5A softball: Lady Bronchos advance to Region I-5A semifinals

ABILENE Because of the success that Odessa High freshman Mia Hignojos has had at Wells Field, the Abilene Christian University softball coaches might want to start recruiting her now.

Hignojos hit a two-out, two-run single in the sixth inning that helped Odessa High beat Burleson 3-1 on Friday afternoon in Game 2 of a best-of-3 Class 5A regional quarterfinal series.

"I was a little bit nervous when I went to the plate," said Hignojos, who hit a two-run single to win the bi-district opener against Granbury two weeks ago on the same field. "But I was able to tell myself to calm down, and I got a pitch to hit. I'm just trying to do better each time to the plate."

The victory clinched the series for Odessa High (29-2-3), which will face the winner of the Coppell-Justin Northwest series in the regional semifinals next week. Dates and times will be determined.

Burleson (27-11) lost to OHS 6-1 on Thursday in Game 1 of the series, but the Lady Elks took a 1-0 lead in the second inning of Game 2. Ashlee McDonald wound up at third when Kendra Dees missed a shoestring catch, and McDonald scored when she beat left-fielder Laci Sanchez's throw to the plate on Shannen Myers' flyout.

"I don't know what it was," OHS pitcher Hillary Phillips. "I think we were just trying to recover from (Thursday night's) game, and it took a while to get going."

OHS did not get its first hit until the fourth inning when Rosie Lopez singled to right-center field and advanced to second when Dees reached on an error. McDonald caught Courtney Cernoch's line drive at short and doubled off Lopez at second.

Dees moved to third when Phillips followed with a single to right, but both runners were stranded when Hignojos was retired on ground ball.

Lopez started the sixth inning by reaching on an error and moved to second on Dees' slow roller to second for the first out. Lopez moved to third when Cernoch followed with an infield hit, and Cernoch wound up at second base when the Burleson infielders were concerned about Lopez trying to race for the plate.

"We were going to do whatever it takes," said Lopez, who got hit in the back of the helmet on a pickoff attempt. "We still were working hard. We still wanted it."

Hignojos fell behind in the count 1-2 against Burleson pitcher Jamie Lambert, but Hignojos won the battle when she singled to center to drive in Lopez and Cernoch, who leaped over the glove of Lady Elks' catcher Kelsey Matejka. Hignojos continued to second base on the throw to the plate.

Erica Armendarez singled to put runners on first and third, and Hignojos scored when Matejka lost control of a pitch just enough with Reagen Paquette batting.

"She went on her own," OHS coach Stephanie Graham said of Hignojos' play. "All the girls make that decision because by the time I say something, it's too late. I went to the girls and talked to them before the sixth about not letting them (Burleson) get into their head. I'm so proud of the way they battled back and won. What a great feeling."

THE BASICS

Class 5A Regional quarterfinals
(Best-of-3 Series)
Odessa High vs. Burleson
(All games at Wells Field, Abilene Christian University)

>> Game 1: OHS 6, Burleson 1

>> Game 2: OHS 3, Burleson 1, OHS wins series 2-0 and advances to the regional semifinals next week at a site and time TBD.

On the Net: For playoff brackets, visit www.uil.utexas.edu/athletics/softball

THE LINESCORES

ODESSA HIGH 3, BURLESON HIGH 1
Game 2 - Friday
Odessa High 000 003 0 - 3 7 2
Burleson High 010 000 0 - 1 4 2
Hillary Phillips and Kristy Smith . Jamie Lambert and Kelsey Matejka. W - Phillips. L - Lambert. 2B - Odessa High: Kristy Smith; Burleson: none. 3B - none. HR - none.
Records - Odessa High 29-2-3, Burleson 27-11.

ODESSA HIGH 6, BURLESON 1
Game 1 - Thursday
Burleson 000 001 0 - 1 4 2
Odessa High 200 121 x - 6 8 2
Jamie Lambert and Kelsey Matejka; Hillary Phillips and Kristy Smith. W - Hillary Phillips. L - Jamie Lambert. 2B - Burleson: none; Odessa High: Courtney Cernoch, Hillary Phillips. 3B - Burleson: Michaela McNeely; Odessa High: none. HR - none.