Playoffs: Hope shuts out Round Rock

Carter Hope struck out seven and fired a one-hit shutout at Round Rock Thursday as The Woodlands High School baseball team took the first game of a best-of-three Region II-5A quarterfinals playoff series 4-0 over the Dragons at Mumford High School.

The game was moved because of a wet field at Bryan Rudder High School. The series continues at 7 p.m. Friday. The teams will try and play at Rudder High School.

For the second consecutive playoff series, The Woodlands High School softball team fell into a 1-0 hole after dropping a 6-4 decision to McKinney Boyd on Thursday at Georgetown Eastview High School. The best-of-three Region II-5A semifinals series continues at 5:30 p.m. Friday at Eastview High School.

Like last week, the Lady Highlanders look to even the series and force a third and deciding game, which would be played 30 minutes after the conclusion of Game 2.

The No. 1 state-ranked Highlanders (31-3) won its fourth consecutive playoff game and seventh game in a row when Hope mowed down the Dragons in impressive fashion. Hope retired the first nine batters he faced before yielding a lead-off single in the fourth inning.

The Highlanders gave Hope an early cushion with a run in the first inning and two more in the second. Hillin Warren doubled to start the game and later scored on an Alex Dunlap grounder.

Josh Shaw (2-for-2) singled to open the second inning and Kolbi Brown was safe on an error. Both came around to score when the Dragons misplayed a Luke Sherley bunt.

The Woodlands manufactured an insurance run in the fourth inning. Brown reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and later scored on a passed ball.

Chris Andritsos delivered two of the Highlanders’ seven hits.

The No. 5 state-ranked Lady Highlanders (27-7) erased an early 2-0 deficit with a three-run third inning. But the Lady Broncos answered with two runs in the bottom of the inning to regain the lead for good.

Kaitlyn Stavinoha delivered two of The Woodlands’ five hits and drove in a run. Taylor Vick added a hit and an RBI. Aubrey Leach and Alyssa Jorgensen also hit safely while Sidney Salmans drove in a run.