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• The Woodlands sweeps Belton

The Woodlands sweeps Belton

THE WOODLANDS -- Even after completing the always treacherous District 15-5A schedule with a 14-0 record, The Woodlands possessed no delusions of grandeur entering its Region II-5A area-round series against Belton.

And after a 4-2 road win in Game 1 on Thursday, the Highlanders, expecting yet another stiff test from the Tigers, were again pushed to the limit Saturday. The Woodlands grabbed an early five-run lead and then fought hard to fend off Belton before completing a series sweep with a 7-5 victory at Scotland Yard.

Jordan Dodson battled the Tigers and the humidity for five-plus innings before giving way to reliever Tyler Soeder, who escaped jams in the sixth and seventh to send the Highlanders (27-3) into the regional quarterfinals, where A&M Consolidated (30-1), the nation's top-ranked team, awaits.

"It's hot out there, and you start to get physically drained," Dodson said. "I started getting tired toward the end and started hitting people. But along the way, we've gained a lot of confidence. That helped me out and helped us out."

Dodson (11-2) hit as many batters -- five -- as he struck out. He was perfect through two frames and then plunked Matt Dunn to lead off the third. Landon Alford replaced Dunn at first after a fielder's choice and scored when Ethan Bush smacked a line-drive, opposite-field homer that sliced The Woodlands' lead to 3-2. Dodson struck out the next two batters but, as the game dragged on, the sweltering heat began to take its toll.

The Highlanders eluded trouble in the fourth when Dunn lined a pitch off Dodson that ricocheted to shortstop Aaron Cook, who made the throw to first to retire the side. Two more hit batters and a throwing error allowed Belton (17-16) to cut the deficit to 7-3 before Dodson induced a groundout to close the fifth.

Dodson hit Chance Sebek and walked Matt Braeuer to open the sixth before giving way to Soeder, who erased courtesy runner Cody Tindell at the plate after a lengthy but unsuccessful rundown of Braeuer between first and second. Soeder struck out Bush to end the sixth and, after an RBI double by Sebek in the seventh, finished off the Tigers by getting Braeuer to tap a weak grounder to second with the tying run in scoring position.

"My adrenaline was flowing," Soeder said. "I wouldn't ask for anything other than that situation right there. I want my guys to count on me and know that I can do the job."

The Highlanders built their lead by combining patience at the plate with the occasional clutch hit. Belton starter John Beaver couldn't find the strike zone in the first inning, walking three consecutive batters with one out. Cook cashed in those free passes with a two-run single to right, and Danny Amendola made it 3-0 with his grounder to short, scoring Matt Ghigna.

Trent Elizondo and Ghigna chased Beaver with consecutive RBI doubles in the third. Four batters later, Shea Robin delivered what turned out to be the decisive blow, dropping a 3-2 pitch from Dunn, who relieved Beaver, into the left-field corner, scoring Amendola and Danny Lehmann.

The Woodlands survived thanks to its balanced, aggressive attack. Seven of nine batters reached base, and five hitters had RBIs. The Highlanders drew five walks and stole seven bases.

"With our game plan, we knew that we had to take some pitches," The Woodlands coach Ron Eastman said. "We were patient and we were aggressive on the bases.

"We play hard, and a lot of times, good things happen when you play hard."