Published: April 09, 2008 11:30 am            

Ladycats top Groesbeck for first district win

By SCOTT TYLER

H-P Sports Editor



The Palestine Ladycats got their first district win of the season, holding off Groesbeck 4-2 Tuesday night at the Palestine softball field.

“This was huge for the girls,” said Palestine head coach Jason Mize, who also got his first district win since taking over the program midway through last season. “They have worked so hard and they deserved this win.”

Mize came into Tuesday night telling his players to play hard for seven innings. After the game, Mize said he saw his team do what he wanted for six and a half innings. The only inning that did not go well was when Palestine had the bases loaded with no outs and did not score.

“I tell them if they play seven innings, we have a chance to win every game,” Mize said. “We have given away so many games this year because we play a good four or five innings then shut it down.”

Tuesday night, Palestine scored four runs in the first inning and the combination of Teara Stephens and Micky Roman got the job done on the mound.

“From No. 1 to No. 12, all our players had a significant role in what we did tonight,” Mize said.

Stephens started the game for Palestine and went 2 2/3 innings, allowing an unearned run. Roman relieved in the third inning, with bases loaded and one out and she got a pop out to end the threat.

“Teara gave us something we really needed and then Micky was lights out,” Mize said.

Roman gave up a run in the fifth inning that cut the lead to 4-2, but worked out a bases loaded jam as she fielded a ground ball and got the second out on a force play at home. She got out of the inning on a ground ball to second base.

In the seventh inning, Groesbeck put two runners on with one out but Roman got a ground ball to third base and ended the game by snaring a line drive back to her.

“Micky is learning how to start pitching out of trouble and trusting her stuff,” Mize said. “She also knows her team is 100 percent behind her.”

Palestine started the game at the plate with three straight walks and Tiesha Campbell scored the first run on a wild pitch.

Roman followed with a RBI single to left field and Morgan Lightfoot hit a two-run single to right-center field, giving Palestine a 4-0 lead.

Palestine travels to Madisonville Friday.

“Hopefully this will get us some momentum for the rest of the season,” Mize said. “I think it should change our outlook on everything.”

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Scott Tyler may be contacted via e-mail at styler@palestineherald.com

        

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