Mineral Wells Area News

Gordon, Perrin-Whitt series to be determined after Gordon community reels from Sunday evening tornado damage

By DAVID MAY | Special to Mineral Wells Area News

The Mineral Wells Rams baseball team on Thursday will do something no Rams team has done in 67 years – play in a regional playoff.

The Rams (20-10-1) will take on No. 10 Seminole (28-7) in a three-game series beginning Thursday in Lubbock. They are among eight teams continuing their journey in the Class 4A Division 1 playoffs. Four teams will advance to the state tournament.

Unlike their two previous playoff rounds, Mineral Wells and the Indians will play a best-of-three series beginning at 6 p.m. Thursday at Lubbock Cooper High School. The series will shift to Graham on Saturday, with Game Two at 4 p.m. followed by a third game, if necessary.

The three other 4A-1 regional final matchups are Lindale vs. Texarkana Pleasant Grove; China Springs vs. Lumberton; and Corpus Christi Calallen vs. Tuloso-Midway.

In a nod to the strength of District 6-4A, two of Mineral Wells’ district-mates are not only playing in the regional finals this weekend – they are playing each other. No. 5 Brock (29-3) and Graham (21-10-1) will face off for the second time this season in the 4A-Division 2 bracket. The Eagles and Steers split two games during the regular season. Graham handed Brock its only district loss. The teams will play Thursday at Tarleton State in Stephenville.

Two other area teams are still alive and are set to play each other in the Class 1A regional finals. Gordon and Perrin-Whitt will play to which team moves on to the state tournament.

The Gordon area was heavily damaged by a tornado Sunday evening with some minor injuries reported. Gordon ISD facilities were especially hard hit. Gordon ISD Athletics Director Mike Reed reported the football and baseball stadiums were effectively gone. He said athletics equipment and uniforms were gone, and parts of the new gym roof was torn off.

County and school officials were out Monday morning to further assess damage in the area. Santo also was hit by the twister in a system that packed high winds and large hail as it tracked across the southern portions of the county along Interstate 20. Both school districts postponed classes for Monday, with Gordon eventually cancelling the entire week.