Lady Tigers playing for pride
By MIKE KONVICKA mkonvicka@journal-spectator.com

Wharton's girls softball has only pride left to play for as the Lady Tigers were eliminated from the District 24- 2A playoff race last Friday.

Fourth place Wharton dropped a 1-0 decision to Stafford last Friday to slip to 4-6 in the district standings.

On Tuesday the Lady Tigers dropped a 4-0 decision to Sealy to fall to 4-7.

Wharton hosted Columbus, which was 8-3 last night.

It was thethird straight game for Wharton to get shut out.

The Lady Tigers last win, a 16-0 win over Royal, came on March 29.

Wharton then lost to Columbia, Stafford and Sweeny.

"We're just going to try and finish the season strong and play good softball," said Wharton coach Shauna Eller.

"We're just going to have fun with it right now."

The Lady Cardinals upset Columbia 3-0 in a make up game from last Friday on Wednesday.

Needville beat the Lady Necks on Tuesday to move to 9-2 and battled 2-9 Stafford last night.

Sweeny was 9-2 before playing winless Royal last night.

In the loss to Stafford, the Lady Spartans scored their lone run in the bottom of the first.

Wharton threatened through out the game.

Paige Mata singled in the fourth but was stranded.

Christie Viktorin had an infield hit in the fifth and stole second and third.

Megan Drenner reached on a fielder's choice ground ball in the seventh and stole second and third.

In the loss to Sealy, Viktorin had Wharton's lone hit, a bunt single, in the third.

Sweeny broke a scoreless tie and scored its first run in the third. The Lady Bulldogs then picked up runs in the fourth, sixth and seventh innings.

Wharton hitters have struggled at the plate as the Lady Tigers have been shutout three straight games.

"That's been one of our problems, striking out too many times," said Eller.

"We haven't been able to hit the ball."

Wharton plays at Needville this coming Tuesday and visits Sealy in the district finale next Friday.

Columbus hosts Sweeny on Tuesday. Sealy entertains Stafford and Columbia plays Royal in Brookshire.

Also next Friday, Columbia hosts Sweeny. Needville entertains Columbus and Stafford plays Royal in Brookshire.

24-3A Standings

Teams
Needville	(20-3)	9	2	.818
Sweeny (19-5)		9	2	.818
Columbia (20-9)		8	3	.727
Columbus (15-9)		8	3	.727
Wharton	(8-10)	4	7	.363
Sealy	(14-13)	4	7	.363
Stafford	(5-109)	2	9	.181
Royal #	(3-11)	0	11	.000

# Forfeited game to Columbus
Tuesday's Results
Sweeny 4, Wharton 0
Needville 3, Columbia 0
Columbus 6, Stafford 0
Sealy 17, Royal 0
Wednesday's Results
Columbus 3, Columbia 0
Friday's Games
Columbus at Wharton, late
Royal at Sweeny, late
Sealy at Columbia, late
Needville at Stafford, late.
April 15 Games
Wharton at Needville, 7 p.m.
Columbia at Royal, 7 p.m.
Sweeny at Columbus, 7 p.m.
Stafford at Sealy, 7 p.m..