Softball searches for success in struggles
Wimberley’s Texan softball (1-2 district) closed out the first half of their district season last week. The first half has been difficult as the ladies won the opening district contest versus Canyon Lake in dramatic fashion then falling in the subsequent games to both Bandera and Fredericksburg. They would get an opportunity to draw their record even against Davenport in Garden Ridge last Tuesday.
Senior catcher Grace Owens led off and started with an 0-2 single in the top of the first. Owens would get caught stealing second base before Juniper Daniel singled on a grounder to shortstop. Daniel would get thrown out on a fielder’s choice two pitches later to close out the Texan threat.
The Wolves came out and started with a groundout before a walk and an infield single set the stage for the fourth hole batter. She took the fourth pitch over the fence in left for a three run homer. Davenport would not score again in the inning to lead 3-0 going into the second.
The Texans went three up, three down by fly outs in the top of the second then gave up another run to Davenport in the bottom half of the frame to make the score 4-0.
The Texans looked to make a dent in the Wolves lead with one out in the top of the third. Bailey Wright drew a walk to first and Owens smoked a stinger back to center field to move Wright into scoring position at second. McKenzie Moore would slap a liner into short center field that was caught and thrown back into the field, doubling off Wright at second to squelch the Texan surge.
After a first pitch homer to lead off the bottom of the third, Davenport drew two walks. One out and an error later, the Wolves extended the lead picking up two walks and two singles before Texan defenders could stop the hemorrhaging at 10-0.
Davenport grabbed two more runs in the fourth after the Texans were unable to get a player on base in the top half to lead 12-0. The Texans came into the top of the fifth needing three runs to keep the game alive. The start of the inning looked promising as Rhagen Masur led off with a single to center followed by Katie Schroeder doing the same to left field. Charlotte Woodward took the second pitch she saw to centerfield, loading the bases with no outs. After a strikeout and a fly out, Masur stole home and Schroeder stole third to give the Texans a glimmer of hope at 12-1. Those hopes were dashed when the Wolves’ right fielder squeezed the glove around a fly ball to finish the game 12-1.
The ladies hosted district leader Boerne Greyhounds (4-0 district) at Texan Field on Friday evening. The visitors treated their hosts rudely, scoring five runs before recording their first out. By the time the top of the first inning was over, Boerne led 9-0. The Texans managed to put one on base in the bottom half of the first but ere unable to push a run across.
Wimberley got the first two batters out in the top of the second with a couple of pop ups but walked the third batter then hit two more to load the bases. With the bases loaded, the next Greyhound batter drove in two with a double to center, leaving runners at second and third. The next brought the rest home on a two out, full count home run to right field to make the score 14-0.
Masur led off the third with a single and was still there three batters later at the end of the second. Both teams stayed scoreless the remainder of the game.
The Texans (1-4 district) headed to Canyon Lake High School in a rematch of their lone district win Monday, April 3, winning 15-1. They face the Bandera Bulldogs Thursday, April 6 at 7:00 PM at the Wimberley Sports Complex. Both games were adjusted to allow for Good Friday. Their following game is in Fredericksburg Tuesday, April 11.