Lady Tigers score rare series sweep over Hallsville
State-ranked Texas High hadn’t swept a regular season softball series from Hallsville in nine years.
That mission was accomplished Friday at the THS field as the Lady Tigers banged out 15 hits to support Mabry Smith’s shutout pitching en route to a 10-0 win in 5 2/3 innings.
Texas High’s win also puts the Lady Cats (12-11-1, 2-5) in jeopardy of missing the postseason for the first time in 13 years.
“We got an early lead and kept adding to it; we had good defense, good pitching and we were able to hit the ball tonight,” THS coach Robbie Hatfield said. “We try to win every inning, and the girls reminded after the game that we scored in every inning. That’s a pretty good combination for a win.”
Once again the Lady Tigers (20-3, 7-0) got off to a good start with two runs in the first inning.
Freshman Bailey Groom walked, but was forced out at second on Ashley Wyrick’s grounder. Braley Turner followed with a double over the left-field-
head, and both runners scored one out later when Courtnee Cheek missed a home run by inches off the left-field fence.
Kenzie Dickson singled to center with one out in the second, stole second and scored when Wyrick legged out an infield and continued to second on a throwing error.
It really wasn’t a negative factor, but Texas High stranded 12 runners in the game.
“Now we’ve got to go to Pine Tree and they’ve got a good pitcher; we’ve got to get on her like we did in the first meeting,” Hatfield said. “It’ll be tough down there, they’re still in the race.
“Tonight was a complete game. We started and we finished. Hallsville is a good ball club, and we don’t ever want to look bad.”
Cheeks wasn’t denied her fourth home run of the season in the fourth inning. Smith singled to center, and two pitches later Cheeks drove the ball over the center-field fence to make it a 7-0. She finished 4-for-4 with 5 RBI.
THS had scored twice in the third on an infield error and singles by Cheek and Raegan Erskine.
Wyrick and Alexis Bolden scored in the sixth, the Tigers’ second sacker coming home on Bolden’s double. Cheek singled to left, making it 9-0.
The first two batters were easy outs in the sixth, but a walk and single by Groom followed. Wyrick reached safely for the fifth time in the game and loaded the bases after being hit by reliever Breanna Puew.
Hallsville brought starting pitcher Jaydin Ainsworth back to the circle, who was greeted by Turner’s third hit of the game to end the contest via the 10-run mercy rule.
The Lady Cats had several scoring opportunities against Smith.
Their best chance came in the first with Ainsworth tripled to right-center with one out. Smith escaped with one of her six strikeouts and a fly to left.
Hallsville stranded runners at second in the third and fourth frames. Lauren Anderson doubled down the left-field line in the sixth and moved up to third on a groundout. Once again Smith pitched out of trouble with a strikeout and grounder to third.
Hallsville 000 000 – 0 6 2 Texas High 212 221 – 1015 0 Game called with 2 outs in 6th, 10-run rule. Jaydin Ainsworth, Breanna Puew (4), Ainsworth (6) and Taylor Freeman; Mabry Smith and Kylee Spriggs. WP-Smith; LP-Ainsworth. HR-THS, Courtnee Cheek (4), 4th, 1 on.