ONALASKA — Onalaska softball challenged Trinity for a few innings, but a disastrous sixth inning ended the contest with a lopsided 22-4 score.
Trinity took a 4-1 lead early, but Onalaska made it a game in the bottom of the third. Freshman Shedynn Pedescleaux doubled, and Kayla Houser did the same to drive her in. Freshman Raygan Taylor was hit by a pitch and another run scored on a passed ball. Taylor Hudson walked to load the bases and a run scored when a throw down to first base was dropped, tying the game at four.
Trinity answered in the top of the fourth, when Skylar Knight walked and stole a bag. Chrissie Vaughn slugged a two-run homer over the left field wall to make it 6-4 Lady Tigers.
Extending their lead in the top of the fifth, Rainy Hall reached on an error, Summer Ogden walked, and Knight sacrificed herself to plate a run. Vaughn drove in another with a double and stole third. Carolyn Cleveland and Asis Cerda each drove in a run with a base hit. After five frames, the Lady Tigers had a 10-4 advantage.
Trinity coach Brandy Hill said an influx of youngsters has accelerated the growth of her program.
“I do have a lot of younger ones. Out of my starters, I have eight freshmen that came in and play mostly all year-round, so it has definitely helped,” Hill said. “I have only two seniors and I have one solid sophomore, so we are young. It is something that is a big stepping stone for us this year. The freshman group is very athletic. The part I'm going to have to really try to harp on is maturity. We are very young-minded, but I'm hoping that will grow in time.”
The floodgates opened in the sixth and the Lady Tigers circled the bases with ease to score 12. With a reliever in, Onalaska could not find the strike zone and Trinity was more than happy to take advantage. Two singles, eight batters hit by a pitch and five walks fueled the inning. Five runs scored on wild pitches and another on a dropped third strike. In all, 12 runs crossed home plate in the inning.
“We just kind of ran out of gas and the wheels fell off,” Onalaska coach Justin Long said. “For the most part, the culture is there and the kids are fine, we are just on the wrong side of some of these close games, and then it just spirals into lots of runs on the other side.”
Hill said her team has excelled in plate discipline, but needs some defensive work at a few spots. She mentioned strong catching and three options in the circle, as well as having a solid infield.
“Every game for us is going to be tough, but I think if we take care of ourselves and do what we need to do, we do have a good opportunity this year to make playoffs.”
The Lady Eagles lost to Wells 18-6 on March 25.
Head Coach Denise Browning said the team had a slow start in the first inning with many errors, and as hard as they tried to bounce back, the Lady Eagles just couldn’t fill the gap.
Leading at the plate was Kymber Roberts, who went 3-for-3 and scored a run.
On the mound, Faith Smith and Abrie McWhorter took turns, combining for six strikeouts but allowing 19 hits.
The Lady Indians moved to 5-0 and first in district with two wins, downing Colmesneil 24-7 on March 25 and blanking West Sabine 13-0 on Thursday.
The Eagles were dominated on the diamond by Brookeland on March 25, losing 8-0.
Cooper Campbell took the loss on the mound, allowing 5 hits while only striking out 2. Reliever Kane Dugat struck out one in his 1 inning pitched.
At the plate, Kayden Roden and Nathan Smith came up with the only hits for the team.
The Indians are second in district and stand at 3-1 with wins over Colmesneil and West Sabine.
On March 25, Groveton downed the Bulldogs 16-0. Cash Moore took the win with five strikeouts, giving up only six hits.
Moore also led at the plate with 3 hits, while Jake Plotts, Trystin Ard and Cade White each added two hits. Dax Parker added a homer for the offense.
On Saturday, Groveton blanked West Sabine 8-0. Jake Plotts got the win, and he and reliever Cash Moore combined for five strikeouts while giving up four hits.
Cade White went 3-for-3 at the plate, and Dax Parker added two hits and another homer in the win.
The Tigers lost to Onalaska 9-1 on March 25. Leading the offense were Hunter Ogden, Austin Wallace, Jace Gambill and Canyen Hollis, each with a hit apiece.
Ogden, Hollis and Austin Beasley all had mound duty, combing for 10 strikeouts but giving up nine hits.
The Bulldogs remain undefeated in district after a 17-0 win over Martinsville on Wednesday.
Braden White and Jake Slaten led the team with two hits apiece, while Hardy Brown added a home run.
Kolt Larsen and Hardy Brown pitched two innings apiece, combining for 11 strikeouts and giving up no hits.
