Texas Aces High School Highlights

Thursday, March 13, 2008, South Belt-Ellington Leader, Section B, Page 1

Surging Brook softball rallies over GB

Just two games into the District 24-5A varsity softball season, Clear Brook is already ahead of the game.
At 2-0 after beating Galveston 4-2 March 11 on the island, Clear Brook is in first place. A big 3-1 win over Clear Creek March 7 started things off right, and now a huge come-frombehind win over Galveston Ball has the Lady Wolverines thinking big.
A season ago, Clear Brook swept Clear Lake and Galveston Ball but lost all eight of its games to the eventual playoff representatives – Pearland, Brazoswood, Alvin and Clear Creek.
This time, Clear Brook has already turned the tables on one of the perceived bigwigs – Clear Creek. There are still 10 important games to be played

from here on out in 24-5A, but the Lady Wolverines started the season hot and have stayed hot.
The team is 16-3 overall, and junior starting pitcher Jill McGinnis is 12-1. Offensively and behind its pitcher, Clear Brook has delivered in the clutch time and time again. In both wins to start district, the Lady Wolverines won late.
Against Galveston Ball, McGinnis gave up a tworun homer as the Tors went in front 2-1 with just three outs to go for Clear Brook. Not to panic, though, as this is shaping up to be Brook’s year.
Erica Brody led off the bottom of the seventh inning with a single and went to third base as Bridgette Begle reached on a drag bunt single and advanced to second on the

play. Another drag bunt hit by Amy Gonzalez loaded the bases.
Stephanie Gonzalez then came through with the hit of the game, a two-run double into left field. Molly Fichtner’s sacrifice fly scored Amy Gonzalez as the Lady Wolverines went in front 4-2.
Emma Napoli relieved McGinnis to start the seventh inning and struck out two of the three batters she faced for the save.
Similar magic lifted Clear Brook to a win over Clear Creek.
The Lady Wildcats took a 1-0 lead over Clear Brook with a second-inning run, but the Lady Wolverines answered.
In the fourth inning, sophomore Michelle Svehla banged an RBI triple to center field, tying the game

at 1-1. Mary Aubin’s base hit to right field scored Svehla, putting the Lady Wolverines ahead for good. Begle’s RBI single scored the insurance run in the sixth inning.
In the seventh, Brody made a diving catch of a line drive to center field, preserving the win. Perhaps in another year, that catch would not have been made. But perhaps this is Brook’s year.
“We played well, maybe a little nervous at times, but we played well enough to win with our timely hits,” Clear Brook head coach Ashley Pillow said. “Brody’s diving catch was pretty awesome.”
Clear Brook will face 2007 regional quarterfinalist Alvin March 15 at home. Game time is set for 5:30 p.m.