Lady Yellow Jackets Swept Out of the Playoffs by Hermleigh

MILES, TX-- The Menard Yellow Jackets failed to force a game three in their playoff series Friday night losing to the Hermleigh Cardinals 12-2.

“Definitely we need to get things started from the beginning,” said Menard Yellow Jacket Head Coach Sidnee Lister. “That’s one of our biggest problems. That’s what I’ve told them. We had the pieces to make things happen, but there’s something in between putting the pieces together and having a messed up puzzle.”

Hermleigh’s first inning showed they were the aggressor both pitching and hitting as they scored five runs and retired Menard’s side in order.

Makia Gonzalez continued the offensive attack with a massive home run that brought in two more runs for the Cardinals. Brittany Smith also scored in the inning on a fielder’s choice to put Hermleigh up 8-0 after two innings.  

Menard was unable to get any runners on base the first two innings but found momentum in the third scoring two runs.

Kaymi Copeland and C. Garcia each had an RBI for Menard in the third inning. Copeland had the most productive night for the Yellow Jackets hitting and finished 1-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

The Yellow Jackets looked like they would come out of the third inning unscathed, but Gonzalez added another run for the Cardinals on a “little league” home run to make it 9-2.

In the fourth the Yellow Jackets finally managed to keep the Cardinals scoreless although they could not capitalize on the opportunity by scoring any runs.  

The game finally ended in the third when Gonzalez knocked another pitch out of the park for her third overall home run. Gonzalez finished the night 3-for-3 with four runs scored, six RBI’s, and also reached base after being hit by a pitch.

Garcia earned the loss for the Yellow Jackets after allowing nine runs on seven hits and an error. Morgan Wagner came in as relief and allowed the last three runs to end the game

Although Menard lost, Coach Lister stated “Our hitting and fielding got better on both ends. We lacked those areas rather bad last year. I mean I’m proud of them. Its not the outcome we wanted, but it is what it is and move on to next year.”

Menard will look to rebound next season while Hermleigh moves on after their dominant performance in the series.