Baseball playoffs: Burnett, Gillespie power The Woodlands

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – Ryan Burnett fired a two-hit, complete-game shutout and Blaine Gillespie ripped a triple and a home run and drove in four runs as The Woodlands High School baseball team defeated Atascocita 6-0 at Scotland Yard Thursday in the first game of a best-of-three bi-district playoff series.

Burnett struck out eight and was given a cushion to work with after the Highlanders erupted for five first-inning runs.

The Highlanders (28-3) go for the sweep at 7 p.m. Friday at Atascocita (20-11).

David Ellingson and Jacob Krzemien combined on a five-hitter as the College Park High School baseball team went on the raod Thursday to upended District 13-5A champion Klein Collins 3-1 in their best-of-three bi-district playoff series opener.

Tyler Vaughan contributed to the Cavaliers’ victory with two hits and a pair of stolen bases and Jayden Holden added a hit and an RBI.

Klein Collins (22-8) loaded the bases in three different innings but the Cavaliers’ pitching duo held the Tigers in check.

The Cavaliers (16-17-1) go for the sweep at 7 p.m. Friday when they host the Tigers at The Diamonds at College Park.

The Oak Ridge High School baseball team has some ground to make up as it dropped a 3-0 decision at Kingwood on Thursday in the first game of a best-of-three bi-district playoff series.

The War Eagles (19-11) look to avoid the sweep when they host Kingwood (20-11) at 7 p.m. Friday.

In addition, The Woodlands Christian Academy baseball team completed a sweep of Bay Area Christian on Thursday with a 6-0 win. Garrett Wolforth went the distance for the Warriors (18-11), firing a two-hitter while striking out six.

At the plate, Wolforth collected four of the Warriors’ 10 hits and drove in a run.

The Warriors advance to the TAPPS 3A state quarterfinals to meet Kerrville Our Lady of the Hills at a time and site to be determined. The winner moves on to the state tournament in Waco.