LB returning to State Tournament

The Hallettsville Lady Brahmas will be headed back to Austin after sweeping Columbus 6-1 and 7-2 in home-and-home series in the Region IV-3A finals.

The Lady Brahmas (40-2) met Grandview (31-3) today (Wednesday.) Defending state champion Coahoma (30-0) and Whitesboro (32-1) played in the other semifinal.

All three LB pitchers turned in yeoman service. 

"We needed all three pitchers in this series," LB head coach Callie Kresta said. "Madison (Mikes) and Grace (Halata) had to work through some light zones. Kaylie (Olivarez) was in shotdown mode in both games and the pitch calling of MAcie (Jansky) is just one aspect to our success." 

Hallettsville had 18 hits in the series with just three for extra bases.

"We had girls get on constantly and it was a great way to spark the hitters behind them and get runs scored," Kresta said. "Anytime we get speed on the bases like Hanna (Zachary) and Ella (Amsden) we like our chances to score."

Hallettsville beat Columbus pretty handily in district, but was a formidable foe this time around.

"They (Columbus) tested us, that's for sure," Kresta said. "Their shortstops played great defense and fielded some hard hit balls."

Zachary was five for eight in the series and Amsden four-for-eight.

GAME ONE - LB 5, COLUMBUS 1

MAdison Mikes and Kaylie Olivarez combined for a three-hitter in the 6-1 victory here Wednesday, May 22.

Mikes started and went three innings, ceding the lone Columbus run, two hits, walked one and struck out one.

Olivarez (15-1) was the winning pitcher in relief. The senior right hander worked five innings and ceded one hit, no works with three strikeouts. She retired 12 of the 13 batters she faced.

Colubmus scored its lone run in the second inning on a walk, hit and a RBI single by Aggie Rodriguez.

The LB tied the score in the bottom of the second inning. Zachary came through with a big two-out single to score Mikes, who had walked.

Hallettsville took the lead for good in the third inning with four runs to take a 5-1 advantage. 

Olivarez drew a walk to start the frame and moved to second when Ella Amsden beat out a bunt. After Carson Jansky and Grace Halata popped out consecutive walks to MAcey Putska and Mikes forced in a run. On a key play in the game, Zachary's hard hit ground ball went through the wicket of the second baseman for a three-base error to score three runs.

The final two runs of the game were scored in the sixth inning.

With two outs, Carson Jansky and Grace Halata singled. Both came across to score on a Putska double.

LB 7, COLUMBUS 2

Pitching once again was a huge factor in the Lady Brahmas' 7-2 victory in Columbus Saturday.

Grace Halata (13-1) was the starter and winner. She tossed four innings and ceded two runs, three hits, and walked three.

Karlie Olivarez worked the final three innings, and surrendered no runs, hour hits, and a walk and kayoed three.

Halata got off to a rocky start, giving both Columbus runs in the initial inning. With one out, Kaylea Fuster walked on four straight pitches and wwent to second on Ellie Brown's sacrifice bunt. Another base on balls set up Mia Post's two-run double to left center.

Halata gace up only one hit in the next three innings.

A clutch two-out hit by Macey Putska enabled Hallettsville to tie the score at 2-all in the top of the second innings. Olivarez drew a walk at the onset and Ella Amsden singled. With two outs, Putska laced a double to right center to score both runs.

Hallettsville took the lead for good in the third on a run-scoring single by Macie Jansky. 

Single runs were added in the third and fourth innings.

Zachary hit a lead off single in the third and came around when Macie Jansky grounded a single up the middle.

Halata led off the fourth inning with a base hit, went to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Zachary.

Carson Jansky knocked in the fifth inning run with a fielder's choice to up the count to 4-1.

The LB started distancing themselves with two runs in the fifth frame on two hits.

After Macie Jansky grounded out, Olivare doubled and went to third on a bunt single by Amsden. Carson Jansky grounded out to get Olivarez home and ditto for Halata to plate Amsden.

Macie Jansky led off the seventh inning and hit the first pitch she saw for her 16th home run of the season.

Zachary was three-for-four, scored once and drove in a run while Amsden went three-for-four and scored three times.