Lady Mustangs Trample Lady Pirates in Regional Quarterfinals
Slocum Sweeps Martinsville, 18-1 and 6-1
By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter
EAST TEXAS – The Slocum Lady Mustangs opened defense of their 2017 state title in dominant fashion last week as they swept the Martinsville Lady Pirates in the Regional Quarterfinals by scores of 18-1 and 6-1.
The Lady Mustangs showcased their talents at the plate and in the pitcher’s circle in game one as they pounded out 18 runs on 24 hits while Jalyn Fletcher kept the Lady Pirates off the base paths by limiting Martinsville to one run on two hits.
The series opener began with Allison Wilson in the circle for Martinsville and Fletcher getting the nod for the Lady Mustangs.
After two scoreless innings to open the game, the Lady Mustangs broke loose in the third inning. Fletcher led off with a triple and scored on Courtney January’s double into center. Jessi Ives was up next and reached safely on an infield single that held January at second.
Next, Taylor Clark doubled to left to plate January and send Ives to third. Following a walk to Briley Evers, which loaded the bases, Kara Cumby grounded into a fielder’s choice that caught Ives at home while the runners moved up a base.
Shelby Bowman followed Cumby to the plate and laced a single through the infield to score Clark from third.
Following a strike out of Bella McNeill, Laney Lasiter delivered the big blow of the inning when she followed McNeill with a triple to clear the bases and make the score 6-0.
Fletcher came to bat once again in the third and helped her cause with a single up the middle to drive in Lasiter which made the score 7-0.
Once Wilson managed to record the third out, the Lady Pirates were unable to do anything at the plate as Fletcher retired the side in order.
The top of the fourth saw Slocum break the game wide open. Clark led off the inning with a single, Evers followed with a double and Cumby loaded the bases with a single of her own. Back-to back pop ups from Bowman and McNeill gave Wilson hope for getting out of the inning unscathed.
The Lady Mustangs had other plans, however, as Lasiter laced a two-out single into center to score both Clark and Evers. Fletcher was up next and on the first pitch of her at-bat she homered on a line drive to right field.
The 3-run homer made the score 12-0 and effectively killed any hope the Lady Pirates had of a comeback.
Martinsville managed to squeeze out a run in the bottom of the fourth but the Lady Mustangs responded with six more runs in the top of the fifth as they coasted to an 18-1 win in game one.
Game two saw the Lady Mustangs break into the scoring column in the first inning with two runs.
They added three more in the third and one in the sixth as they defeated the Lady Pirates by a score of 6-1 to win the series 2-0.
Next up for Slocum is a Regional Semifinal matchup with the Chester Lady Yellow Jackets. According to the Slocum ISD website, the games will be played “… Thursday, May 10th at 6 p.m. and Friday, May 11th at 6 p.m. Game 3 would follow if needed. All games will be played in Douglass.”
Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].
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