Well folks, I am kicking things off by starting this at my desk in the office before heading down Austin way. It's almost 4 a.m. and I'll be going straight to McCombs Field for the 3A semifinal game between Celina and Longview Spring Hill. The winner plays Needville in the title game on Saturday afternoon.

Some tidbits on Spring Hill. This is the Lady Panthers first trip to state (Celina made it in 2006 as a 2A school, losing in the semis to Weimar, covered by yours truly.) Leading hitter is the pitcher, Kayla Williams, at .534. Shortstop Ashley Campbell is next at .398. The two teams have a common opponent -- Rusk. Spring Hill lost in the first meeting, 3-0, but won the second in yje playoffs, 4-2. while Celina won, 2-1. Also, Spring Hill defeated Paris North Lamar, the champion in 10-3A, 2-1. In the playoffs, Celina defeated Bonham, the second-place team in 10-3A, 4-0, and in non-district play Anna, the third-place team in 10-3A, 10-0. Celina also has a 9-0 victory over Cedar Park Vista Ridge, one of the 5A state semifinalists.

Spring Hill is the visitor. Celina is the home team.

Starting lineup for Spring Hill: 1. Shannon Sanders, 2B; 2. Ashley Campbell, SS; 3. Kayla Williams, P; 4. Allison Brown, C; 5. Lizzie Autrey, 1B; 6. Sha' McDowell 3B; 7. Avery Curtis, CF; 8. Jessica Fudge, RF; 9. Laura Bernaldez, LF.

Starting lineup for Celina: 1. Brittanie Knowles, 3B; 2. Lindsie Knowles, LF; 3. Kylie Roos, P; 4. Joey Cronin, SS; 5. Jasmine San Miguel, C; 6. Shelby Carter, 2B; 7. Claudia Cantu, CF; 8. Kaitlyn Drummond, DP (Hannah Myers, RF); 9. Shelby Black, 1B.

1st inning -- Somewhat fast and furious action to start. Both teams put a runner on in the early going. Shannon Sanders led off the game with a walk for Spring Hill, was sacrificed to second and then stole third with an out but was stranded. Kylie Roos had a two-out single for Celina in the bottom of the frame. 0-0.

2nd inning -- Avery Curtis worked a two-out walked on the ninth pitch of her at-bat and was then thrown out trying to steal second. A diving catch by Laura Bernaldez near the left-field line against Claudia Cantu set Celina down in order. 0-0.

A very good showing from the fans on both sides. Celina is decked out in their usual orange garb on the third-base side while Spring Hill supporters are donning dark blue for the lady Panthers. For those S&S fans, I will report that Brock just made its way into the stands to catch the action on their day off -- the Lady Eagles play in the 2A title game on Saturday at 2 p.m. Celina beat Brock twice in play-off warm-ups.

3rd inning -- Shannon Sanders walked on four pitches with two outs but no further damage. But Celina put together a two-out rally to jump in front. Brittanie Knowles singled up the middle and sister Lindsie followed with a triple to the right-center gap on the first pitch. Kylie Roos then smacked a single to right to score the younger Knowles. 2-0 Celina.

4th inning -- Kayla Williams led off the inning with a triple almost exactly to the same spot Knowles did. But Kylie Roos worked out of the jam -- retiring the next three (the first two on a foulout and then a three-pitch strikeout. Celina takes advantage of errors to tack on another run. Shelby Carter reached second on an overthrow at first with one out and then Claudia Cantu bunted to Williams, who bobbled it and Cantu not only beat the throw but took second on the try to tag Carter at third. Kaitlyn Drummond grounded to second to score Carter. 3-0 Celina.

Through four innings Roos has four strikeouts and if she plans on setting another state tournament record, it will take a lot of extra innings. The 3A state record is 27, held by Melissa Collins of Splendora in a 12-inning victory over Decatur in 2002. Roos holds the 2A state tourney record of 16 as a sophomore for Aubrey in a win over Prairiland in 2007.

5th inning -- Spring Hill goes in order for the first time. Celina just six outs from advancing and the Lady Bobcats pad their lead with another run. Brittanie Knowles was hit by a pitch to start the inning, moved to second on a sacrifice by her sister and took third on a wild pitch. Kylie Roos hit a sac fly to right. 4-0 Celina.

6th inning -- Things got extremely out of hand very quickly as Kylie Roos lost command of the strike zone. Shannon Sanders led off the inning with an infield single but was erased on a fielder's choice. Eight of Roos' ensuing nine pitches were balls to load the bases, although that could have turned out to be a good thing since the batter, Lizzie Autrey, had already struck out twice -- both times on three pitches. This time, however, the first baseman grounded to short and Celina traded a run for an out. The next hitter flied out to left to end the rally at the lone run. Celina was unable to turn a one-out triple by Shelby Carter into a run but is just three outs from advancing. 4-1 Celina.

7th inning -- No threat by Spring Hill, which goes down in order and Celina wins, 4-1. Kylie Roos final line: 1 run on two hits, six strikeouts and four walks. The Lady Bobcats will play Needville (33-8) on Saturday at 2 p.m. and one program will come away with its first state championship.