SOFTBALL: Lady Dawgs take aim at Lady Hornets
POSTED 4-30-2010
BURNET — When asked about the 6-0 loss to Liberty Hill last week, Burnet High School softball coach Amanda Carpenter needed a minute to recall the facts of the contest.
The Lady Dawgs (6-2) did not record a single hit during the game.
While it’s a game the team would rather forget, Carpenter acknowledged the reason is because her players are completely focused on their bi-district series against Gatesville, which starts 7:30 p.m. Friday at Gatesville.
Though the Lady Dawgs will enter the playoffs with a loss, Carpenter said she is confident headed into the postseason.
“We’re a really good defensive team,” she said. “(Sophomore pitcher Kristen) Spinn has pitched well. She’s the reason we’re here.”
The Burnet batters have performed well, too, the coach added, noting different players have stepped up to get key hits.
“It was never really the same crew,” she said. “For example, when we played Llano at home, my four, five, six and seven batters had great games, going 3 for 3 with some walks. But at Llano, four, five and six I don’t think hit the ball. But nine, one, two and three smashed it.”
Burnet and Gatesville met during the pre-district campaign with the Lady Hornets winning.
“They got six hits,” Carpenter said. “Every run they scored came in one inning. That was before my basketball kids came.”
Carpenter said she originally wanted to play only one game against Gatesville but was able to get home-field advantage for the series.
She wanted to play one game because of the youth on her squad, noting none of her athletes have advanced to the playoffs in softball.
However, junior Ashten Huddleston and senior Kerstyn Towslee were on the Burnet basketball team and junior Savannah Erskine was on the volleyball team. Both squads reached the Class 3A regional semifinals.
Game two will be played 2 p.m. Saturday at Bulldog Diamonds, 1000 The Green Mile. Game three if needed will follow 20 minutes after the conclusion of game two.
“I believe I’ve done everything humanly possible to get my kids ready,” Carpenter said. “I believe we’re going to win.”