Pump Jacks lose close first game, 1-0
Play again in McKinney tonight; open here Thursday
From special reports

It's said that in the playoffs, baseball games are won by pitching and defense. The team that executes both the best often finds a place in history.

Apparently the same can hold true at the beginning of the season too.

Playing in the organization's first game ever, the East Texas Pump Jacks made a strong showing on the road but ultimately fell to the McKinney Marshals, 1-0. The game was dominated by pitching - the two squads combined for just seven hits, three by East Texas - and the evening's lone run was scored on an errant throw.

The Pump Jacks sent to the hill Louisiana Tech product Clint Helms, who last year authored the Texas Collegiate League's first nohitter. Helms battled through six innings, allowing just three hits and walking three while striking out one. He gave way to Panola's Kory Cleveland, who tossed two scoreless innings while striking out a pair.

In the first inning, Helms walked the first two McKinney hitters before coaxing a fly ball to right. When the Marshals attempted a double steal, the throw to third got away from catcher Andrew Nettune, which allowed Myrio Richard to come home with what became the winning run.

Helms recovered with a strikeout, then gave up a single to right. Right fielder Adam de la Garza charged and delivered a strike to Nettune at the plate, who tagged McKinney baserunner Brian Taylor to end the threat.

The Pump Jacks registered the first hit in team history when Daniel Nottebart, filling in at first for the ailing Matt Curry, led off the third inning with a single to center. The Sam Houston State product advanced to second on Austin Roff 's sacrifice, then moved to third on Keenan Duke's groundout. But the tying run was stranded at third when McKinney starting pitcher Michael Bolsinger struck out de la Garza to end the inning.

Howard College's de la Garza picked up the Jacks' first-ever extra base hit when he dropped in a one-out double in the ninth inning. J.D. Dunn's grounder to second moved de la Garza to third with two outs. But facing a fresh closer in Trent Appleby, Josh Riley was sent down swinging to close the books on the opener.

Third baseman Paige Hodges also singled in the fifth.

The Pump Jacks return to McKinney tonight to close out the two-game set, with Justin Fowler slated to start for the Jacks. Fowler, a Texarkana College freshman, was drafted last week by the Atlanta Braves.

The two teams will switch venues on Thursday when the Pump Jacks come home to Driller Park for the team's historic home opener. Game time for the event is 7:05 pm, with the gates scheduled to open at 6:00. East Texas will take on the Marshals again on Friday night in the first Fireworks Friday of the Pump Jacks' season. The game will be followed by a spectacular fireworks show, set to a unique soundtrack.

Tickets for Thursday's opener and Fireworks Friday, plus the remainder of the Jacks' inaugural season schedule, are on sale now. Fans may purchase tickets at the Pump Jacks office at 1100 Stone Road, Suite 120, in Kilgore, or over the phone at (903) 218-GO ET. Tickets may also be purchased online - and printed at home on any home printer - by visiting pumpjacksbaseball.com.

Single-game tickets start at $5 each - or $4 for children and seniors - for grandstand general admission tickets. Upper box seats are $8 each, and Lower box seats, which feature in-your-seat wait service, are only $10 per ticket.