Burnet baseball begins district with win; softball dominates Gatesville
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
BURNET — The Burnet High School baseball team began District 8-3A play with a 7-3 win against Gatesville on March 20.
“We’re a game ahead,” Bulldogs head coach Stephen Shipley said. “We’re not going to take any district games for granted.”
The Bulldogs (8-7-3 overall, 1-0 district) trailed 3-0 in the third inning. Though they had hard hits, they were shots right at the Hornets for outs.
Things changed when Garrett Cox, with two strikes, hit a line drive down the right-field line for an RBI double.
“It got us in the game,” Shipley said. “That was the key hit.”
In the next inning, Burnet plated two runs then added another in the fifth and three in the sixth. In all, the Bulldogs had seven hits that led to seven runs, allowing them to overcome five errors.
Pitcher Shae Edmonds pitched all seven innings, scattering six hits and giving up three earned runs.
“He’s been solid all year,” the coach said. “This is his fourth complete game. We don’t give up many runs.”
Burnet travels to Liberty Hill for a district rivalry.
“We’re going to have to play our best,” Shipley said.
jfierro@thepicayune.com
ON OFFENSE: RBIs – Garrett Cox 2
ON DEFENSE: Winning pitcher – Shae Edmonds, 6 strikeouts and 6 hits in 7 innings
RECORDS: Burnet is 8-7-3 overall and 1-0 in District 8-3A.
UP NEXT: 7 p.m. March 21, Burnet at Liberty Hill, 16500 Texas 29 West in Liberty Hill
DISTRICT 8-3A STANDINGS
Burnet 1-0
Llano 1-0
Liberty Hill 1-0
Brownwood 0-1
Gatesville 0-1
Lampasas 0-1
Burnet softball 11, Gatesville 1
BURNET — The Burnet High School softball team had an early evening when it welcomed Gatesville on March 20.
That’s what happens when a team run-rules an opponent.
The Lady Dawgs (13-6 overall, 1-1 district) evened their District 8-3A record with an 11-1 victory.
“(This) game was very critical to our season,” Burnet head coach Corey Bledsoe said. “We needed to come alive and show that we won’t stay down. I challenged the girls mentally and physically after the Brownwood game. They responded well. Came together as a family and did the small things we needed to do.”
The Lady Dawgs lost to Brownwood on March 13.
Against the Lady Hornets, Burnet scored three runs in the first inning, two each in the third and fourth innings and four in the fifth. In all, the Lady Dawgs recorded 12 hits.
“Hitting is contagious,” Bledsoe said. “We started out the game with good at-bats and hard hits.”
Meanwhile, the Burnet pitchers scattered four hits in five innings, and the Lady Dawgs didn’t commit an error.
The coach said the win was big, especially since the Lady Dawgs are traveling to Liberty Hill on March 21.
“I believe in our talent, and I believe in playing confident,” he said. “Never be satisfied. I told the girls after the game, ‘Don’t be satisfied, don’t be content. Keep pushing. Keep working. Let’s get better.'”
ON OFFENSE: RBIs – Vanessa Escamilla 3, Taylor Baker 1, Rose Bailey 1
ON DEFENSE: Winning pitcher – Katie Kirkland
RECORDS: Burnet is 13-6 overall and 1-1 in District 8-3A.
UP NEXT: 6:45 p.m. March 21, Burnet at Liberty Hill, 16500 Texas 29 West in Liberty Hill
DISTRICT 8-3A STANDINGS
Lampasas 2-0
Liberty Hill 2-0
Brownwood 1-1
Burnet 1-1
Gatesville- 0-2
Llano 0-2