Late errors cost Loboes in loss...
    By Randy Hogan ~ Staff Writer ~ Monahans News ~ April 8, 2005

The Monahans Loboes were one out away from picking up back to back District 3-AAA victories, but the Green turned out to be their own worst enemy Tuesday night.

Facing two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, Evan McFarden drove in the winning run with a misplayed ground ball to complete the Greenwood rally 11-10 over the Loboes.

On the previous play, the umpire had awarded the Rangers the go ahead run when a throw to first base sailed into the Lobo dugout, but Coach Arcadio Rivera conferred with the umpire to get the call corrected.  The runners returned to second and third base, only to set the table of McFarden.

"Monahans gave us a little help in the seventh," Greenwood Coach Joe Williamson said.  "They had an error in the inning and their wheels just kind of came off.  Our kids showed a lot of heart by fighting back."

The Loboes started the game strong.  Scotty Najar highlighted the fourth inning with a home run, and the Loboes took a 10-1 lead with one out and bases loaded.  But that would be the start of the end for the Green as MHS went down on a strike out and a fly ball to end the inning, stranding 3 base runners.  "We failed to put Greenwood away when we had a chance," Coach Rivera said.

Combining the Rangers 14 hits and 6 Lobo errors, Greenwood scored four runs in the fifth, two in the sixth, and four in the seventh.  "No one play lost the game for us," Rivera added."  But when you commit 6 costly errors (5 with runners on base), you cannot win close games that way.  To their credit they kept chipping away at the lead and won it."

The Loboes fall to 9-7-1 on the Season and 2-4 in District 3-AAA with 6 games to play.  "We have really dug ourselves into a big hole," concluded Rivera.  "It's time to step up."

Monahans opens the second half of District play in Presidio Friday night.  The Blue Devils are currently the number four ranked team in Class 3-A with a 15-0 record (6-0 District 3-AAA).