Alliance Bank in Sulphur Springs

Lady Cats Softball Shut Out by Lovejoy in Game 1 of Regional Semifinals

The (Lucas) Lovejoy Leopards scored early and often, beating Sulphur Springs in Rockwall on Wednesday, May 19 by a score of 7-0. 

The Leopards jumped out to a quick 1-0 lead in the top of the first after Crimson Bryant, starting pitcher for the Lady Cats, gave up a triple.

Shortly thereafter RF Grace Magnuson dropped a fly ball that allowed Lovejoy to cross home to take the aforementioned 1-0 lead. 

While no runs were scored by either team in the second inning, Lovejoy found their groove in the third. 

A single by the Leopard lead-off batter in the inning set the tone for the top of the third as three batters later, Hannah Harvey, 2B for Lovejoy, homered to left field to make it a 3-0 lead over Sulphur Springs after 2.5 innings. 

Lady Cats softball team warming up before their 6-0 win at Longview on Apr. 6

The Leopards then proceeded to score 2 runs in the fourth and fifth innings as Lucas Lovejoy rolled past the Lady Cats 7-0 in Game 1 of the Regional Semifinals.

Starting pitcher for the Leopards Jade Owens showed up and showed out for Lovejoy, going 1-2-3 through the Lady Cats line-up from the second through fifth innings. 

Sulphur Springs was outhit 8-1 by Lovejoy on Wednesday. The only hit for the Lady Cats came in their final at-bat in the bottom of the seventh thanks to a single by 3B Addison Caddell to thwart the perfect game. 

Bryant got the loss, pitching 4 innings and striking out 7 Lovejoy batters, but the righty gave up 5 runs on 5 hits. Only 4 of Bryant’s runs given up were earned due to Lady Cat errors. 

Caddell came in as a relief pitcher, pitching 3 innings and allowing 2 runs off of 3 hits. Only one of those 2 runs were earned, though. 

Sulphur Springs gave up 4 costly errors, 2 of which allowed Lovejoy to score.

The loss dropped the Lady Cats season record to 28-4 overall (11-1 district). 

Lady Cats and Lady Tigers during the national anthem before Sulphur Springs’ 4-1 on Apr. 9, 2021

The loss is the first Coach Carrillo’s Sulphur Springs squad has allowed since Mar. 9 in their district-opening loss at Hallsville.

The 7 runs surrendered to an opponent is also the most the Lady Cats have allowed since their season-opening loss to Rockwall on Feb. 25. 

The win in Game 1 on Wednesday gave the Lucas Lovejoy Leopards a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series versus the Lady Cats in the Regional Semifinals.

Coach David Carrillo and his Lady Cats will now be looking to Game 2 on Friday with the hopes of keeping their season alive. 

If Sulphur Springs wishes to advance to the Regional Final, they will not only have to win Game 2 on Friday, forcing a Game 3, but will have to emerge victorious in Game 3 on Saturday as well. 

Game 2 of the Regional Semifinal is set to tee off at 7 PM on Friday, May 21 back in Rockwall. 


KSST is proud to be the official Wildcat and Lady Cat Station. We broadcast Sulphur Springs ISD games year round live on radio. When allowed, we also broadcast games via our YouTube channel.

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Author: Ross LaBenske

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