Sabine softball second in 15-3A
Lady Cards beat Gladewater to earn second slot; baseball team beats G'water, as well
From special reports

Photo by John Niesner GOOD JOB! - Sabine High School head softball coach Sarah Ricks-Creech (left) has a high five for senior Sandy James (right), who had just hit her sixth home run of the season moments before, and was rounding third base. Sabine beat Gladewater, 7-3, on Friday night and clinched the No. 2 playoff spot in District 15-3A.

The Sabine High School Lady Cardinals' softball program is once again playoff-bound in the UIL Class 3A postseason, having clinched the No. 2 playoff spot in District 15-3A after beating Gladewater, 7-3, on Friday night.

Sabine scored five runs in the first inning, added two more in the second inning, and never looked back, collecting nine hits along the way. One of those hits was a home run by pitcher Sandy James, her sixth of the season. James has had a good senior campaign for Sabine. In 15-3A play alone, she had a .597 batting average, six home runs, 22 stolen bases, 18 walks, and 26 RBI. As a pitcher (and she pitched almost all the Lady Cardinals' games), she had an ultra-low 1.061 ERA and an impressive 183 strikeouts. James will continue her softball career and her education at Angelo State University.

Against Gladewater, she pitched all seven innings, struck out seven and allowed one earned run.

Fellow senior Chelsea Headley went 2-for- 4, scored twice and had two stolen bases. Headley had a .337 batting average, 10 stolen bases and 6 RBI in district play this year.

Also for Sabine Friday night, Janell De- Freece went 2-for 3 with an RBI, a stolen base and scored a run. Cassie Headley and Alex Easley each went 1-for-4 - Headley scored and had a stolen base, and Easley scored, had an RBI and a stolen base.

Hayley Hayes and Cortnee Ryan each went 1-for-3.

Sabine's other softball senior, Samantha Jackson, is headed to Howard Payne University on a basketball scholarship.

• Sabine 3, Gladewater 0 (baseball): Sabine won its third 15-3A game of the season on Friday, outlasting the Bears, 3-0, and with that win, swept Gladewater this season.

Zac Howell struck out five, walked two and got the win for Sabine (10-10 this season, 3-6 in 15-3A). At the plate, Howell technically went 0-for-2, but had a sac fly RBI.

Jacob Kenna had three hits, scored twice and had an RBI for the Cardinals. Jeremy Montana went 2-for-2, and Colton Harvick went 2-for-3.

Sabine hosts White Oak in their final regular season game on Tuesday night. That's also the last game at the Class 3A level for the Cardinals, whose athletic programs will move into Class 2A beginning next school year.

Thanks to Marvin Hillhouse and to Terri James for information used in this story.