Sabine edges Gilmer, ties for lead in district

From special reports

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LOOK OUT --  Sabine High School pitcher Sandy James (above) hurls a pitch to the plate. James led Sabine to a 1-0 win over Gilmer on Friday evening.

The District 13-3A standings look a little different today, thanks to a pair of games on Friday evening.

Sabine High School held on for a 1-0 victory over Gilmer, and Mineola upended previous district-leading Pittsburg. The result: a tie for the top of the standings between the Sabine Lady Cardinals and Pittsburg, with one district game remaining.

The Lady Pirates definitely have the easier road. Sabine (7-4 in 13-3A) will step out of district competition and host Troup Tuesday at 5 p.m., and then finish the regular season with a home contest against Mineola on Friday at 5 p.m.

Pittsburg only has Gladewater left (as a district opponent) and Gladewater is at the bottom of the district standings.

Mineola is 6-4, and Gilmer is 5-5. The top three teams in the five-team district will make the playoffs.

Against Gilmer Friday night, the Lady Cardinals managed six hits, and pitcher Sandy James allowed Gilmer to hit just twice. James struck out five, and allowed one walk.

Sabine scored the only run of the game in the top of the fourth inning. James doubled, and then SHS coach Lisa Sandoval put in Lacey James as a courtesy runner. She moved to third on a single by Megan Freeman, and then scored on a passed ball.

Other hits by Sabine: Freeman finished with two singles; Kayla Denmon also had two singles; and Tara Powdrill had one.

The Lady Cards are trying to continue what has been a good school year for athletics at Sabine High School. Both basketball teams made the playoffs, with the girls losing in the bi-district round and the boys falling in the area round; Sabine's boys golf team won the district tournament, and advanced to the regional tournament in Pottsboro on April 25-26; the girls finished second and also qualified for regionals; and the track team ( see the story on this page ) qualified 10 for the upcoming regional track meet in Commerce.