Northwest has had its share of multi-year softball standouts in the last few seasons. Senior A.J. Deal is one of those veterans who have helped take the program to a level most only dream about.

The Lady Texan proved that experience pays off in big games and her team reaped all the benefits Tuesday night against Richland. Deal, who moved from catcher to third base this year, made two spectacular defensive plays and accounted for half of all of her team's hits to lead Northwest to a 2-0- home victory.

Northwest pitcher Erinn Jayjohn silenced the Rebels at the plate. The standout hurler who finished with 10 strikeouts held Richland to just three hits on the night.

Jayjohn's performance allowed her team to win on a night it could not string many hits together. After five scoreless innings the Lady Texans finally made some noise.

Bailee Mauldin ripped a lead-off single in the bottom of the sixth inning to set up the only run Northwest needed. Jayjohn smacked a double to centerfield which scored Mauldin and gave the locals a 1-0 lead.

The Lady Texans got an insurance run when Deal blasted a two-out single up the middle of the field to score Jayjohn and make it a 2-0 ball game.

Jayjohn took care of the rest as she retired the Rebels in order in the seventh to get the win.

The victory was set up by several defensive plays that would have filled an ESPN highlight film. Deal had two of them at first where she snagged a line drive for one out and made another solid play on a grounder to get the runner out at first.

Melissa Hiatt made some noise in right field where she made two spectacular diving catches to rob Richland of potential runs. Four-year letterman Christin Robertson also got into the defensive action to end the fourth inning. The senior from Rhome caught a deep blast to centerfield while sprinting full speed, bringing the crowd to its feet.

The win kept NHS perfect in District 5-5A play at 5-0 while moving to 11-5 overall. Richland slipped to 4-1 and 10-5.