Mineral Wells Area News

Rams take early lead while Hering, Hollifield blank the Pines

By DAVID MAY | Special to Mineral Wells Area News

GRAHAM – A four-run first inning and combined shutout by Holden Hering and William Hollifield led Mineral Wells to a 6-0 win Thursday over Springtown and a trip to the regional semifinal round of the Class 4A Texas high school baseball playoffs.

It was a winner-take-all showdown between the two upper division teams – Mineral Wells (18-12-1) a Division I top seed and Springtown (19-8-1) a two seed. The Rams left Graham celebrating an area title with their state title hopes alive.

It is the Rams’ first appearance in the regional semifinals since 2012. Mineral Wells will next take on the winner of Thursday’s Clint Mountain View-West Plains area-round series. West Plains took Game 1 on Thursday, 12-1.

Hering was once again dominant on the bump. He worked five innings, allowing just two hits while striking out seven Pojo hitters. He gave up two walks. Facing 20 hitters, the Texas Tech signee threw 76 pitches, 45 for strikes.

Hollifield was even better in his two-inning relief outing. He allowed no hits, runs or walks while fanning four. He faced the minimum six batters, throwing strikes for 15 of his 26 pitches.

Mineral Wells’ offense rocked Springtown for four runs in the home half of the first inning. Hollifield led off with a single and Hering was hit by a pitch. Braxton May struck an RBI single ahead of Hayes Hering’s two RBI triple. Josh Petrie’s sacrifice bunt scored Hering for a 4-0 Rams lead.

The Rams added single runs in the third and fourth innings. Crouch led off the third with a single. His courtesy runner Jackson Hicks scored on May’s groundout. With two outs in the fourth, courtesy runner Preston Mendez reached third on a Hollifield two-out hit. Mendez scored on a steal of home.

Hollifield and Owen Gadd each collected two hits as the Rams totaled eight hits in the game. Both squads played errorless ball.