Burleson swept from 4A region final

By Brent Shirley

bshirley@star-telegram.com

ARLINGTON -- Burleson rebounded from being no-hit Friday by getting six hits against Waco Midway in Game 2 of the Class 4A Region I finals Saturday at Workman Field.

But the Lady Elks (32-5) didn't turn the hits into runs, as Midway (37-4) won 4-0 to sweep the series and advance to the state semifinals.

"We just couldn't bunch our hits together," Burleson coach Perry Young said. "We had scoring chances but just didn't come through. They did, and they deserved to win this one."

Midway took a lead in the first inning without getting a hit. Leadoff batter Monique Miller reached and advanced to second on a throwing error. She moved to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.

"Her speed is going to give a lot of people problems, even in the college ranks," Young said. "They started strong, but we still had our chances. They just got their hits with runners in scoring position."

Midway's big inning came in the third. Miller bunted for a single and eventually scored on an infield hit from Amy Feind. Kelley Schaffer drove in the Panthers' second run of the inning with a single to left field.

"The kids did a good job of putting the ball in play," Midway coach Michelle Edwards said. "We executed well with runners on."

Midway, which had nine hits, added its final run in the seventh.

Katie Neal, who pitched for Midway Friday, started the game. She allowed base runners in the second, third, fourth and fifth innings, but got out of trouble each time.

Burleson had its best chance in the fifth, with runners on second and third with two out and power hitter Samantha Montes batting. But Neal got Montes to fly out.

Callee Guffey pitched the final two innings for Midway. "We played really good defense behind our pitchers," Edwards said. "I thought they would do a little better against Neal today since they saw her [Friday]. But she had a lot of confidence and threw well."

Burleson has only two seniors on the team and will lose just one starter.

"I told the players I want them to remember this feeling after this game next year," Young said.

Brent Shirley, 817-390-7760

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