SOFTBALL: Lady Stangs force Lampasas to play complete game
LAMPASAS— Rarely is an 8-1 loss comforting for Marble Falls High School softball coach David Orsag.
But Marble Falls (5-20,1-3 in District 25-4A) was able to tighten defensively against a defending district champion Lampasas squad that has most of its players returning from last season.
The good news for Marble Falls is that after the Lady Badgers (4-0) scored seven runs in the first 1 1/3 innings, they could only score another run the rest of the way.
The Lady Mustangs forced them to play all seven innings, while they had run-ruled everyone else in district.
“They’re good,” head coach David Orsag said. “I’m not taking anything away from them. If we do everything perfect, we can play with those guys.”
Freshman pitcher Alicia Macias took the loss.
“We started Alicia because the wind was blowing out so much,” Orsag said. “Alicia keeps the ball down low.”
Junior Payton Peril took over and pitched the remaining 5 1/3 innings.
“Since they slap and bunt, Payton would have been a good one to be in there,” the coach said. “You decide something, you go with it. Payton kept her control. Payton kept the ball down good. She did a good job in relief. It’s also been the longest rest she’s had in a while.”
It marked the first time Peril pitched since the loss to Hutto last week.
Marble Falls’ lone run came in the sixth after junior Mackinzee Mayfield hit a double down the third-base line. A passball allowed senior courtesy runner Kimi Hicks to advance to third. Peril hit an RBI single to score her.
“Mackinzee hit the ball every time,” Orsag said. “She went up to bat three times and saw three pitches.”
Freshman Hailey Wooten went 2 for 4 from the plate.
Following the loss, Orsag told his players their focus needs to be on Thursday’s contest against Pflugerville Hendrickson. First pitch is at 7 p.m. at Scearce Softball Field, 2101 Mustang Drive.
“This game is not nearly as important as Thursday,” he said. “Hendrickson got beat by Hutto. If we take care of business, we’re going to be in the playoffs.”