Train keeps a-rollin

ABILENE – Another week, another series win.

Jacksboro will be moving on in the Class 3A Region I playoffs with a 2-1 series win over Coahoma.

The Bulldogettes needed extra innings but forced game three with a 3-2, eight inning victory in game two.

Wanting to ensure a quick start in the nightcap at Cooper High, the Tigerettes exploded for three runs on four hits in the first and added another trio of runs in the second to take control and post a 7-3 victory in game three.

Jacksboro (31-7) will now take on Bushland (30-2-1) beginning Friday at 6 in Iowa Park with the best-of-three series moving to Lubbock Christian University Saturday at 3 p.m. If necessary, a third game will begin about 30 minutes after game two conclusion.

Brief summaries of both games follow:

Game 2

Coahoma’s Makynlee Overton had a bad fifth inning in game one of the regional quarterfinal series with Jacksboro and was determined to make sure lightning didn’t strike twice.

The Tigerettes, who had 12 hits in the series opener Thursday, were held to just three hits in the loss. Jacksboro got out to a 1-0 lead in the fourth, Hadlee Richardson opened by being hit by an Overton pitch and scored on a two-out Rylee Mathis single.

The Bulldogettes struck for two runs in their fourth. Overton opened with a single and came home on a single by MaKayla Calvio. Shae Lang’s single plated Calvio to take the 2-1 lead. Jacksboro would tie the game in the fifth.

Destany Valles opened with a walk but was forced at second in place of Jaci Gann who stole second. Gann went to third on a throwing error to retire her. Harlee Richardson was safe on a fielder’s choice play with Gann being caught in a rundown allowing her teammate to reach third.

Avery Bennett was safe on a third baseman’s error with Harlee Richardson scoring the tying run. Hadlee Richardson beat out an infield single but was forced at second to end the frame.

The game remained status quo into the eighth with Overton opening with a double and scoring on a Brynn Rodgers’ single to end the 1:54 contest.

“We couldn’t square her (Overton) up today,” Assistant Coach Heath Tullous explained.

Game 3

Three-run outbursts in each of the first two innings off Calvio was the difference in ending Coahoma’s season at 26-7.

Hadlee Richardson opened with an infield single and scored on Kylie Tullous’ infield single. Tullous reached second on throwing error on the play. With one gone, Mathis beat out an infield single.

Teagan Reynolds smacked a double to plate Tullous and Mathis and go to third on the throw for a 3-0 lead. She was left as the next two hitters were retired.

Another three-run inning opened with Bennett drawing a one-out walk and advancing to second. Overton replaced Calvio in the circle. With two gone, Tullous’ speed got her aboard on the fielder’s choice.

Senior pitcher Alex Holman aided her cause with a two-run double. Courtesy runner Charlie Phariss scored on a Mathis single for a 6-0 lead. A strikeout ended the frame.

Coahoma got on the board in the third with a run on two hits but back to back strikeouts kept the Bulldogettes from doing further damage.

Jackboro got the run back in the top of the fourth. Bennett got things started with a single while Tullous was safe on a oneout fielder’s choice. Bennett was retired at third trying to steal.

A catcher’s error allowed Tullous to come home for a 7-1 lead. Walks to Holman and Mathis were for naught as the next batter struck out.

Coahoma plated a pair of fifth inning runs on three hits but the squad would get no closer despite putting pairs of runners aboard in the last two innings.

Assistant Coach Heath Tullous said Coahoma making late rallies did nothing to hurt the squad.

“If anything, adversity fuels us,” Tullous told KWKQ Radio. “These girls have a short term memory and don’t let too much bother them.”