Highlanders rely on one explosive inning for victory
Eight-run fourth enough firepower to topple Mustangs
THE WOODLANDS — One big inning proved to be enough for The Woodlands in an 8-5 win over Sachse in the first of a Class 6A Region II area-round series Friday night at Scotland Yard.
The Highlanders (18-14-1) scored all of their runs in the bottom of the fourth inning as 12 batters came to the plate.
“The big innings are always important,” coach Ron Eastman said. “(Sachse) came out and played really good defense and had an off-speed pitcher who really baffled us for a few innings.
“We were able to get the big inning there. Thank goodness we were able to do that.”
Both teams lit up the scoreboard in the fourth inning after a scoreless start to the evening.
Sachse (20-14-1) manufactured a two-out rally in the top of the fourth. Chase Alford and Mark Anzaldua singled, then Chase Cromer walked to load the bases for the Mustangs.
Tye Fairley’s single to right field scored Alford and Anzaldua and Sachse led 2-0.
The Woodlands responded in its half of the inning in a gameshaping way.
PJ Villarreal began the rally with a two-run homer to left field that scored Zayne Watson.
Villarreal had homered just once before this season and that was in a scrimmage.
“It felt pretty good coming off the bat,” the junior said of Friday’s homer. “It felt good to contribute in a big way. I thought it was pretty important that we answered back.”
Shane Sirdashney’s single plated Matt Bulovas to give the Highlanders a 3-2 lead, then the lead grew.
Casey Sunseri’s sacrifice fly made it 4-2, then Sirdashney scored on a passed ball. Cameron Caley’s two-RBI single made it 7-2.
Villarreal’s second hit of the inning, a double that scored Watson, capped the Highlanders’ explosive inning. The shortstop was 3-for-3 and fell a triple short of the cycle.
Sachse countered in the fifth with a pair of runs to close the gap to 8-4. Alford’s two-run single did all the damage.
Mustangs relief pitcher Harrison Montoya retired The Woodlands in order in the bottom of the fifth. Sachse starter Jordan Granado went four innings, allowed eight hits, struck out two and walked two.
The Woodlands starter Steven Beard sat the Mustangs down in order in the sixth after allowing runs in the previous two innings. Beard finished with a complete game, eight strikeouts and 11 hits allowed.
Sachse loaded the bases on Beard in the top of the seventh and got one run across before he closed out Game 1 with back-toback strikeouts.
“That was awesome,” Beard said. “Honestly, you hate to load the bases, but I live for those moments. It got the adrenaline going and I was just thinking about going through my sequences with Drew (Romo) behind the plate and attacking the hitters.”
The teams will wrap up the area series Saturday at Sachse. Game 2 will be played at 3 p.m. and Game 3, if necessary, will follow.
“We’re going to have to swing the bats a little bit better,” Eastman said. “They’ve got a better pitcher on the mound that we’ll probably see Game 2. We’ll just have to come ready to play.”