Softball	Monahans Pounds Cooper in Area Championship 13-3, 9-0
	By Randy Hogan, Staff Writer ~~ The Monahans News, May 9, 2006

The Monahans Lady Loboes started slowly Friday night in the Area championship series with Lubbock  Cooper, but found their rhythm and defeated the Lady Pirates 13-3, 9-0 to advance to the Class 3A Regional Quarter-final  round.

Monahans (26-5) will meet Abilene Wylie (19-8) in a one game playoff scheduled for 5 pm on Friday in Big Spring

The Area championship was originally scheduled to be played in Snyder, but heavy rains forced the game to be moved to MUGS Field at the Freddie Ezell Softball Complex in Midland.

Lubbock Cooper came out swinging, hitting the ball hard to take an early 3-0 lead after the top half of the first inning.

But Monahans answered with three runs of their own to tie the game 3-3 after one complete inning of play.

Ashton Jarrett scored on an RBI rip up the middle from Dina Ortiz to put the Ladies on the board, before Heather Schuler posted an RBI on a long fly ball to score Brianna Chaney.

Lana Santiago blasted a hard shot over the left fielder's glove for a standup double.  On the play, Santiago picked up an RBI as Ortiz scored to knot the game at 3-3 for Monahans.

Heather Schuler (23-2) went the distance for the Green in game one, allowing three runs on four hits.

Schuler and the Monahans defense shut down the Lady Pirates for the remainder of the game and MHS posted six runs in the bottom of the fourth inning to break the game open 9-3.

The Ladies added two runs each in the bottom half of the fifth and sixth inning to power MHS to a 13-3 victory.  The 10-run rule was invoked by the umpire, and Monahans led the best-of-three game series 1-0.

In game two of the series, Monahans took an early 3-0 lead in the top of the second inning.

Dina Ortiz led off the inning with a shot to left field that rattled off the fence for a standup double.

Heather Schuler picked up an RBI on a blast to the shot stop, allowing Ortiz to score on the play.

Leading 1-0, Kelsea Miles, courtesy runner for Schuler, used heads-up play and quick feet to score on Lana Santiago's trip to the plate.

Santiago moved Miles to second on the fielders choice, then Miles stole third base before advancing home on an overthrow to put the Ladies in front 2-0.

Kellie Almanza belted an RBI single to score Brittany Slade from second base, and Monahans owned a 3-0 lead after the second inning.

MHS threatened early, as Caney ripped a single up the middle of the Lady Pirate defense to lead off the third inning.

Ortiz just missed a homerun as she banged the ball of the rail in left field for an RBI standup double.  On the play Ortiz blasted a long ball deep to left field, but the ball caught the top of the fence and bounced back into the field of play.

Kellie Almanza scored on a RBI fly ball by Ashton Jarrett to put Monahans ahead 5-0 in the fourth inning.

The Ladies extended their lead in the top of the fifth inning as Santiago and Kaitlin Mitchell scored on a 2-RBI standup double from Jenny Jarrett, and Monahans took a commanding 7-0 lead.

The Lady Loboes would score their final two runs in the seventh inning as Miles, running for Schuler, crossed home plate on an RBI double into centerfield from Santiago.

An errant throw to second base by the pitcher to second base sidelined Santiago for the remainder of the game, but Bertha Felan entered the game as a courtesy runner and scored on an RBI from Brittany Slade.

Monahans closed the door on Cooper in the bottom of the seventh inning and recorded a 9-0 shutout-victory over the Lady Pirates.

Schuler (24-2) once again went the distance for Monahans, allowing only one hit in the shutout game.

"Heather pitched really well in both games tonight," MHS coach David Parker said.  "She really plays big when we need her."

When asked about the offensive performance of the Green, Coach Parker said, "We hit the ball really well tonight.  If we continue to hit like that, we'll be tough to beat next week."

The Lady Loboes will meet Abilene Wylie for the Regional Quarter-Final Championship Thursday, 7 pm, in Snyder.

Keyed by Chino Arsiaga, Senior