Hughes Springs vs. Hooks
SITE, TIME: Single elimination game at Northeast Texas Community College today at 6 p.m.
AT STAKE: Class 3A regional quarterfinal championship.
LAST ROUND: Hughes Springs rolled past Beckville, 10-0, while Hooks swept Elysian Fields, 3-2 and 12-1.
LINEUP: Hughes Springs, P-Zoe Lanier, C-Kennedi Northam, 1B- Shelbie Fickling, 2B-Abbye McKinney, SS- Haylee Wilson, 3B- Marisol Kennedy, LF-Charlie Reeves, CF-Peyton Blythe, RF-Pearl Perry, DP-Kensley Echols. Hooks, P-Marena Estell, C-Abby Russ, 1B-Lexie Frachiseur, 2B-Sidney Pardue, SS-Kenley Kyles, 3B-Karsyn Vallejos, LF-Chloe Hanes, CF-Emma Farquhar, RF-Madison Whisenhunt.
COACH’S COMMENTS: Hughes Springs’ Tish Thompson— “Hooks has been in our district for two years. When we p layed them, they did not pitch Marena Estell. I think that if we can get to Marena early and play solid defense, we’ll be OK. We have been playing great defense and have been putting up good offensive numbers, so I can’t complain. I think it will be a low scoring game. Hooks has played good defense lately, and we both have good pitching.”
Hooks’ Neil Kiser— “Hughes Springs is in the position they are for a reason. They have a good lineup all the way through, and they can hit. They have two great pitchers, and they will be tough to beat.
“We are prepared physically and talent wise; we have what we need. Last season, we beat ourselves mentally. The girls are mentally prepared and believe in themselves. I think if we can hit well, we will be OK. We will have Marena (Estell) on the mound, so, if we can keep them in check, we shouldn’t have a problem.”
NEXT ROUND: The winner advances to the regional semifinals to face either Ponder or Pilot Point.
NEW BOSTON vs. NEW DIANA
SITE, TIME: Best-ofthree series, Game 1 is at East Texas Baptist University today at 6 p.m., Game 2 is at Mount Pleasant High School at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Game 3, if needed, will follow.
AT STAKE: Class 3A regional quarterfinal championship.
LAST ROUND: The Lady Lions swept Harmony, 11-0 and 7-3 New Diana swept Redwater, 5-2, 8-5.
LINEUP: P-Morgan McAlexander, C-Angel Evans, 1B- McKenzee Thomas, 2B-Alaysia Henderson, 3B-Lauren Hurst, SS-Carlee Ratcliff, LF-Haley McAlexander, CF-Grace Duffer, RF-Alexis Morden.
COACH’S COMMENTS: New Boston’s B.J. Brown— “New Diana is a consistent team, they are well coached, and will do the right things at the right times. They have a good pitcher, and we have our work cut out for us, that’s for sure.
“I think we will have to play consistently, be smart on the bases, and have quality at-bats. We want to get off quality swings when we have to and do the small ball things. It will be a type of series where each team is going to play well. We are going to try to take that extra step. The girls are pretty excited, and they have done a great job of rising up to the challenge. They know the team we play is good, and they are excited to just go out and play softball.”
NEXT ROUND: The winner advances to the regional semifinals to face either Mineola or Howe.
AVERY vs. OVERTON
SITE, TIME: Single elimination game today at Northeast Texas Community College, 6 p.m.
AT STAKE: Class 2A regional quarterfinal championship.
LAST ROUND: Avery defeated Union Grove, 6-4, and Overton beat Rivercrest, 6-3.
LINEUP: P-Jill Whitney, C-Quinn Lipe, 1B-Ashten Simington, 2B- Kelsea Clark, 3B- Meagan Roberts, SS-Alexis Coughran, LF- Megan Watson, CF- Cassidy Kelsoe, RF-Maggie Taylor, DP-Brenna Brown.
COACH’S COMMENTS: Avery’s Jonette Whitney— “I don’t know a lot about Overton. I think it is a team that we can beat, but we have to play errorless defense and continue to put the ball in play. We had 13 hits in our last game so if we keep that up, we’ll be in good shape.
“We had two errors in the area round that we usually don’t have and we had one mental mishap. But we battled through, kept our head on our shoulders, and we got through it. We just haven’t been challenged a lot in district, and we are coming up against teams now that put the ball in play more. I told them just to have confidence and to keep working hard. Our hitting has improved from last year. There are a lot of things going on at this time, and we just have to focus on winning that next ball game.”
NEXT ROUND: The winner faces either West Sabine or Grapeland in the regional semifinals.