The Woodlands defeats College Park at The Diamonds

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – The Woodlands High School baseball team remained atop the District 14-5A standings with a 9-2 win over College Park on Friday at The Diamonds at College Park.

Alex Dunlap homered, drove in four runs and scored two more as the Highlanders (18-2-2, 5-0) made full use of six hits, three College Park errors and eight bases on balls, although Highlanders pitching reciprocated in kind.

The Woodlands, ranked No. 1 in the state, jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first inning before striking for four runs in the third for a 6-0 lead. It was 8-0 in the fifth inning before the Cavaliers (11-10, 2-3) answered with two runs in the sixth inning.

Elliot Richoux also belted a solo homer and scored three runs. Six different Highlanders had hits, including Landon Merka (RBI, R), Garrett Hope (R), Robbie Goldschmidt, and winning pitcher Andrew Godail (R). Richoux, Merka and Ryan Flynn each walked twice.

Godail went six innings allowing just three hits. He struck out nine and walked six. Michael Clemens finished up with a hitless inning, striking out two and issuing two walks.

The win kept the Highlanders a game ahead of second-place Lufkin (16-7-1, 4-1), which outslugged Kingwood 12-11 on Friday.

Kevin Byers drove in both College Park runs with a sixth-inning single, scoring Corey Toups and Chris Zatopek. Alex Young and Garrett Beard had the other two Cavaliers hits. Layton Zinsmeister walked twice.

The Cavaliers slipped into a fourth-place tie with Conroe (11-9. 2-3), which fell 7-2 to surging Atascocita on Friday. Atascocita, after opening the district season with three consecutive losses, has followed with three consecutive wins to climb into third place in the district standings.

Oak Ridge, (9-12, 1-4) had a bye on Friday and is tied for sixth place with Kingwood (9-13, 1-4).