Ladies Slide Past Fort Stockton 3-0, Remain #11
    By Randy Hogan, Staff Writer ~~ The Monahans News ~~ April 7, 2006

The Fort Stockton Prowlers came to Monahans looking for an upset victory Tuesday night, but the Lady Loboes won the battle of District 3-3A softball heavyweights to remain undefeated in league play.

Brittany Slade's RBI single in the bottom of the fifth inning opened a scoreless game when Bailey Marcum crossed the plate to give MHS the first point of the game, and the Lady Loboes cruised to their twelfth shut-out victory of the season, dropping Fort Stockton 3-0 at the MHS softball complex.

On a team full of play makers, MHS Coach David Parker had little trouble issuing credit where it was due.  "Brittany really came up big for us in the fifth inning tonight," Parker said.  "Ashton Jarrett and Dina Ortiz carried us with two hits each when the top of our lineup struggled at the plate."

Slade, Jarrett and Ortiz accounted for five of the Lady Loboes' six hits in the game.

Entering the bottom half of the fifth inning scoreless, FSHS pitcher Cecilia Molinar walked leadoff batter Erin Garcia.  Bailey Marcum entered the game as a courtesy runner for Garcia.  Marcum quickly moved into scoring position, stealing second base on an 0-2 pitch to Brittany Slade.

After a bunt attempt to move the base runner went foul, Slade lined a key hit through the middle of the Prowler defense to allow Marcum to score easily, and Slade stood smiling at second base after the play. 

Slade stole third base on a wild pitch to Kaitlin Mitchell, before a controversial play at home plate would give MHS the momentum they needed to put away the Prowlers.

The play in question came as Kellie Almanza put down a squeeze bunt to allow Slade to run home.  The throw was in time, and it first appeared that FSHS catcher Gabby Cordero's tag on Slade was an out.  However, the ball  came out of Cordero's glove, and Slade safely touched home plate to give the Ladies a huge 2-0 lead over Fort Stockton.

"Brittany's slide into home plate on the squeeze was pretty big," Parker said.  I thought she was out, but then the ball popped loose, and we got the run.  It was really a big play for us."

The strategy continued as Brianna Chaney moved Almanza to the third base on a sacrifice bunt to keep the Green in scoring position.

Aston Jarrett continued the newfound momentum, smashing an RBI single into center field to score Almanza and give Coach Parker breathing room leading 3-0.

Heather Schuler slammed the door on Fort Stockton and improved her record to 18-1 on the season, while allowing only two hits in the game.

Ruby Bernal and Heather Garvin were the only FSHS batters to record a hit against the Monahans ace, who struck out 5 of the 22 Prowlers she faced.  Shuler did not give up a walk in the game in seven innings.

The Ladies sent Fort Stockton down in order in the top of the sixth inning, before the Prowlers made a frantic rally attempt in the seventh inning.

FSHS leadoff batter Bernal got on in the top of the seventh inning on a shot to left field.

Schuler struck out Garvin swinging for the first out before a double play by MHS third baseman Lana Santiago abruptly ended the game for the Prowlers.

Cordero connected with a 0-1 pitch and lined it hard down the third base line.  Santiago snagged it in the air and quickly gunned down Bernal at first first base to complete the double play to seal the game for Monahans.

"It was a big game for us," Parker said.  "I was uneasy the last couple of days because our hitting has fallen off a little the past few games.  But tonight our defense was superb.  They just keep making play after play, game after game and it's been a lot of fun to watch."

Monahans (20-4, 8-0) remains the #11 team in Class 5A in this weeks TGCA softball poll, and will host Class 5A TAPPS State Champion Midland Christian Saturday at 10 am.

The Lady Mustangs were the last team to defeat Monahans, taking a 3-1 decision in Midland March 14.  Since that time, Monahans has won six games in a row, allowing only one point in that stretch.

By Jason Dimm, Senior