Memorial High School - Reata Yearbook (Houston, TX)

Page 155 text:

Determina- tion begins to drizz e The junior Varsity Baseball Team season started off with high hopes and much enthusiasm. After last year's 5-11 record, the team was determined to improve. Coach lim Wells led in pre-season drills and practices, preparing for the doubleheader opener at Stratford. Saturday morning came and so did the weather. Drizzle and 58 temperatures hindered both games. The pitcher never got warmed up, Memorial was shelled 16-7 and 8-2. The l.V. went home, recovered and prepared for their next game at Conroe, which had the same clear, cool weather and ended ina loss. The record fell to 0-3. Wells remained optimistic and kept the practicing hard. The next game was a home doubleheader with Spring Woods. The Mustangs tried but the Tigers prevailed twice and Memorial fell to 0-5. Memorial went to jersey Village still looking for their first victory of the season, but the Falcons wouldn't have it and the Ponies lost its sixth straight game. Morale was falling and a win was needed desperately to boost the sagging l.V. spirit. Wells had tried many combinations and every pitcher but one. Spring Branch was the site of the next Saturday's doubleheader, their record was 1- 5 and Wells was hoping for a win. Trailing 4-1 in the first game, pitcher jeff Harris was called in. He held the Bears scoreless and the Mustangs rallied for a 6-4 win in their first victory of the season. Game two saw the Mustangs ahead 10-4 in the bottom of the seventh when Spring Branch rallied for an 11-10 victory. Once again morale fell as Memorial was 1-7 at the halfway point of the season. Northbrook was the next opponent. The Raiders were in first place in the district and they showed it by shellacking the Ponies, ending the game early by the 12 run rule. At 1-8 the Mustangs played lifeless and without enthusiasm in the defeat. Watching the spirit drop to almost zero, Coach Wells needed help, he called up Varsity Coach Ronnie Redman after facing a 30 minute staff talk. The l.V. prepared for their next game with Cy-Fair. - Through rain outs and rescheduling, it was the Mustangs second home game. Game day arrived and after a fight, the j.V. lost. IUNIOR VARSITY BASEBALL -151

Page 154 text:

E z :is I2 gd 2, A52 ei X Q K Q 1 . 1 'g L 2 3 seiwemaw 150 IUNIOR VARSITY BASEBALL

Page 156 text:

The second game came and the Ponies knocked off Cy-Fair for a split. Now 8-2, the Mustangs regained life, realizing a respectable record could be achieved by winning the last 6games. Westchester came to Memorial and left with a loss as the Mustangs won for the second time in a row. Memorial then went to jersey Village again with a more enthusiastic attitude. The Mustangs trailed the entire game until the top of the seventh when they passed the Falcons and held on for another victory. The following Tuesday brought the Conroe Tigers to Echo Lane. Tied for first place, Conroe could take sole possession of first with a win. The game was a see-saw match with both teams trading the lead. Going into the top of the seventh, Memorial held a 6-3 lead. Conroe rallied for a 6-6 tie going into the bottom of the seventh. Then with two outs called and two on base, Mike Morris cracked a three-run homer for a 9-6 Mustang victory. It was now 4 in a row for Memorial and a 5-8 record for the year. The Mustangs next to last game of the year was at Westchester. In what Coach Wells called the best game of the year, the Mustangs lost T-O in 8 innings. The last game was at Northbrook where the Raiders jumped out to an early lead. The Mustangs fought hard late in the game before falling 6-2. The season record was 5- T1, the same as the year before, but it took a gOOd Qffort to Cl i m b from 1 -7 to 5-11. Morris gets a big hug after a homerun Freshman Duncan Lee keeps a close eye on the game Second effort brings espectability T52 - IUNIOR VARSITY BASEBALL