Mineral Wells Area News

Mineral Wells, Springtown headed to area round series

By DAVID MAY | Special to Mineral Wells Area News

SAN ANGELO – Mineral Wells exploded for six runs in the third inning and cruised to an 8-2 win Saturday over Lake View, sweeping the three-game series to claim a Class 4A bi-district title.

Left fielder Braxton May had two RBIs and Holden Hering and William Hollifield each had three hits to lead the Rams’ 14-hit attack. Hollifield had a triple with Hayes Hering and Kord Henry each doubling.

Hollifield drew the start on the mound and was stellar, allowing just two hits and no runs over his four innings of work to collect the win. He struck out four Chiefs batters.

The Rams (18-10-1) advance to the area round to face the Springtown Porcupines (18-10-1). Springtown blasted Fort Worth Southwest in two games, winning 11-0 and 19-0. Both the Rams and Springtown were runners up in their respective Class 4A districts.

Mineral Wells won the first-round series’ opening game Friday at home, 2-1.

Saturday’s game was scoreless entering the top of the third when the Rams’ offense got busy. Josh Petrie, Holden Hering and Curry Crouch singled to start the inning. Crouch’s came on a bunt single to load the bases. With one out, May’s hard grounder resulted in a two-run error by the Chiefs. 

Hayes Hering doubled, scoring courtesy runner Charlie Ramsey and sending May to third. Hollifield’s bunt single scored May to make it 4-0. Owen Gadd’s squeeze bunt attempt resulted in courtesy runner Jaidun Fisher being tagged out at home. Tyler McWhorter’s two-out single into right field plated courtesy runner Jackson Hicks. The sixth and final run of the inning came on a Petrie hit, allowing Gadd to step on home.

Mineral Wells added single runs in the fifth and seventh innings. Hollifield’s fifth-inning triple led to his scoring on a passed ball. Newt Schroeder led off the top of the seventh with a single and advanced to second on an error. A groundout moved him to third and he crossed home on another groundout.

Lake View scored twice in their half of the sixth inning, both earned runs coming off reliever Crouch who went three innings in relief with four strikeouts and four hits.

Details on this week’s area round series times and locations are pending.