Schuler's Grand Slam Sends Lady Loboes to 2-0 Record in District 3-3A
    by Randy Hogan, Staff Writer ~~ The Monahans News ~~ 3-14-06

Coming off a 13-2 victory at Seminole to open District 3-3A play, Monahans battled out of a tight game at Fort Stockton Friday night.  They humbled the Prowlers with an eight-point fifth inning, led by Heather Schuler's grand slam homerun to give the Lady Loboes an 11-1 victory.

Monahans (14-3) broke open a scoreless game in the top of the third inning to take a 1-0 lead, but Rudy Bernal crossed the plate for Fort Stockton in the bottom of the inning to tie the game 1-1.

It would be the closest the Prowlers would play to the Green the remainder of the night, as MHS began to pound the Fort Stockton defense relentlessly for 15 hits on 28 trips to the plate.

The Lady Loboes added two runs in the top of the fourth inning, but Schuler's grand slam home run in the fifth inning highlighted an eight-point barrage of runs that quickly sank the Prowlers hopes of a rally.

The game was called after the fifth inning, as the 10-run rule was invoked when Fort Stockton failed to score in the bottom of the inning, sending the Ladies to an impressive 2-0 start in District play under first year head coach David Parker.

Schuler (12-0) slammed the door on Fort Stockton from the pitcher's circle, having allowed only one run in the game and just four total hits.  She blasted 40 strikes out of the total 56 pitches thrown in her five innings of work, striking out five FSHS batters in the game.

On the season, Schuler has an ERA of 1.08 in 78 innings pitched and has sat down 67 batters by strike out. 

For Monahans, the Lady Loboes continued to hammer opponents at the plate and are batting .385 as team.  MHS has scored 116 runs on 169  hits and posses a slugging percentage of .517 for the season.

Schuler led the way for the Green at Fort Stockton, going 3 for 4 at bat, while scoring a run and picking up 4 RBI's in the game.

Ironically, Lana Santiago continues to lead MHS with a .563 batting average, showcasing a perfect 3 for 3 performances at the plate including a huge double.  She also scored 2 runs in the game.

Brianna Chaney continued to build on her .556 batting average, pounding out 3 hits and 2 runs in her four trips to the plate.

Brittany Slade added two runs in the game, while Erin Garcia scored a run and banged in an RBI for MHS.

Kaitlin Mitchell went 2 for 3 at the plate including a double, scoring a run and picking up 2 RBI's while at bat.

Ashton Jarrett ripped a double for a hit and scored a run, while Kellie Almanza picked up an RBI on her hit in the game.

On the defensive side of the field, Monahans has only allowed 38 runs on 78 hits the entire season.

The Lady Loboes were equally as impressive in their District 3-3A opener in Seminole last Tuesday, defeating the Maidens 13-2 in a key conference game to kickoff the race for the district championship.

MHS pounded out 13 runs on 17 hits in the game, and Heather Schuler controlled the Maidens from the circle to earn the victory.  Schuler pitched 7.1 innings for the Green, allowing only 2 runs while striking out seven SHS batters.

Monahans began the game with four runs in the top of the first inning before adding a run in the second.

Seminole threatened to make it a game, scoring two runs in the bottom of the second inning, but Schuler and the Lady Lobo defense stood tall and shut out the Maidens the remainder of the game.

MHS added three runs in the third inning, one run each in the fourth and sixth innings, before scoring three runs in the seventh inning to end an awesome offensive performance.

Brittany Slade pounded 2 hits for 4 RBI's in the game, and Lana Santiago went 2 for 3 at bat to score 3 runs and pick up an RBI, leading the way for Monahans at Seminole.

Brianna Chaney hit 3 for 5 and scored two runs, and Dina Ortiz smashed two hits and scored 2 runs while picking up an RBI in the game.

The hit parade continued for the Green as Erin Garcia went 2 for 4 at the plate, scoring 2 runs and recording an RBI.  Heather Schuler pounded out 2 hits and 2 RBI's also scoring a run in the game.

Kellie Almanza came up big against Seminole scoring 2 runs while batting 2 for 3 at the plate.  Ashton Jarrett added a run and an RBI while hitting 2 for 5 at the plate.

Monahans is on a nine-game winning streak that includes four shut out victories and have surrendered only 8 points in that stretch.

The Lady Loboes take a break from league play and travel to Midland to challenge the Fillies of Midland Christian in a non-district game Tuesday, at 5 pm.