Faith softball’s successful season back ends in bi-district loss
Faith Academy of Marble Falls batter Isabella Clendennen makes contact with the ball during the Lady Flames’ 8-2 loss to Baytown Christian Academy on May 5.
JENNIFER FIERRO • PICAYUNE STAFF
BURNET — The Faith Academy of Marble Falls softball team’s season ended with an 8-2 loss to Baytown Christian Academy in a bi-district championship May 5 at the YMCA of the Highland Lakes at Galloway-Hammond.
The Lady Flames (15-4 overall, 8-2 district) found themselves in a 3-0 deficit after the first inning when BCA scored three unearned runs off an error in the outfield.
BCA added three more runs, one earned, in the third inning and two in the fourth inning, one earned, after two outs.
“I told them from the very beginning every error will cost you a run,” Faith head coach Bobby Tipps said.
Faith scored a run in the fifth when Katelyn Terrell began the fifth inning with a triple and later stole home plate. She picked up an RBI off a double that scored Delaney Tipps, who reached after she was hit by a pitch.
Tipps said a number of factors might have played into the outcome including nerves and a layoff. Faith had not played a game in 10 days after its 12-2 win against Keystone Christian on April 23.
“I told the girls at the beginning of the season I had zero expectations because I don’t know what we’re up against,” he said. “For us to finish second in (District 4, Class 3A of the Texas Association of Private and Parochial Schools) and make it to the playoffs, I think is a huge step for the girls.”
He credits the players determination in this season’s success.
“The girls within themselves learned something,” he said. “They didn’t know they had the ability to do something. Half of our team had never played softball before. I think the team learned leadership within themselves and team work. They learned how to come together, support each other — good or bad — and lift each other up.”
Tipps said the end of the season doesn’t take away all the positives his players accomplished.
“I couldn’t be any prouder of all of these girls and their performances throughout the year,” he said. “I’m proud of each of the girls and what they’ve accomplished.”
jfierro@thepicayune.com
ON OFFENSE: RBIs – (Faith) Katelyn Terrell 1; (BCA) Makenzie Ripkowski 4, Daniella Solis 2. Runs scored – (Faith) Terrell 1, Delaney Tipps 1; (BCA) Kaitlyn Burns 3, Ripkowski 2, Autumn Oliver 1, Nikki Noel 1, Solis 1. Hits – (Faith) Terrell 2; (BCA) Ripkowski 2, Burns 1, Oliver 1, Sydney Wang 1
ON DEFENSE: Faith – pitcher Terrell, 2 earned runs off 3 hits with 4 walks and 1 strikeout in 3 innings; pitcher Alisha Williams, 1 earned run off 1 hit with 4 walks and 7 strikeouts in 4 innings. BCA – pitcher Daniella Solis, 1 earned run off 2 hits with 2 batters hit by pitchers, no walks and 15 strikeouts.