Lady Steers win game one in a best of three playoff series against Herford 13 to 1
The Big Spring Lady Steers Started their playoff run this Thursday night when they traveled to Hereford to take on the Hereford Whitefaces. The teams started a best of three series, starting with Thursday's game in Hereford and continuing Sat. May 1 in Big Spring. The Lady Steers came ready to play in this first playoff game as they routed Hereford 13 to 1.
The Lady steers had a solid start to the game. After a quick out, Alex Enriquez singled to left field. Jocelyn Gonzales then grounded out to the third base, but it allowed Enriquez to advance to the second base. Vanessa Viasana stepped up to the plate with two outs and a runner on second. Viasana delivered with a big-time Home Run to Left Field, scoring the game's first runs of the day. Leading 2 to 0 heading into the bottom of the first, Kalyn Whitehead was in the circle for the Steers' first playoff game. Whitehead wasted little time dis-batching the Hereford batters to quickly end the inning and preserve the 2 to 0 lead.
Brinley Watkins lead off the top of the second with a massive Home Run to left field, making this a 3 to 0 game. The Hereford pitcher did a decent job after the lead-off home run. She was able to get out of the inning without any more damage. Whitehead kept her dominance going as she once again worked through the Hereford batters, making it look easy at times. The Lady Steer went on to Strike out the side.
Vanessa Viasana had her second Home Run on the day in the top of the third inning. The Lady Steer blasted one over the left-field fence making this a 4 to 0 game. Enjoying a four-run lead, Lady Steer Kalyn Whitehead did not slow down. She continued her excellent execution of pitching, keeping the Hereford batters guessing all game long. She was able to have another three up three down inning, keeping the score at 4 to 0.
As the top of the fourth began, the lady Steers enjoyed a comfortable four-run lead. This was the only inning in the game that the Steers did not score a run. After the Steers' first scoreless inning, the score remained 4 to 0. Whitehead came out for her fourth inning in the circle. While Hereford did finally get some runners on base, she quickly stopped any ideas of scoring with great pitching and some excellent fielding backing her up.
The top of the fifth is where the Lady Steers blew this game wide open. Alex Enriquez started the big inning off with a bunt single, reaching base safely. Jocelyn Gonzales followed back-to-back singles to give the Steers runners at first and third with no outs. A pitch hit Vanessa Viasana to load the bases. Kylee Lynch then grounded out to the second base, but in doing so, Enriquez was able to cross the plate. Now leading 5 to 0 and with two runners on, Brinley Watkins stepped into the batter's box. Having already had one Home Run earlier in the game, Watkins decided the first time was so fun, why not add another. Watkins smashed her second Home Run of the game. This one was a three-run dinger to give the Steers a commanding 8 to 0 lead. After the bases-clearing knock, the Lady Steers kept the train rolling. Sarah Wood Singled on a fly ball to Center. Arielle Nuno also got herself a single to advance Wood to third base. Celi Vela singled on a ground ball to left, scoring Wood and making this a 9 to 0 lead. Kalyn Whitehead continued the hit parade with a double to left field that drove home two more runs making this an 11 to 0 game. After a single by Alex Enriquez, Jocelyn Gonzales hammers a double on a fly ball to the Center that drove two more runs. With a commanding lead of 13 to 0, the Steers brought Brinley Watkins to finish off the game. The Steer pitcher struggled at first, hitting the first three batters of the inning. Herford did score one run in the inning.
The game sitting at 13 to 1 was called because of the ten-run rule, giving the Lady Steers the game one victory. The Lady Steers were lead by Brinley Watkins at the plate. She had two Home Runs and four RBI, Vanessa Viasana also had two Home Runs, and she came in with three RBI. Kalyn Whitehead pitched great she finished with four innings pitched, only allowing two hits and giving up zero runs.
This was a big first playoff victory for the Lady Steers. They will now play games two and three if needed Saturday in Big Spring.