Mineral Wells Area News

Mineral Wells goes up 1-0 in series that shifts to Lake View

By DAVID MAY | Special to Mineral Wells Area News

On a day that began with storms and heavy run, Mineral Wells pitching ace Holden Hering was lightning good Friday night, striking out 12 as the Rams protected home field to win the first game in their bi-district playoff series, 2-1, over the San Angelo Lake View Chiefs.

Going the distance, the Texas Tech signee allowed four hits and issued just two walks over seven innings. Hering threw 104 pitches, 67 of those for strikes. His defense backed him up with an errorless effort.

The bleach-blonde Rams rallied for two runs in the fourth against Lake View starter Paxton Gaston, who wasn’t shabby himself atop the mound. Gaston also went the distance, giving up both earned runs on four hits with five strikeouts and five walks. He had a 103-pitch outing with 60 strikes.

Hering proved to be just a little better in the pitcher’s duel, an important win in the best-of-three series that shifts to Lake View for today’s second and third (if necessary) game. The Rams will advance to the area round with a win in either game.

Friday’s complete-game performances means both teams will have their other starters and relievers fresh and ready if called on.

The Rams tried to get on the board in the bottom of the first. Lead-off hitter Hering walked ahead of a line out. Hering stole second, with Jaidun Fisher stepping in as a courtesy runner. Kord Henry walked and both runners advanced 90 feet on a double steal. A ground out froze both runners. With two outs, Fisher’s attempt to steal home was denied by Chiefs catcher Isaac Monreal.

The Chiefs took a 1-0 lead in the second. A lead off walk was followed by a fly out and a strikeout. Hering hoped to get out of the inning but issued another walk and an RBI single. Hering induced a fly out to minimize the damage.

Mineral Wells grabbed the lead in the home half of the fourth. Curry Crouch led off with a hard ground ball hit. After a fly out, Jackson Hicks went in to pinch run for Crouch. Braxton May singled to second, sending Hicks to third on the play. May stole second, with Hicks scoring on an error by the third baseman. With May standing on third, Josh Petrie collected an RBI with a sacrifice fly to left to give Mineral Wells a 2-1 lead.

That would be all the support Hering would need to close out the win. He struck out the side in the top of the seventh, recording seven Ks over the last three innings.

Crouch had two of the Rams’ four hits.

Game 2 of the series is 1 p.m. today at Lake View. The third game will follow if needed.