Lady Eagles hope to advance against Eastwood today

By TED DUNNAM

Assistant Sports Editor

Abilene High looks to extend its playoff life today when the Lady Eagles take on El Paso Eastwood in a regional quarterfinal softball game at 4:30 p.m. at Midland's Bill Williams Complex.

The 25-3 Lady Eagles will start 19-3 Kelly Armbruster against the 22-8 Lady Troopers.

"I've seen them play, and they're pretty quick and play pretty sound defense," Abilene High head coach Jody Anderson. "They've got a lot of speed in the outfield and they're smart batters.

"They might be a better all-around club than El Paso Andress."

Abilene High defeated Andress in its most recent playoff game, 4-1. Armbruster struck out 13 batters in that game and pitched her fourth career one-hitter.

Monica Guerrero singled in two runs against Andress while Brandy Rice and Randi Williams had the other RBIs for Abilene High.

The Troopers advanced to today's meeting with a 9-8 win over Lubbock Coronado.

Eastwood is led by junior shortstop Katie Gutierrez, who finished the year with the second highest batting average (.657) in El Paso. She has driven in 52 runs, has nine triples and five home runs.

Sophomore third baseman Janet Serna is second on the team in batting with a .500 average and has driven in 34 runs.

Sisters Gina and Reina Gonzalez have split the pitching duties this year for the Troopers, combining for a 20-8 record and 94 strikeouts.

"Some of our big hitters didn't hit in our last game," Anderson said. "We had a few things I wasn't pleased with against Andress, but I think we've got them corrected.

"I think we're peaking again - going up the scale. We're playing really sound ball and Kelly is throwing the best she has all year. Defense is one of the strongest aspects of our game and it's been as solid lately as it has all year."