Texas Aces High School Highlights

Brazoswood shuts out Pearland, 2-0

By Anthony Maenza
Special to The Facts

Published March 8, 2008

CLUTE — A couple of early runs and the strong pitching arm of Lana Jo Hairston were all the Brazoswood Lady Bucs needed to hold off the Pearland Lady Oilers, 2-0, in the District 24-5A opener Friday night.

Hairston pitched a two-hitter as she struck out 14 Pearland batters. She needed every one of them as the Lady Bucs had to overcome some shaky defense in the late innings.

“Lana kept us in the game,” Brazoswood coach Laura Oltman said. “She pitched great. Defensively we played a little tentatively. With it being the first district game and playing Pearland, we played a little tight.”

The Lady Bucs, ranked No. 2 in the state, and Pearland typically have tough battles and Friday night was another one.

Hairston didn’t allow a hit until the fifth as she kept Pearland batters off balance all night long.

“We needed every one of her strikeouts,” Oltman said. “Next time we play them, we have to play better defense. With their speed, we have to do a better job.”

Brazoswood got all the runs it needed in the second inning.

Elizabeth Coe raced to third to start the inning when Pearland right fielder Jenna Guse dropped a tough fly ball. Destany Blanchard then reached on a fielder’s choice and Mallori Linscomb was hit by a pitch to load the bases.

Pearland pitcher Shelby Cockrell set down the next two Brazoswood batters before Lindsey Kappler slapped a single to left field to score Coe and Blanchard.

The Lady Oilers made things interesting in the seventh against Hairston. Brittany Marcet reached on an error to start the inning. Marcet was safe at second on a fielder’s choice grounder by Jaclyn Bechtle. After a pop to third by Jenna Guse, another fielder’s choice grounder by Leandra Mazy loaded the bases with one out.

Hairston struck out Jensen Tydelski for the second out of the inning.

Then Hairston coaxed a grounder by Lauren Langner to Coe, who raced to third to get the force and end the game.

Cockrell allowed only four hits in the loss as she struck out nine and walked three.

Brazoswood (16-0-1, 1-0) continues district play on Tueday at Clear Creek at 7 p.m. while the Lady Oilers (16-5, 0-1) have a bye.