òòò½ÊÓƵ

HALLETTSVILLE òòò½ÊÓƵ” Pitching, defense and a four-run second inning led Hallettsville to a 6-1, Game 1 Class 3A regional final victory over Columbus on Wednesday night.

Hallettsville won this game with the pitching of Madison Mikes and Kaylie Olivarez. Mikes pitched the first three innings before Olivarez relieved her in the fourth inning to get the final 12 outs. On the day, Mikes and Olivarez combined to allow just four hits and one run in seven innings of work.

òòò½ÊÓƵœItòòò½ÊÓƵ™s nice to have three pitchers where I feel comfortable throwing any of them out there in any situation, and theyòòò½ÊÓƵ™re going to go out and perform,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Hallettsville head coach Callie Kresta said.

While Hallettsville got the win it needed, the performance was far from perfect. The Lady Brahmas left 12 runners on base and twice stranded the bases loaded.

òòò½ÊÓƵœA winòòò½ÊÓƵ™s a win. How you get there is not really the important part, but that you get the win,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Kresta said. òòò½ÊÓƵœWe left 12 people on base. The opportunities were there to score more, but our pitchers were great. Kaylie came in and held them to no runs.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

Olivarez entered the game in the circle right after Hallettsvilleòòò½ÊÓƵ™s big third inning.

After Columbus (25-9) scored in the second to take the lead, Hallettsville responded with a Rebecca Satsky RBI single to even the score. The third inning is where Hallettsville got the runs it needed.

Patience at the plate was key as walks Olivarez and Macey Putska loaded the bases for Mikesòòò½ÊÓƵ™ bases loaded RBI walk to give the Lady Brahmas their first lead. On the ensuing pitch, a hard hit ground ball went through the legs of the Columbus second baseman, which allowed the Lady Brahmas to score three runs and take a 5-1 lead.

òòò½ÊÓƵœWe always try to score first because that sets the tone for the game,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Hallettsville catcher Macie Jansky said. òòò½ÊÓƵœOnce they scored, we knew we had to come back even harder, and thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s what we did.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

The lead extended, it was Olivarezòòò½ÊÓƵ™s turn to make her impact on the game. Olivarez did not get pitches to hit. She was walked in three of her four plate appearances. On the mound, she allowed just one base runner in four innings of work to remove any doubt.

òòò½ÊÓƵœComing in, I knew I had to throw strikes, and I know my defense had my back behind me,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Olivarez said. òòò½ÊÓƵœI noticed when Madison was on the mound that the umpireòòò½ÊÓƵ™s zone was pretty small, so I had to make sure I hit his zone, and I got the strikes we needed.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

In seven innings, the two Hallettsville pitchers combined for just two strikeouts. The Lady Brahma defense did not make an error and with the wind blowing hard all game every ball in the air was caught.

òòò½ÊÓƵœI love them,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Olivarez said of her defense. òòò½ÊÓƵœWithout them, we wouldnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t have won the way we did, and I certainly wouldnòòò½ÊÓƵ™t have pitched the way I did.òòò½ÊÓƵ�

Game 2 of this series will take place Saturday at 4 p.m. in Columbus with a Game 3 if necessary taking place 30 minutes after Game 2. A win on Saturday means Hallettsville is back in the state tournament.

òòò½ÊÓƵœWe just got to go get one more. Thatòòò½ÊÓƵ™s all it is. Itòòò½ÊÓƵ™s as simple as that,òòò½ÊÓƵ� Kresta said.

Class 3A Region IV Final Game 1 Hallettsville 6, Columbus 1

Columbus 010 000 0 òòò½ÊÓƵ” 1 4 2

Hallettsville 014 001 x òòò½ÊÓƵ” 6 9 0

W: Kaylie Olivarez. L: Allie Cranek. Highights: (C) Tayor Morrow 1-for-3, SB, R; Aggie Rodriguez 1-for-3, RBI; Peyton Drozd 1-for-2, 3.1 IPs, 1 ER. (H) Kaylie Olivarez 4 IPs, 2 Ks, 2 Hs, 0 Rs, 0-for-1, 3 BBs; Madison Mikes 3 IPs, 3 Hs, 1 ER, 0-for-3, RBI, R; Hanna Zachary 2-for-3, BB; Macie Jansky 2-for-4, 2B, SB; Macey Putska 1-for-2, 2B, RBI, 2 BBs. Records: Columbus 25-9; Hallettsville 39-2. Notes: Hallettsville leads series 1-0.