By Bobby Allen

SDN Sports Editor

PLAINVIEW -- With an area trophy on the line and revenge on their minds, the Lady Tigers made sure this one didn’t slip away.

Ashley Martinez pitched a three-hit shutout, and Snyder (21-9) took advantage of what few opportunities it had to top Perryton, 2-0, and claim the area title and bounce the team that ended the Lady Tigers’ 2003 season.

“They were the same team, we just came out ready to win,” said Martinez, who fanned 12 Rangerettes, including six of the last nine she faced. “We shut them down. This gives you goose bumps.”

Perryton hurler Belva Peterson matched Martinez (15-4), putting runs at a premium. She struck out 12 and allowed four hits.

It wasn’t easy at the plate for the Lady Tigers. Along with the strike outs, the team stranded six runners over the last three innings.

“We didn’t hit as well as we would like,” first-year head coach Darren Pool said. “Their pitcher was on. She threw decent and kept us occupied.”

Snyder struck first, taking a 1-0 lead in the second inning on a sacrifice fly from Amber Luecke that scored Kelsi Johnson who reached on a single.

Snyder added an insurance run in the fifth, when Shaela Thompson reached on a two-base error and scored after a pair of wild pitches from Peterson.

The two runs were all Martinez needed. She struck out five through the first three innings, and fanned two Rangerettes each in the fifth, sixth and seventh innings.

The defense helped Martinez with Rachel Clanton stretching for a throw from shortstop Terann Ragland to record the final out of the sixth.

“The girls decided early that they want to play together,” Pool said. “Ashley helped control things and the defense made good plays behind her.”

Kelsi Johnson said the team was insistent on not letting the lethargy that doomed it last season resurface.

“We were up from the start and we stayed up,” she said. “This feels so good.”

Pool said the team ate lunch together before the game, and that camaraderie is translating onto the diamond.

“This team is coming together -- we’re building a family here,” he said, noting that the win was especially important for the seniors on the team. “The seniors had a bittersweet taste from last year, and they were ready. They wanted this and they fought and battled for it.”

Snyder will face Borger in the regional quarterfinals, with the site and time to be determined Monday.

Borger advanced after stopping Merkel, 12-2, Friday.