HS Baseball: Sharp, The Woodlands shutout Oak Ridge

THE WOODLANDS, TX -- The Woodlands bookended Thursday night’s game with RBI doubles to pick up a 2-0 road win over Oak Ridge. Starting pitcher Brayden Sharp made sure two runs would be more than enough, as he posted 11 strikeouts and allowed just three hits in the complete-game win.

Conner Doucet led the game in hits, going 2-3 at the plate. His first hit in the first inning, a two-out double, drove in the game’s first run. That run looked like it would be the only one until Sharp’s RBI double into left field in the top of the seventh created some breathing room for the Highlanders.

The game may have lacked offensive firepower, but the great defense on both sides played a role in that. Oak Ridge second baseman Aiden Lucas made a nice grab to get the final out of the top of the second inning. Oak Ridge loaded the bases in the third, but Sharp and the Highlanders sent the War Eagles back to the dugout empty-handed.

Oak Ridge’s Conner Bennett showed off his arm from behind the plate when he caught The Woodlands stealing second base to end the fourth inning. The Woodlands left fielder, Justin Barry-Smith made the play of the night in the fifth inning when he robbed Bennett of a hit with a great diving catch.

To end the game, just when Oak Ridge was threatening to pull off the walk-off win, catcher Nathan Owens recovered a pitch that got away to throw out Oak Ridge at third base. That play set up Sharp’s final strikeout to earn the win and move into a tie with Oak Ridge at 5-2 in district play.

Other District Scores:

College Park 2, Willis 1
(Logan Murray - 7 IP, 8 SOs, 3 Hs, 1 ER)

Grand Oaks 9, Conroe 0
(Larry Drake - 3-4)