Lady Wildcats sweep Van Lady Vandals in their Regional Quarterfinals series, 2-0
By Dj Spencer Sports Editor,
2024-05-15KK Montgomery (6) takes a big cut off of a pitch during Game 1 of the Lady Wildcats' Regional Quarterfinals series against Van Wednesday. During the series, Montgomery batted 2 for 7 and scored a run. Photos by DJ Spencer
Reese Ragan (20) goes over the game plan with assistant coach Bailey Dorner at first base during Game 1 of the Lady Wildcats' Regional Quarterfinals series against Van Wednesday. Ragan batted 3 for 7 and recorded three RBIs over the course of the series.
Bayler Boatman (7) takes a lead off from second base during Game 1 of the Lady Wildcats' Regional Quarterfinals series against Van Wednesday. Boatman batted 3 for 7, scored three runs, and recorded an RBI over the course of the series.
Anahi Velasquez (16) catches a pitch during Game 1 of the Lady Wildcats' Regional Quarterfinals series against Van Wednesday. The Lady Wildcats will play the Aubrey Lady Chaparrals in the Regional Semifinals Thursday.
Hannah Speed (14) delivers a pitch during Game 1 of the Lady Wildcats' Regional Quarterfinals series against Van Wednesday. Speed earned the win in both of the Lady Wildcats' victories, pitching a one-hit shutout in the first game.
SS will face Aubrey in Regional Semifinals
BodyLONE OAK — The Sulphur Springs Lady Wildcats continued their strong play this season by sweeping the Van Lady Vandals in their Regional Quarterfinal series at Lone Oak High School. In two closely fought games, the Lady Wildcats managed to come out on top both times, winning the series two games to none.
GAME ONE
SULPHUR SPRINGS 1
VAN 0
For the first game, which started May 8, The Lady Vandals stepped up the plate first, facing Hannah Speed in the circle. They would go down in order after Speed recorded three consecutive strikeouts.
The Lady Wildcats came to the plate next. Their turn began with Emerson Thompson striking out. Though a runner was gained when Nicole Higgins walked, the inning ended after Speed hit a pop fly ball for an out, and Bayler Boatman grounded out.
The Lady Vandals once again went down in order to start the second inning following a pop out, a fly out, and a strikeout.
The bottom of the second inning started with Reese Ragan hitting a single. Another runner was gained when Claire Thompson walked.
After Abbey Goldsmith struck out, KK Montgomery hit a single, but another out occurred when Ragan was tagged out advancing to home plate. Anahi Velasquez struck out next, ending the inning and keeping the game scoreless.
The Lady Vandals were once again retired in order to begin the third inning following a pair of strikeouts and a fly out. The Lady Wildcats were likewise retired in order during the bottom of the third inning after Emerson Thompson lined out, Higgins hit a fly ball for an out, and Speed grounded out, keeping the game scoreless.
The Lady Vandals were retired in order yet again to start the fourth inning following a ground out and a pair of strikeouts.
The bottom of the fourth inning started with Boatman hitting a pop fly ball for an out. Following a single by Ragan, two more outs ensued when both Claire Thompson and Goldsmith struck out, as the scoreless tie continued to persist.
The fifth inning started with a ground out. The Lady Vandals then gained a runner on a double, breaking up Speed’s perfect game bid. From there, consecutive strikeouts ended Van’s turn.
The Lady Wildcats went down in order during the bottom of the fifth inning, as both Montgomery and Velasquez grounded out, and Emerson Thompson struck out, keeping the game scoreless.
The sixth inning began with the Lady Vandals gaining a runner on an error. After that, a pair of strikeouts and a pop out brought their turn to a close.
The bottom of the sixth inning started with Higgins being walked. After Speed hit a pop fly ball for an out, Boatman hit a single.
The bases then loaded up when Ragan was intentionally walked. Claire Thompson walked next, bringing Higgins home and giving the Lady Wildcats a 1-0 lead.
After the run was scored, the game was postponed to the following day due to lightning.
The next day, May 9, the game resumed. The resumption started with Goldsmith grounding into a fielder’s choice, where Boatman was tagged out at home plate.
The third out followed when Montgomery grounded into a fielder’s choice, where Tatum Thompson, who was pinch running for Ragan, was tagged out at home plate, closing out the inning.
The Lady Vandals were once again retired in order to start the seventh inning after consecutive ground outs and a fly out, ending the game and allowing the Lady Wildcats to polish off a 1-0 victory.
As a team, the Lady Wildcats batted 4 for 21 (.190) from the plate. Ragan led with two hits, while Boatman and Montgomery added one each. Higgins scored the only run of the game, which turned out to be game-winning.
Speed pitched a one-hit shutout in the circle, striking out 12 batters.
GAME TWO
SULPHUR SPRINGS 7
VAN 5
For the second game, which started after the conclusion of the first game, the Lady Wildcats stepped up to the plate first. The game began with Emerson Thompson hitting a pop fly ball for an out.
A runner was gained after Higgins reached base on an error. This was followed Speed hitting a single. She was then substituted by Dotti Smith a first base.
On the next at-bat, Boatman hit an RBI single, bringing Higgins home and giving the Lady Wildcats a 1-0 lead. This was followed by Ragan hitting a 2-RBI double, driving Smith and Boatman home and raising the score to 3-0. Two more outs followed when Claire Thompson lined out and Goldsmith lined out, ending their turn.
The Lady Vandals came to the plate next, facing Speed in the circle again. Their turn started with a runner reaching base on an error. From there, three straight outs followed, ending the first inning.
The second inning started Montgomery getting called out. A runner was gained when Velasquez walked. Though another runner was gained when Emerson Thompson hit a single, two more outs followed when both Higgins and Speed struck out.
The Lady Vandals went down in order during the bottom of the second inning following a strikeout, a pop out, and a fly out, closing out the inning, with Sulphur Springs still leading 3-0.
The third inning started with Boatman hitting a fly ball for an out. Another out occurred when Ragan hit a pop fly ball for an out.
The bases would load up after both Claire Thompson and Goldsmith hitting singles, and Montgomery reached base on a fielder’s choice. Unfortunately, the Lady Wildcats weren’t able to capitalize on the scoring opportunity, as Velasquez struck out on the next atbat.
The bottom of the third inning began with a walk. Following a fly out, a runner reached base on an error, and run was scored, trimming the score to 3-1.
After a walk, a sacrifice bunt led to another run, as Van trimmed the score to 3-2. Though another runner was gained when a batter was hit by a pitch, the inning ended after a strikeout.
The Lady Wildcats were retired in order to start the fourth inning after both Emerson Thompson and Higgins grounded out, and Speed hit a fly ball for an out.
The bottom of the fourth inning began with a single. Following a ground out, another runner was gained on a walk.
On the next at-bat, a 2-RBI double brought home two runs, giving the Lady Vandals a 4-3 lead. In the same sequence, the runner was tagged out advancing to third base.
A triple occurred on the next at-bat. Soon after, the runner scored on a wild pitch, extending Van’s lead to 5-3. A strikeout followed next, closing out the fourth inning.
The fifth inning began with Boatman reaching base on an error, and advancing to second base. Ragan grounded out on the next at-bat, but managed to bring Boatman home, trimming the score to 5-4. Two more outs followed when both Claire Thompson and Goldsmith hit pop fly balls for outs.
The Lady Vandals were retired in order during the bottom of the fifth inning following a pair of ground outs and a strikeout, bringing the fifth inning to a close.
The sixth inning kicked off with Montgomery hitting a single. Velasquez then hit a sacrifice bunt to move Montgomery to second base. Montgomery also managed to advance to third base.
Emerson Thompson then hit a sacrifice fly ball, bringing Montgomery home and tying the score at 5-5. The third out followed when Higgins grounded out.
The bottom of the sixth inning started with a pair of pop outs. After a single, another pop out brought the sixth inning to a close.
The seventh inning started with Speed hitting a single. Speed was then substituted by Smith at first base.
Another runner was gained when Boatman hit a single. Ragan then reached base on an error, allowing Boatman to score and putting the Lady Wildcats ahead 6-5. Ragan was then substituted by Brailie Blevins at first base.
After Claire Thompson struck out, Goldsmith hit a sacrifice fly ball, bringing Boatman home and extending the Lady Wildcats’ lead to 7-5. Their turn ended after Montgomery grounded out.
The bottom of the seventh inning began with a strikeout. Following a walk, the next batter grounded into a fielder’s choice, where the runner was tagged out at second base.
A pop out on the next at-bat brought the game to an end, as the Lady Wildcats capped off a 7-5 win and won the series.
As a team, the Lady Wildcats batted 7 for 31 (.226) from the plate. Boatman and Speed led with two hits each, while Goldsmith, Montgomery, amd Ragan added one hit each.
Boatman finished as the leading scorer with three runs. Smith added two hits, and both Higgins and Montgomery scored one run each.
Speed earned the victory in the circle. Across seven innings, she recorded four strikeouts, allowing only five runs (three earned), four hits, and three walks.
With these wins, the Lady Wildcats improved to 23-8-2 on the season. They also advanced to the Regional Semifinals.
The Lady Wildcats will play the Aubrey Lady Chaparrals in the Regional Semifinal round of the playoffs. This will be a one-game series on Thursday, May 16 at Community High School, with the first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m.
Continued coverage of the Lady Wildcats’ playoff run will be published in upcoming editions of the News-Telegram.
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