'Jacks fall at home to Brazos Valley, 9-1

Let's get a restart on that latest East Texas Pump Jacks home stand.

The 'Jacks stubbed their toes just a little on Tuesday night, suffering a 9-1 loss at home at Driller Park to Brazos Valley. East Texas (17-20) will host Brazos again tonight at 7:05 p.m. In fact, they'll be seeing the Bombers for the next three nights: they'l l visit Brazos i n Bryan o n Thursday and Friday to finish out a four-game home-andhome series.

Tuesday night, there was no stopping the Bombers, who lived up to their names. They sprinted out to a big lead, scoring seven runs in the first four innings, forcing East Texas starter Clint Helms, a freshman at Louisiana Tech in Ruston, off the mound. Helms would take the loss, and it was a costly one for the first-year Texas Collegiate League franchise. The 'Jacks were tied for second place in the TCL with Coppell entering Tuesday's games, and came out fourth - Coppell beat McKinney, and Brazos moved into third place with the win here.

Jim McGonigle got the win for the Bombers, and remains unbeaten this season.

The biggest threat for the Pump Jacks all night came in the bottom of the second, when they had the bases loaded. But McGonigle got out of it almost unscathed - Jared Wondra got a walk in the situation, and the 'Jacks got only one run.

The hitting streak for East Texas' Adam De La Garza is over. De La Garza went 0-for-3 - he had hit safely in eight straight games.

For Brazos, Kip Masuda had a pair of 2-RBI singles, and Drew Thomas, a teammate of Helms' at La Tech, also had an RBI single.

After tonight, the 'Jacks are on the road again the rest of the week - they visit Coppell for two games Saturday and Sunday, and won't be home again until next Tuesday, hosting McKinney.