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April 15, 2003 - Clements Lady Rangers played the Elkins Lady Knights at Elkins High School at 7:00 pm.
The game was the battle of the top two 5A teams in the Greater Houston Area for the top ranking.
The District Championship was also at stake. Elkins had won the first District game. Clements
had beaten Elkins 2-1 in the Fort Bend High School Softball Tournament Championship game. You might
figure Elkins had the advantage in this game because it was their home field.
Elkins entered the game with a 27-2 over-all record and a 12-0 District record. Their starting pitchers
had a 21-0 record.
Clements entered the game with a 24-3 over-all record and a 11-1 District record. Their starting
pitchers were 12-1.
Clements scored early. In the second inning, catcher Kellianne Schrock reached first base on a
fielding error by the Elkins short stop. The next batter was freshman pitcher Jessie Patrick.
Jessie worked Elkins pitcher Regan Blake to a full count, fouled off two pitches and then hit a
line drive shot over the center field wall for a two run home run.
Clements added two insurance runs in the 3rd inning. Short stop Holly Ridley opened the inning with
a single. Lauren Hudson then walked. The next batter struck-out. Kellianne Schrock worked the
count to full and then hit a slower roller to the 3rd baseman who threw to first to get the second
out. Holly advanced to 3rd base and Lauren to 2nd base on the play. Up steps Jessie Patrick.
Jessie hit a hit and deep fly ball to the left fielder who got the glove on the ball but dropped it.
Holly and Lauren both scored bringing the score to 4-0. After the dust cleared
at home, Jessie was standing on 2nd base. Jessie stole third base when Sarah Pledger was batting. Sarah flied out to the center fielder for Out No. 3.
Clements added 3 more runs in the 7th inning. Freshman Macie Marrow singled up the middle. Holly
Ridley hit a grounder to the 1st baseman for the first out. Then Lauren Hudson hit a ground ball in
the hole between short stop and third base. Short stop Jamie Hinshaw fielded the ball but Lauren beat the
long throw to first base. Macie advanced to third base on the throw to 1st. Melissa Johnson hit a grounder to
Elkins second baseman Courtney Cornett who threw to 3rd to hold Macie there. The play allowed Melissa
to be safe on first on a "fielder's choice." This loaded the bases. Kellianne Schrock then hit a
grounder to the short stop Jamie Hinshaw who threw home to get the force out. However Macie beat
the throw. Bases were still loaded. Jessie Patrick unintentioned chopped the ball into the ground.
Before the 3rd baseman could find a handle on the ball, Lauren Hudson had scored. At this point the score
was 6-0 in favor of Clements. Bases were still loaded. Sarah Pledger hit a grounder to the second
baseman who threw home for the force out at the plate. Sarah was safe at first on the "fielder
choice." The bases were still loaded with 2 Out. Ashely Sirman then singled to center field scoring
Kellianne. Jessie Patrick was tagged out at the plate for Out No. 3.
With Clements having a 7-0 lead, you might think Elkins was ready to fold and go home. Not the case.
Regan Blake reached first base on an error by the Clements short stop. Tiffany Williams hit a line
drive to the left fielder for Out No. 1. Then Jessie Rodriguez hit a homer over the left field
fence to bring the score to 7-2. Cortney Cornett walked. Coach Dave McCorkle made a pitching
change. He brought in Melissa Johnson for the tired Jessie Patrick. Melissa hit Jamie Hinshaw
with a pitch which put runners at 1st and 2nd base. Kelli Kenne then blasted a line drive to
the center fielder for Out No. 2. Erin Howe blasted the ball to the right fielder to end the game.
Jessie Patrick pitched almost the whole game for Clements. Melissa Johnson relieved Jessie in the
7th inning, pitching to the last three batters. Jessie had 6 strike-outs, and gave-up 1 walk
and 5 hits to a very hitting Elkins team. Jesse impressed me. She mixed her rise ball, peel drop,
change-up and other pitches like a pro. Her rise is the best I have seen since the Class of 2000
graduated. She throws it low where its difficult for a batter to not swing at it. She hits her spots
like a veteran. College Sports Exposure radar Jessie's pitches in the 3rd and 4th innings. Jessie was
throwing between 57 and 60 mph. Jessie was radar in Colorado this past summer throwing at 63 mph.
Melissa Johnson had no strike-outs, allowed no hits and hit one batter with a pitch. College Sports
Exposure radar Melissa throwing her fast ball between 58 and 61 mph in the 7th inning. Melissa plans
to attend Trinity University in Fall, 2003.
Junior Regan Blake pitched 3 innings and freshman Erin Tresselt pitched the remaining 4 innings for
the Elkins Knights. Regan added 4 more strike-out to give her 217 strike-outs for the whole season.
She is No. 2 in strike-outs in 5A Greater Houston Area. Regan walked three batters and gave-up 2 hits.
Regan primarily throws a rise ball with good spin and a very good off-speed pitch. Unfortunately, Regan's
rise ball was out of the strike zone a lot in this game and Clements was patient and waited for a
good pitch. As a consequence, Regan threw a lot of pitches. College Sports Exposure radar Regan
Blake's riseball between 55 and 59 mph in the 3rd inning.
Erin Tresselt primarily relied on a very good drop ball, change-up and drop-curve. She had 4 strike-outs,
and gave-up one walk
and 5 hits. College Sports Exposure radar Erin's drop ball between 53 and 57 mph.
Clements had 7 hits in the game. Jessie Patrick's home run blast in the 2nd inning was a big momentum
swinger for Clements. Jessie also had a single in the 7th inning. Holly Ridley, Lauren Hudson,
Macie Marrow, Ashley Sirman and Kellianne Schrock had singles.
Jessie Patrick's home run is the 3rd home run for the Clement's team this spring. Cheri Wood (HBU Signee)
and Holly Ridley hit homeruns earlier in the season. Cheri Woods homerun came against LaPorte. That was
LaPorte's only loss this season.
Elkins had 5 hits. Jessie Rodriguez home run over the left field fence in the 7th inning almost fueled
a come back for Elkins. Tiffany Williams had a double to left field in the 2nd inning. When College
Sports Exposure filmed Tiffany in September she hit one over the fence. She has awesome power in her
swing. Erin Howe had a double up the middle in the 6th inning. Erin also has awesome power in her
swing. Kelli Kenne and Jamie Hinshaw added singles. Jamie is not only a good hitter batting from the
left side but puts pressure on the opponent with her speed. Jamie leads 5A Greater Houston Area with
her 0.528 batting average.
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