Hallsville 3, Lady Cats Softball 2 (9 Innings)
The Lady Cats’ softball team lost a heart breaker Friday, losing 3-2 to Hallsville in the bottom of the ninth inning of game two in a regional quarterfinal series at Grand Saline Friday, May 10. Hallsville also won game one, 4-2 in the series Thursday evening at Grand Saline.
On Friday, Hallsville took an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning without the benefit of a base hit. They used two walks, a fielder’s choice, a sacrifice and an error to get on the board.
The lead lasted until the Lady Cats took the lead scoring twice in the top of the sixth inning. Brinklee Driver led off the inning with a home run over the left field wall. With one out, Sadie Stroud walked and Abbi Baier came in to run for her. Sierra Smith singled and Baier went to second. Baier then stole third base. Smith took second on an infield out by Addison Caddell. Baier stayed at third. Maddie Millsap’s single scored Baier and apparently Smith.
Hallsville claimed Smith failed to touch home plate and the home plate umpire agreed calling Smith out. Lady Cats Coach David Carrillo argued the call but, to no avail. KSST video appears to show Smith touching home base. When the dust settled, the Lady Cats led 2-1.
Hallsville got a run in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game 2-2. A walk and an error set the table and a single scored the run.
The game remained tied until the bottom of the ninth when Hallsville won it. They had a walk, a sacrifice, a ground out and a soft single that landed fair just over the infield in shallow left field.
The Lady Cats outhit Hallsville 10-4 but left nine runners on base. Bailey Haggerty took the hard luck loss pitching 8 2/3 innings allowing four hits, three runs only one which was earned with two strikeouts and six walks. Driver, Stroud, Smith and Nylah Lindley all had two hits apiece. Stroud hit two doubles. Millsap and Kelsey Wallace also had hits.
The Lady Cats end the season with a 26-8 record. They were again district champions and also won bi-district and area round series.
Ten seniors played their last Lady Cat game: Kelsey Wallace, Brinklee Driver, Sadie Stroud, Sierra Smith, Bailey Haggerty, Maddie Millsap, Landri Bell, Tessa Holt, Abbi Baier and Darby Williams.
