Mineral Wells Area News

Best-of-three series opens Friday night at Pratt Field

Mineral Wells will take on San Angelo Lake View in a best-of-three UIL Class 4A bi-district baseball playoff series.

By DAVID MAY | Special to Mineral Wells Area News

The Rams host the Chiefs in the all-important series opener at 6 p.m. Friday at Pratt Field. Game 2 is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday at Lake View High School. Game 3, if necessary, will follow Game 2.

Mineral Wells (16-11-1) took District 6-4A runner-up honors, finishing second with a 7-3 record. Brock won this year’s District 6 title.

Lake View went 8-22-1 on the season, finishing fourth in District 5-4A with a 6-7 record. Liberty was that district’s title winner.

Mineral Wells and Lake View had two common opponents this year in Brock and Brownwood. Mineral Wells lost both district games against Brock and split two district games against Brownwood to close the regular season.

The Chiefs lost its only game against Brock. San Angelo lost three games to Brownwood.

The teams are fairly close offensively. Mineral Wells averages 4.4 runs per game while San Angelo scores at a 4.1 runs-per-game clip. Mineral Wells averages 6.1 hits to San Angelo’s 7 hits per game.

A big difference between the playoff foes is in runs allowed. Mineral Wells has given up 67 runs to San Angelo’s 230 runs allowed.

Starting pitching is always key, especially this time of year. The Rams boast a strong contingent of arms led by senior Holden Hering, a Texas Tech signee and possible MLB draft selection this summer. His brother, freshman Hayes Hering, is not far behind his older sibling.

Another advantage Mineral Wells brings into the playoff series is in road games – the Rams went 6-3 while San Angelo is 3-13-1.

The Rams have scheduled a scrimmage Monday against Jacksboro.