Lady Highlanders fall short in softball rematch
Even though they haven’t attended class this week while on spring break, the Lady Highlanders were set up for a big test Wednesday afternoon. Deer Park, a state semifinalist a year ago, had the big at-bat of the game in the fourth inning which carried it to a 4-2 non-district win over The Woodlands.
THE WOODLANDS — Even though they haven’t attended class this week while on spring break, the Lady Highlanders were set up for a big test Wednesday afternoon.
Deer Park, a state semifinalist a year ago, had the big at-bat of the game in the fourth inning which carried it to a 4-2 non-district win over The Woodlands.
Sophomore Kaurie Winters hit a bases-clearing 3-run triple to give the Lady Deer all they needed in a battle of two programs which faced off in the state title game four years ago in 2014.
“We had our opportunities,” The Woodlands coach Tim Borths said afterwards. “And credit (Deer Park’s) pitching and defense. They made some plays. (Starting pitcher Alysa Torres) made us pop out and make easy outs. We just didn’t execute at the plate like we needed.”
The Woodlands (12-6-1) snapped a two-game winning streak with the loss.
The Lady Highlanders definitely had their chances as they stranded eight runners on base and had the leadoff hitter make it on in three different innings.
Deer Park (14-7) gained an early lead in the top of the second. Maleah Olvera led off with a double and she came around two batters later on an RBI groundout to the shortstop by KK Morado.
The Woodlands tied it up in the bottom of inning with the big bat of Skylar Stockton. The junior centerfielder hit a solo homer over the tall fence in right field to make it 1-1. Stockton also doubled for a 2-for-3 day.
“She’s been kind of struggling a little bit so it was good to see her do that,” Borths said. “This game and last week against Oak Ridge, she’s really got it going again. Seeing her bat come back alive and her confidence is going to big for the success of this time.”
The Woodlands took the lead in the third inning. Sophomore Skylar Sirdashney walked and advanced to second on an error pick-off attempt. Junior Amanda Curran then brought Sirdashney around with an RBI double to the left field gap. It was Curran’s fifth RBI in the past two games.
The lead didn’t stand long for the Lady Highlanders.
After a pair of walks sandwiched by a single loaded up the bases for the Lady Deer, Winters slashed a hard hit triple down the right field line to bring all three home with two outs.
The Woodlands and freshman pitcher Emiley Kennedy escaped more damage done as Curran threw out Winters at the plate on the next at-bat.
Curran pitched in relief of Kennedy in the final three innings and allowed just a walk.
“The plan today was to see them both pitch,” Borths said. “Emiley did a good job setting us up. But the walks there kind of killed us.
“Amanda came in and did a great job of shutting them down and limiting the damage. That was very good to see her come in and pitch that well.”
Kennedy and Curran combined on a 4-hitter.
Torres pitched the complete game with two strikeouts for the Lady Deer. She forced The Woodlands into 12 fly outs and pop outs.
With no District 12-6A games scheduled for the week off of school, Borths gladly added a game with Deer Park on the schedule to keep his team active.
“Deer Park is a quality team,” he said. “Good hitters, well coached playoff team. State tournament potential every year. It was good to get this game on the schedule and for us to perform defensively as we did.”
District play reignites Tuesday as the Lady Highlanders welcome in Conroe.