double on a hit to the wall in right, with Elizondo following with a hit that landed in front of a diving left fielder that brought home Roberts and allowed the batter to reach second, giving TWHS a 4-1 lead.
In the bottom of the seventh, Dunn walked to start things off, with Daniel Sanchez coming in as a courtesy runner. Landon Alford and Bush then went down swinging, with Blake Holt then singling to center, scoring Sanchez on a close play at the plate to cut the Highlander lead to 4-2.
Depoy would then hit Kimmey with a pitch, bringing up Candlin, who hit a ball deep in the hole that appeared would load the bases, only to have Cook pounce on the ball and fire to Roberts at first to end the contest.
Depoy got the win, going all seven innings and allowing two unearned runs on four hits, while striking out nine and walking three. Pope took the loss, going the distance and allowing eight hits, while striking out four and walking one.
TWHS will look to close out the series on Saturday at Scotland Yard beginning at 2 p.m. A third game, if necessary, would follow 30 minutes after game two. |
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©The Courier 2003
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