Softball hammers Hawks, baseball bashes Bandera

Weather plays a role in spring sports as do holidays and school breaks. With a shortened week for Good Friday and Easter weekend, last week’s contests at the Wimberley Sports Complex were adjusted to Monday and Thursday. When a cold front moved in late Wednesday, Thursday’s games were moved over to Monday. Both variables, holiday observance and weather, played a part in circumstances.

Last Monday’s — April 3’s — games were both away.

Wimberley High School’s Texan softball (7-15 overall, 1-4 district) started the second half of their season by making the short run out on the Devil’s Backbone to Canyon Lake High School to face the Hawks — a team they had beaten in dramatic fashion in the first game of district play. That game featured an amazing come-frombehind victory by the Texans, scoring six in the bottom of the sixth inning to pull ahead. This game, however, failed to make the sixth because the ten-run rule was applied after the fifth inning.

The Texans offense started early. Grace Owens led off and took the second pitch to right field for a single and moved to second on a Juniper Daniel single to second base and moved to third on an errant throw on the play. Addison Kirbo doubled to left, scoring Owens and leaving Daniel at third. Daniel then stole home before a ground out and pop out ended the top of the first. The ladies gave up a run to the Hawks in the bottom of the first to leave the score 2-1.

Neither team scored in the second, and the Texans hit into two outs to begin the third inning. The Hawks gave up three walks to the next three batters to load the bases before Reese Adams stepped to the plate. Adams punched a line drive double to center plating Daniel and Kirbo, advancing Rhagen Masur to third. Katie Schroeder came up next and hit a single to second. With two outs, the base runners were on the move on contact, scoring both Masur and Adams to put the Texans up 6-1.

The Hawks were unable to score, despite loading the bases, which heeled all opportunities to squelch the Texan momentum. One out and three singles loaded the bases for Wimberley in the top of the fourth inning. Kirbo walked, Masur singled for two RBIs, Adams singled for a run and — after Masur scored on a passed ball — Schroeder lashed a fly to center field for a triple and two more runs. Bailey Wright drew a walk and stole second when Owens doubled for two more. She stole third, then advanced on a wild pitch before the Hawks could get the third out of the Texan half of the frame. All told, the Texans put up nine in the inning to lead 15-1.

The Hawks were unable to generate runs in the bottom of either the fourth or fifth innings leading to the ten-run application. Charlotte Woodward pitched all five for the Texans, issuing four bases on balls, one hit and one earned run against six strikeouts. The offense came loose on Canyon Lake pitching, releasing some pent up frustration. Adams and Schroeder each collected three RBIs while Owens and Daniels scored three times apiece. Hawk pitching danced around Kirbo, issuing the slugger three walks in the evening, which resulted in her being on base in each of her four plate appearances.

Monday evening also had Texan baseball on the road, looking to avenge an earlier loss against Bandera High School. The Texan offense jumped out early after Cody Overall hit into a fielder’s choice followed by singles from Trent Habbit and Lane Patek. With one away, Ty Thames stroked a fly to center field for a three-run triple for a 3-0 lead. Wyatt Martinez started as pitcher for Wimberley and coaxed two ground outs and a fly out to retire Bulldog batters in the first.

The Texans added two more runs in the second. Bryson Young singled and stole second before Chase Carson drove him in on a line drive double. On the next pitch, Cody Overall hit a liner to center to score Carson but was thrown out extending the play to third base. Leading 5-0, the Texans gave up three runs in the bottom of the second as the Bulldogs inched closer at 5-3.

Feeling the heat, Wimberley bats came to life in the top of the third. Kyler Lai drew a walk to lead off the inning and scored on a Zach Patek triple. Owen O’Neal stepped in next and singled to left to plate Patek and moved to second base after Young walked. Overall came to the box, smashing a first-pitch triple to center allowing both O’Neal and Young to score easily but was left stranded at third. Martinez and the Texan defense stiffened, keeping Bandera scoreless to retain a 9-3 lead after three innings.

The Texans extended the lead by one in the fourth while Bandera went three up, three down. The top of the fifth saw Wimberley add two scores after Overall walked and moved to third base on a Habbit single. Lane Patek brought Overall home on a sacrifice fly to left, and Habbit was able to score a couple of batters later on a wild pitch. In the Bandera half of the inning, Martinez walked the first batter but coaxed a grounder to third baseman O’Neal for the 5-43 double play. The next pitch also went to O’Neal who made a solid throw across the infield for the putout and the 12-3 lead.

The Texans did not score again in the contest. Wyatt Franchione came in to relieve Martinez in the bottom of the sixth. The Bulldogs picked up two runs in the inning but were blanked in the bottom of the seventh. Wimberley won 12-5.

The Texans (3-5 district) played both Monday, April 10 (home versus Bandera) and Tuesday, April 11 (away at Fredericksburg) to continue district play. Their next home game is Friday, April 14 at 6 p.m., hosting Fredericksburg High School. The team hosts the Canyon Lake Hawks on Tuesday, April 18 at 6 p.m.