Lady Mustangs win bi-district series against Crockett, now face Lockhart
Marble Falls High School junior second baseman Skyler Riley steps into her throw to first base during the Lady Mustangs' 14-2 Game 1 victory against Austin Crockett on April 26. Photo by Gary Thomas/MFHSoftball
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
MARBLE FALLS — The Marble Falls High School softball team captured a bi-district championship April 27, surviving a three-game marathon against Austin Crockett.The Lady Mustangs were led by junior Amanda Thomas (8-3), who earned both wins in the circle: 14-2 in five innings in Game 1 on April 26 and 2-1 in Game 3 on April 27. The Lady Mustangs lost Game 2 on April 27 by the score of 3-2.
Now, Marble Falls (22-11, 5-7 in District 25-4A) will turn its focus on Lockhart, a preseason favorite to represent Region IV at the Class 4A state tournament.
The Lady Lions (24-13, 11-3) were the runners-up in District 27-4A and defeated San Antonio Brackenridge 7-0 on April 26.
Lockhart is led by senior pitcher Mikaela Flores (11-2). The Lady Lions average eight runs a contest and give up two.
Game 1 is May 2 and Game 2 is May 3 with both contests starting at 7 p.m. Game 3, if necessary, is 1 p.m. May 4. The series will be played at Georgetown Eastview High School.
Marble Falls head coach Tino Salazar has scouted the Lady Lions and believes the best-of-three series will be a good one.
Salazar’s concern is the manner his team enters this series after the way the Lady Mustangs finished the bi-district series against Crockett.
“We have to play our A game,” he said. “We can’t come out like we did in Game 2 and expect to beat anybody.”
In Game 2, an error allowed two runners, who reached base thanks to walks, to run home in the first inning. The third run was scored off an RBI single in the fifth inning. The runner reached base on a walk.
A two-hour rain delay in the top of the seventh gave the Lady Mustangs time to regroup. Junior Skyler Riley hit an RBI single and came home thanks to a single from junior Tyler Oppenheim. But the tying run was stranded on second when center fielder Jacy Wright got the final out with a diving catch.
Marble Falls scored all the runs they needed in the final contest in the third inning. Thomas hit an RBI single, while freshman Makenzie Carpenter added an RBI double.
jfierro@thepicayune.com