College softball: Midland College plants OC on bench

MIDLAND These were hugs that Odessa College softball coach Joel Prickett was expecting to give in Plant City, Fla., at the NJCAA Division I National Tournament.

Midland College made the hugs necessary Sunday afternoon.

No. 17 Midland College swept two games from Odessa College to capture the NJCAA Region V-West Tournament title and the berth in the national tournament that goes along with it.

Midland College (41-17) used the international tiebreaker rule and two errors to beat Odessa College 7-4 in 10 innings for the title.

The Lady Chaps defeated Western Texas to advance out of the consolation bracket in the double-elimination tournament, and then they beat the Lady Wranglers 6-3 to force the second title game.

It was a melancholy Prickett who walked away from an emotional group of sophomores after the game. Odessa College (40-23) defeated Midland College 15-1 in five innings in a winner's bracket game Saturday.

"It just wasn't meant to be, I suppose," he said as he watched his team gather its equipment. "We had our chances and weren't able to get the job done. Never did I think that we would lose both games."

OC scored two runs in the first inning of the second title game on Noelle Garcia's run-scoring double to left-center field and Louisa Stover's squeeze bunt in front of the plate, but Lady Chaps starter Mindy Scott was able to retire Odessa High graduate Shanna Dees on a line drive to second to end the inning.

Midland College answered with two runs in the top of the second on Rebecca Gawlista's two-run single up the middle. Prickett went to Maritza Rocha for starter Hannah Dodson after Dodson  gave up one-out singles.

OC regained the lead in the fourth when courtesy runner Erin Fudge stole second and scored when Taylor Miley's two-out grounder went through the legs of shortstop Karina Nava. Fudge was running for Stover, who walked to open the inning.

Midland College manufactured a run in the fifth inning to knot the score at 3-3.

Odessa College loaded the bases with one out in the sixth on singles by Miley, Amanda Baldonado and Latara Shockley. Alisha Carrasco hit a one-hopper that Midland College second baseman Logan Zamora fielded and threw to the plate to force Miley, and Lady Chaps reliever Alex Reideman got Marissa Araujo to fly out to left field to end the threat.

"That was a big moment for us," Midland College coach Tommy Ramos said. "We had been battling and then they load the bases very quickly. Logan made a nice play, and then Alex got the fly ball and after that, it was just a matter of getting a break."

In the first title game, Midland College scored five runs in the second inning to take a 5-1 lead. Both teams scored one run in the fifth inning, and OC scored again in the sixth.

Region V West Tournament

At Ulmer Park, Freddie Ezell Complex, Midland
Double Elimination
Saturday's Games
Midland College 4, Western Texas 0
Odessa College 8, Howard 0, 6 innings
Western Texas 4, Howard 3, Howard eliminated
Odessa College vs. Midland College, (n)
Sunday's Games
Midland College def. Western Texas, score not available
Championship I, Midland College 6, Odessa College 2
Championship II, Midland College 7, Odessa College 4, 10 innings

Midland College 7, Odessa College 4 (10)

Championship II
Sunday, At Freddie Ezell Complex, Midland
Midland College 020 010 000 4 - 7 11 3
Odessa  College 200 100 000 1 - 4 11 2
Mindy Scott, Alex Reideman (2) and Dina Ortiz, Lindsay Robillard (2). Hannah Dodson, Maritza Rocha (2) and Amanda Tinkley, Dominique Salazar (2). W - Reideman. L - Rocha. 2B - Noelle Garcia.
Records: Midland College 41-17; Odessa College 40-23

Midland College 6, Odessa College 3

Championship I
Sunday, At Freddie Ezell Complex, Midland
Odessa College 010 011 0 - 3 8 4
Midland College 050 010 x - 6 5 3
Maritza Rocha, Hannah Dodson (4) and Dominique Salazar, Amanda Tinkley (4). Mindy Scott, Alex Reideman (5) and Dina Ortiz, Lindsay Robillard (5). W - Scott. L - Rocha. Sv - Reideman. HR - Odessa College: Noelle Garcia  Midland College: Rebecca Gawlista, Logan Zamora.