Mineral Wells Area News

Mineral Wells needs wins in two remaining games

By DAVID MAY | Special to Mineral Wells Area News

Locked in a four-team battle for three playoff spots, the Mineral Wells Lady Rams had a chance Friday to bolster their post-season position hosting last place Glen Rose in a key District 6-4A game.

I The Lady Tigers scored in each of the last four innings to rally from an early deficit and hand Mineral Wells a tough 7-5 loss.

With just two games remaining, Mineral Wells sits in fifth place looking up at Brownwood, Graham and Stephenville. The Lady Rams visit Stephenville on Tuesday with both squads sporting 3-5 district records. Brownwood hosts Graham the same night, both teams entering with 4-4 district marks.

Undefeated and Class 4A’s top-ranked Brock Lady Eagles have clinched the district crown. They upended Graham 16-1 on Friday. Brownwood took down Stephenville, 10-4.

That means this coming week will be huge. Sitting in fifth place, Mineral Wells will have its work cut out, possibly needing wins over both Stephenville and at home Friday against Graham to make the playoffs. The Lady Rams lost to both teams in their first meetings. Graham hosts second-place Brownwood on Tuesday. The Lady Rams have two wins over the Lady Lions and would hold a head-to-head tiebreaker.

Mineral Wells let Friday’s game get away from them late. The Lady Rams built a 3-0 lead over the first three innings. Two runs scored in the second. Karli Aaron singled home Angy Bista and scored on a Carsyn Presley hit. They added a run in the third. Hailey McWhorter doubled and scored on a Scottie Denison hit.

A walk, single and an error allowed Glen Rose to score twice in the top of the fourth to tighten the game at 3-2.

Two singles and another error scored the tying run for the Lady Tigers in their half of the fifth. A steal of home put Glen Rose on top, 4-3. They added another run in the sixth inning.

The Mineral Wells offense was shut down in the middle of the game, mustering just one hit over three innings.

Leading 5-3 in the seventh, Glen Rose tacked on two more runs. They led off the inning with a single and a double to score the first run of the frame. The second run scored from third on a sacrifice bunt.

Trailing by four runs in their final at bat, Mineral Wells was able to get the tying run to the plate. Presley and Kynlee Harkins singled and both scored on a McWhorter hit, aided by a Glen Rose error. The game ended with McWhorter standing on second.

Presley had three of the Lady Rams’ six hits on the night.

Glen Rose scored four runs on four Mineral Wells errors. McWhorter went the distance in the circle, allowing nine hits and striking out nine while issuing two walks and giving up three earned runs.

Here is how the final week’s District 6-4A standings and schedule looks:

1. Brock – 8-0
2. Brownwood – 4-4
3. Graham – 4-4
4. Stephenville – 3-5
5. Mineral Wells – 3-5
6. Glen Rose – 2-6

Tuesday’s games:

Mineral Wells at Stephenville

Brownwood at Graham

Glen Rose at Brock

Friday’s games

Graham at Mineral Wells

Brock at Brownwood

Stephenville at Glen Rose