Jacks win 2-1 defensive battle with Coppell

LOOKS BAD, BUT HE'S IN THERE — East Texas' Greg Fontenot (right) makes a break for second base, and looks to be out, but the Coppell second baseman couldn't hang on for the pick-off. Fontenot successfully stole second and would score on an RBI double by teammate Brett Nicholas, and the Pump Jacks went on to edge Coppell, 2-1, at Driller Park on Wednesday night. The Pump Jacks lead the Texas Collegiate League standings, but will be tested in the upcoming week, with their next eight games on the road. Playing at home continued to be a good thing for the East Texas Pump Jacks on Wednesday night, as they picked up another win over Coppell.

The Pump Jacks are now 12-6 on the season overall, lead the Texas Collegiate League standings, and at press time on Thursday (for this Fourth of July edition), they had one more game with Coppell here at Driller Park on Thursday night, then go on an eight-game road trip. They actually tour the entire league, going to Brazos Valley this weekend for a twogame stand on Friday and Saturday, and to Victoria on Sunday and Monday. They'll take Tuesday off, then go to Coppell next Wednesday and Thursday, and to McKinney on Sunday, July 12 and Monday, July 13.

Following this long road trip, their next eight games will be at home.

Wednesday night against the Copperheads, runs were hard to come by, thanks to good pitching.

Panola College sophomore Cam Sokalski held off the Copperheads very well for six innings, giving up an earned run early — but that would be the only run the Pump Jacks would surrender the entire contest. He gave up just five hits, walked three and struck out two, getting the victory. He's 1-0 on the season.

Also pitching well were Rice sophomore Abel Gonzales and Centenary College sophomore Stephen Tromblee, who came on late and got the save. Gonzales pitched two innings, allowing just one hit, two walks and striking out two in facing eight batters. Tromblee picked up his fourth save of the season, going just the one inning late. He gave up no hits, walked one and struck out two in facing three batters.

Coppell did lead early. The Copperheads scored the aforementioned run in the top of the second on the legs of Heath Johnson — Johnson scored on a double by left fielder Andrew Rehling. East Texas would strike back and tie the game in the bottom of the third. Greg Fontenot, the Duson, La., standout and sophomore at Louisiana-Lafayette, would single, then score and tie the game on an RBI double by Scottsdale (Ariz.) Community College sophomore Brett Nicholas.

Nicholas would score what would turn out to be the winning run on an infield single by Elk Grove, Calif., native and University of Pacific junior Jamie Niley.

The loss marred an otherwise very good night for Coppell pitcher Mason Thompson, who went seven innings, striking out five and allowing a walk. He took the loss. Chase Adams, a Mineola native, came on in the eighth for Coppell and finished.

East Texas managed nine hits: two each by Nicholas, Fontenot and Panola's Matt Juengel, Niley's single, and a single each by left fielder Ben Woodchick, a freshman at the University of New Mexico, and by center fielder and University of Missouri sophomore Russell LaFleur.

Coppell had six hits, two by Rehling.

Tickets are on sale for the remainder of the Pump Jacks' season, and anyone can find out more by calling (903) 218- GOET, or by checking out the franchise's elaborate website, pumpjacksbaseball.com.