The Aledo Ladycat softball team punched their ticket to the 5A State Tournament in Austin with a 10-3 victory over Lubbock Monterey Friday at Abilene Christian University softball complex to sweep the Region 1 final.
The Ladycats dominated from the start, scoring four runs in top of the first inning and pounding out 16 hits in the game.
Pitcher Nathalie Touchet pitched a complete game, striking out 11 and walking none, while giving up five hits and the three earned runs. Touchet threw 100 pitches, 69 strikes and 31 balls. Touchet was especially dominate in the first two innings, striking out fix of the first six Monterey batters.
The Aledo offense was clicking from the opening pitch of Monterey’s Brenna Straughan. Macy Graf walked to open the game then Marissa Powell ripped an RBI double to give the Ladycats the lead for good. Powell was 3-5 in the game with two doubles, two RBI and she scored twice.
Second baseman Ana Flores later hit a 2-run triple off the wall.
Claire Byars then had an RBI single to make it 4-0. Byars was two for three in the game with a pair of RBI.
Aledo coach Heather Myers said getting a fast start is something they work on in practice. The work has paid off in the playoffs. In the 10 playoff games, Aledo has scored in the first inning in eight.
Aledo’s offense also struck for a big inning in the fourth. Texas Ray, Madysen Boutwell and Presley Hull hit back-to-back-to-back home runs to make it 7-0.
The bottom of the fourth was the only time Monterey was able to gets runs against Touchet. Makenna Sandoval laced a single to right to open the inning, the first hit that Monterey got off Touchet. Monterey then hit a slow roller to second baseman Flores, but no body covered first base and it went in the score book as a hit.
Alexis Luck then hit an RBI double for Monterey. A second run came home on a wild pitch and the third run came home on a passed ball.
Monterey later got a triple in the inning, but Touchet was able to get out of the inning without allowing another run.
Some in the stands wondered if Touchet would pitch any more innings. However, the hard-throwing senior not only finished the game, but she only gave up one additional hit in the game.
Aledo improved to 33-2 on the year and will play in the 5A state semifinals on Friday, June 3 at either at 1 pm against Georgetown.
You must be logged in to post a comment.