Wells throws no-hitter, Coahoma wins Game 1

The Bulldogettes (33-3), who finished as the 2022 state runner-up, took a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series, which continues at 1 p.m. Saturday at Joe Spikes Field in Lamesa. The winner will advance to the UIL Class 3A Softball State Tournament, Wednesday in Austin.

The game was delayed in the bottom of the first with Coahoma already leading 2-0.

After they returned to the field, the Bulldogettes played a volleyball game on their turf, staying loose and giggling before they got started in their softball warmups.

“I told them I was proud of them for overcoming that (rain delay) and staying loose,” Coahoma head coach Alexander Orosco said. “As an adult, as a coach, you always wonder how they are going to take a delay like that and they took it as if it was nothing. Kudos to them. They’re doing a great job of staying the course and settling in and they’re making it look easy. As an adult, you wait and see how they’re going to do and they’re doing great. We’re proud of them.”

Added Wells: “Staying loose and just having fun is what makes the game fun. Staying loose and just having fun is how we’re successful.”

Lamesa (21-5) had a chance to take the momentum early against Wells, as it had runners on second and third in first following a Coahoma throwing error.

Wells struck out the next batter to escape trouble.

She struck out six batters and walked two. Wells retired the last eight batters she faced.

 “I just thank my catcher (Mia Clemmer) for everything she does for me and my defense behind me,” said Wells, who says she throws a five-pitch mix with a fastball, curveball, rise, changeup and drop.

Added Orosco: “I guess we shouldn’t be surprised but that kid works her butt off. That kid works her butt off so I’m proud of her. Everything she gains and she gets, she deserves and that girl works hard.”

Wells also helped her cause by going 3-for-3 with an RBI double, a run scored and a walk.

Clemmer doubled home Wells in the second to push Coahoma to a 3-0 lead.

The Bulldogettes turned it into a 4-0 advantage when courtesy runner Andrea Arredondo scored on a wild pitch.

Karleigh Burt extended the lead to 5-0 in the third when she doubled home Kaedyn Lee.

Coahoma put the game out of reach with a four-run fourth.

Brynn Rodgers singled home Bree Lewis; Shae Lang had a two-run double, and Burt had another RBI double during the frame.

The game ended via run rule when Lang hit a pop up that was dropped by a Lamesa fielder with the bases loaded, scoring Lewis.