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Section: South Montgomery Sports Section: This Week Top Sports Current stories in South Montgomery Sports: |
May 24, 2005, 8:40PM HIT PARADEHighlander bats deliver frequentlyThe Woodlands batters Austin around, prepares for RockwallBy GLENN SATTELLChronicle Correspondent
If The Woodlands continue to hit the way they did in a Region II-5A quarterfinals sweep of Austin High School, it won't matter who the opposition throws at them this week.
The Highlanders (28-4) face Rockwall (24-6) in a best-of-three Region II-5A semifinal at Kilgore, starting Friday at 8 p.m. Rockwall eliminated South Garland and the Highlanders belted Austin 14-4 and 8-1. The Woodlands racked up 10 hits off Austin ace Keith Shinaberry, who like Highlander Kyle Walker, is headed for the University of Texas in the fall. "We knew going in that we were facing one of the top pitchers in the state and knew that he had great control and kept the ball away the whole season," said Highlanders coach Ron Eastman. "They guys just did a great job staying disciplined at the plate, staying off of pitches out of the strike zone and not trying to pull the ball." The Highlanders pounded out 18 hits in last week's series opener. "We put on a clinic on how to hit a good off-speed pitcher," Eastman said. David Alleman blasted his second home run of the year and led a potent bottom of the order. "They did a great job," Eastman said. "Sometimes those guys that aren't prone to a lot of power are the guys that will come through for you in that situation." Walker, who earned the win, joined Paul Goldschmidt, Wayne Hrozek and Mickey Armstrong with three hits each. Walker went 5 1/3 innings, striking out eight and looking very sharp after missing his start in the Austin Bowie area-round playoff series with a rib muscle pull. "I think we knocked a little bit of the rust off," Eastman said. "He hadn't thrown in about three weeks. "So it was good for him to get out there and good for us to give him a lead where he didn't have to feel like he had to throw a shutout for us." Taylor Davis, who belted his 10th home in last week's series finale, will be among the Highlanders hitters who hope to knock off the Colonels this week. Game two of the series is Saturday at noon at Kilgore. If necessary, the third game is 30 minutes after the second game.
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