SHSBulldog00
03-25-2009, 07:34 AM
#20 West Columbia @ #14 Sweeny
Sweeny wins 3-1
Published March 25, 2009
SWEENY — Sweeny torched visiting Columbia with a dramatic three-run sixth inning Tuesday night to ease away with a 3-1 victory in a District 26-3A softball barn-burner.
Trailing by a 1-0 count in the neighborhood shootout, the state-ranked Lady Bulldogs finally got a head of steam in the sixth inning when Candace Carter sent what appeared to be a single to center.
However, that one-out single turned into a triple as the ball bounced past the hard-charging Lady ’Neck center fielder.
Columbia junior Shelby Parker, who had pitched so brilliantly in her matchup with Lady Bulldog flame-thrower Allie Chenault, then got two strikes on her pitching counterpart and appeared she might be able to wiggle out of the jam like she had in the fifth inning.
But with a two-strike count, Chenault, a .460 hitter, boldly put down a perfect squeeze bunt in front of the plate. Parker charged and elected to go home with the throw, but it was too late and the game was tied at 1-1.
Trish Hock followed with a single to left, then Parker got the next hitter to hit a lazy fly to left for the second out. Parker then issued her second walk of the contest to load the bases with two outs, setting the stage for Shelby Zimmerhanzel, who had struck out in her previous two trips to the plate.
This time, however, the Lady Bulldog left fielder laced a fast ball solidly between third and short to drive in what proved to be the winning runs.
Chenault, who went the distance and struck out 12 while walking a pair, was touched for Columbia’s only run in the first inning when Kim Garcia started things off with a bang, whacking a triple to left. She scored later in the inning on a single by Kayla Avirett.
“It was good to come back and win this one,” first-year Sweeny coach Scott DeMarco said. “I have to tip my hat to their pitcher (Parker) as she kept us off balance for most of the night. We were very fortunate to come back and win like we did. The big hit by Candace (Carter) and then the perfect squeeze bunt by Allie, and then the clutch hit by Shelby (Zimmerhanzel) pulled it out for us.
“I did not want to take the bat out of Allie’s hands,” DeMarco said. “But she is probably the best bunter on the team. She could not have laid it down any better than she did. And Candace used her excellent speed to beat the throw home.”
On the other side of the field, Columbia coach Shelly Murphy shook her head after her young squad’s second straight heart-breaking loss on the road. Columbia had lost to the district’s other unbeaten team, Needville, by a 2-1 count on a crucial seventh-inning error that allowed the Lady Jays to come from behind.
“Once again, it is disappointing,” Murphy said. “We still are making some silly mistakes that are killing us. We turn a single into a triple, and all of a sudden the whole complexion of the game changes. We told the kids to keep their heads up. We have a chance to be a very good team before this season is over. We just need to be more consistent. You don’t make the mistakes we have been making and expect to beat teams like Needville and Sweeny.”
Sweeny (4-0, 19-1), missed a golden scoring opportunity in the fifth inning after Chenault reached second on a double down the left field line.
Parker, who finished with seven strikeouts of her own, then bore down to fan the next two Lady Bulldogs and got the final out on a pop to short.
Columbia (2-2, 15-3) was able to touch Chenault for only one more hit for the game, a bunt single by Annabelle Hutchinson in the third inning to go along with two walks. The hard-chunking junior right-hander allowed two walks over the final four innings, including a one-out walk to Crystal Rice in the seventh frame. But Rice was called out moments later on a steal attempt for leaving the base too early.
The Lady Bulldogs travel to Needville on Tuesday in a game for first place.
Sweeny wins 3-1
Published March 25, 2009
SWEENY — Sweeny torched visiting Columbia with a dramatic three-run sixth inning Tuesday night to ease away with a 3-1 victory in a District 26-3A softball barn-burner.
Trailing by a 1-0 count in the neighborhood shootout, the state-ranked Lady Bulldogs finally got a head of steam in the sixth inning when Candace Carter sent what appeared to be a single to center.
However, that one-out single turned into a triple as the ball bounced past the hard-charging Lady ’Neck center fielder.
Columbia junior Shelby Parker, who had pitched so brilliantly in her matchup with Lady Bulldog flame-thrower Allie Chenault, then got two strikes on her pitching counterpart and appeared she might be able to wiggle out of the jam like she had in the fifth inning.
But with a two-strike count, Chenault, a .460 hitter, boldly put down a perfect squeeze bunt in front of the plate. Parker charged and elected to go home with the throw, but it was too late and the game was tied at 1-1.
Trish Hock followed with a single to left, then Parker got the next hitter to hit a lazy fly to left for the second out. Parker then issued her second walk of the contest to load the bases with two outs, setting the stage for Shelby Zimmerhanzel, who had struck out in her previous two trips to the plate.
This time, however, the Lady Bulldog left fielder laced a fast ball solidly between third and short to drive in what proved to be the winning runs.
Chenault, who went the distance and struck out 12 while walking a pair, was touched for Columbia’s only run in the first inning when Kim Garcia started things off with a bang, whacking a triple to left. She scored later in the inning on a single by Kayla Avirett.
“It was good to come back and win this one,” first-year Sweeny coach Scott DeMarco said. “I have to tip my hat to their pitcher (Parker) as she kept us off balance for most of the night. We were very fortunate to come back and win like we did. The big hit by Candace (Carter) and then the perfect squeeze bunt by Allie, and then the clutch hit by Shelby (Zimmerhanzel) pulled it out for us.
“I did not want to take the bat out of Allie’s hands,” DeMarco said. “But she is probably the best bunter on the team. She could not have laid it down any better than she did. And Candace used her excellent speed to beat the throw home.”
On the other side of the field, Columbia coach Shelly Murphy shook her head after her young squad’s second straight heart-breaking loss on the road. Columbia had lost to the district’s other unbeaten team, Needville, by a 2-1 count on a crucial seventh-inning error that allowed the Lady Jays to come from behind.
“Once again, it is disappointing,” Murphy said. “We still are making some silly mistakes that are killing us. We turn a single into a triple, and all of a sudden the whole complexion of the game changes. We told the kids to keep their heads up. We have a chance to be a very good team before this season is over. We just need to be more consistent. You don’t make the mistakes we have been making and expect to beat teams like Needville and Sweeny.”
Sweeny (4-0, 19-1), missed a golden scoring opportunity in the fifth inning after Chenault reached second on a double down the left field line.
Parker, who finished with seven strikeouts of her own, then bore down to fan the next two Lady Bulldogs and got the final out on a pop to short.
Columbia (2-2, 15-3) was able to touch Chenault for only one more hit for the game, a bunt single by Annabelle Hutchinson in the third inning to go along with two walks. The hard-chunking junior right-hander allowed two walks over the final four innings, including a one-out walk to Crystal Rice in the seventh frame. But Rice was called out moments later on a steal attempt for leaving the base too early.
The Lady Bulldogs travel to Needville on Tuesday in a game for first place.