Mineola takes series lead

Published 1:15 am Saturday, May 25, 2013

MARSHALL — Mineola struck a balance, scoring the final five runs to come out on the high end of an 11-6 over Van in Game 1 of a Class 3A Region II softball series interrupted three hours after lighting struck interference at the first locale.

The Lady Jackets used Brittney Johnson’s two-run homer to break a 6-all tie in the bottom of the sixth. Mineola scored another run on an error and Jade Green gave the Lady Jackets some cushion with a two-run single as the game began on Friday and concluded on early Saturday.

Mineola (28-8) hung on after losing a four-run lead and three hours due to inclement weather that forced the first game from UT Tyler to East Texas Baptist University in Marshall. The series shifts back to Tyler for Game 2 Saturday at 4 p.m., with the rubber match to follow if necessary.

Mineola never trailed, leading 4-0 following the first, but exhaled only after Manda Wilmoth squeezed her glove for the final out in left field.

“The girls finally started seeing the pitches,” said Mineola coach Jana Nance, whose team totaled 13 hits. “Once we got that home run from Brittney, it was lights out.”

While still in Tyler, Van pulled within one run on Hallee Carter’s RBI-triple to trim Mineola’s lead to 5-4 lead before lighting flashes forced a stoppage. The schools scurried 60 miles to dryer pastures after lightning struck exactly an hour into the contest.

Carter (2 for 4, 3 RBIs) came back with a second RBI-triple, and scored after the throw to third bounced off her leg and into the Mineola dugout, to tie the game at 6.

The momentum proved short-lived as the Lady Jackets stung for a five-spot to answer.

“We gave them four runs the first inning,” Van coach Craig Ham said. “It’s a hard thing to fight back from. To their credit we did twice. We just didn’t make enough plays.”

Mineola jumped ahead 4-0 in the first, thanks to four hits and two errors. Marisa Ledkins singled and scored on an error and Green, Ali Galaz and Wilmoth followed with RBI-singles.

Stopping Friday meant the three-game series would change to one game, and begin where the first contest left off.

“We gave them four runs the first inning,” Van coach Craig Ham said. “It’s a hard thing to fight back from. To their credit we did twice. We just didn’t make enough plays.”

Green went 4 for 4 with three RBIs to lead the Mineola attack. Morgan Catron (3 for 4, RBI, three runs) contributed big in the win while Galaz and Johnson both finished with two RBIs for the Lady Jackets, who split a pair of games in district play with the Lady Vandals during the regular season.

A win in Game 2, or a split, today gives Mineola a return to state, where they reached the 2A semifinals last year.

“They’re going to have to come back fighting,” Nance said. “It’s not a one-out-of-three; it’s a two-out-of-three.”

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Class 3A Region II Softball Final

At UT Tyler, Tyler/East Texas Baptist University, Marshall

Game 1

Mineola 11, Van 6

Van 020 202 0 — 6 8 2

Mineola 401 015 x — 11 13 2

Sierra Nichols and Jasmine Gipson; Rikkilyn Hass and Morgan Catron. W – Hass; L – Nichols (13-1) 2B – M: Hass. 3B – V: Hallee Carter (2). HR – M: Brittney Johnson (sixth, one on).

RECORDS – Van 29-6-1; Mineola 28-8.

NEXT UP – Game 2: 4 p.m., today at UT Tyler Ballpark (Game 3, if necessary, 30 minutes following).