The Shepherd Lady Pirates turned in an impressive performance Friday night, edging out the Livingston Lady Lions 3-2 behind dominant pitching and timely hitting.
Facing a Livingston team that secured third place in district, just behind powerhouse programs Huffman-Hargrave and an undefeated Liberty squad, the Lady Pirates rose to the occasion in a tightly contested matchup. Both teams showcased strong pitching throughout, but Shepherd made the key plays when it mattered most.
Livingston struck first in the fifth inning, capitalizing on a fielder’s choice to take a 1-0 lead. But Shepherd responded with composure and confidence, answering back to take control late in the game. The defining moment came in the bottom of the sixth inning, when Karsyn Wiley delivered a clutch double that drove in two runs and gave the Lady Pirates a 3-1 advantage.
In the circle, Isabelle Hooper was outstanding. She recorded 15 outs over five innings, allowing just one hit and one run while striking out nine and walking two. Her command and consistency kept Livingston’s offense in check all night. Jayci Wilson came on in relief to secure the save, closing out the game and sealing the hard-earned victory.
At the plate, Wiley led the way for Shepherd, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs from the heart of the lineup.
In the previous game on April 14, Shepherd showed determination but came up just short in a 4-3 district loss to Huffman-Hargrave. Despite a strong pitching performance by Isabelle Hooper, who struck out 11 batters, Shepherd couldn’t quite complete the comeback after falling behind early.
Hooper went six innings, allowing eight hits and four runs while battling through seven walks in a gritty effort.
Huffman-Hargrave struck first in the opening inning, using a pair of singles to take an early 1-0 lead. The Lady Falcons added to their advantage in the second, with RBI singles that extended the lead to 4-0.
The Lady Pirates refused to back down. After the early deficit, Shepherd began to chip away, responding with a steady rally that brought them back into contention. The comeback effort included runs generated by a groundout, a timely single, and a walk, cutting into the lead and keeping the pressure on Hargrave late into the game.
At the plate, Skyleigh Lagow led the way with two hits in four at-bats, while Swayzie Nelson, Rylei Brewer, and Lagow each drove in a run. The Lady Pirates also showed patience offensively, drawing seven walks, with Nelson, Arianna McCain, and Brooke Chaney each earning two free passes.
Up Highway 150, it was all Coldspring on April 14 as the Lady Trojans delivered a commanding performance, shutting out Onalaska 10-0 in a game shortened by the run rule.
Coldspring took control early and never let up, powered by a huge night from Jasper Williams.
Williams drove in four runs on three hits, including a three-run triple in the second inning that broke the game open, and followed it up with an RBI single in the third. The Lady Trojans seized momentum in the second inning, jumping out to a 4-0 lead behind Williams’ triple and an Onalaska error. They continued to apply pressure in the third, adding four more runs with contributions across the lineup. Cassidy Loll started the scoring in the inning with an RBI groundout, followed by run-scoring hits from Williams, Krissie Bennett, and Olivia Lee to stretch the lead even further.
In the circle, Trinity Rosales was dominant, earning the win with a five-inning, one-hit shutout performance. She struck out six while working around a few walks to keep Onalaska off the board. Cassidy Loll set the tone early as well, tossing a scoreless opening inning with two strikeouts.
Offensively, Coldspring remained aggressive and disciplined. Bennett added two hits, while the team drew seven walks, with Addison Headley leading the way with two. The Lady Trojans also created havoc on the basepaths, stealing seven bases, with Williams and Abby Murphy each swiping multiple bags.
Defensively, Coldspring was flawless, not committing a single error. Taonna McGraw led the way in the field with eight chances, helping secure the shutout. Onalaska was limited to just one hit on the night, as the Lady Trojans controlled the game in every phase. It was a complete and dominant effort from Coldspring, showcasing their strength on both sides of the ball as they continue to build momentum.
The Lady Trojans matched the previous game’s intensity with a dominant 17-3 win on Friday, powered by a relentless offensive attack.
Coldspring jumped out early and never slowed down, scoring in every inning and piling up 16 hits in the game. A huge second inning set the tone, followed by another big frame in the third to put the game out of reach.
Trinity Rosales led the way both in the circle and at the plate, earning the win while striking out seven and adding a solo home run. Taonna McGraw and Cassidy Loll each collected three hits, while Abby Murphy drove in three runs and created havoc on the bases with three stolen bases.
The Lady Trojans showcased depth throughout the lineup, with multiple players contributing hits and RBIs, along with six walks and aggressive baserunning that resulted in six stolen bases.
Defensively, Coldspring was sharp once again, playing error-free softball to cap off a complete performance. With the sweep, Coldspring continues to build momentum on both sides, combining strong pitching, explosive offense, and solid defense as the postseason approaches.
