Hawks End Drought, Beat Billies 5-4
The Canyon Lake Softball team ended the run scoring and victory drought against Fredericksburg last Friday, scoring five runs in their first victory over the Billies.
It had been documented before, the previous five games played against Fredericksburg resulting in five losses without one run being scored.
The game started rocky for the upstart Hawks with five errors in the first two innings allowing the visitors to score three unearned runs and the lead.
“The girls were pressing,” Head Coach John Gallagher said. “They were too excited and maybe a little tight.”
There is a good reason for the uneasiness coming from the team. The Hawks accomplished a multitude of bench marks in the game.
√ First victory over Fredericksburg
√ First run scored (five previous games)
√ Clinched playoff spot in District
√ Have one more victory in District play, than previous two years combined.
The three components in the game were not realized as the sixth errors were the most since the first district game against Boerne. Canyon Lake has had three games with sixth errors and have won all three games. That might be a bench mark the Coaches would rather not have to duplicate.
Stay five nights and get the sixth night free!
The defense was bad and good as the team finished with with just one more error for the game after the second inning.
“I try to motivate and keep them (the Hawks fielders) confidence up,” Junior Pitcher Missy Romero emphasized. “They make me so proud and I just want to help build their confidence in those situations.”
The Billies scored two runs in the top of the first with just one hit , a single.
The Hawks responded in the bottom of the same inning, giving the crowd and their visitors a new look that is a different resolve than the previous encounters.
Senior Tiffany Arredondo got the first hit and promptly stole second base. Arredondo had three stolen bases in the game giving her 15 for the season.
The Billies were nervous to start the game as Romero reached base on a throwing error which resulted in two runs scoring to tie the score.
The second inning also had the first two Billies reach base on Canyon Lake errors, but that is when the defense buckled down and played the type of game the fans have seen before.
“They believe in themselves,” John Gallagher exclaimed. “They knew they were better than what they had shown up to that point.”
The stage was set for the first lead in the series, when the Hawks came to bat in the bottom of the third.
Arredondo got things started again reaching first on another Fredericksburg error. A stolen base and then a Romero single driving in the run.
The single from Romero was her second hit in the last 16 at bats, and that was a good sign for the Hawks for one of the most consistent hitters in the lineup.
Caroline Jordan reached base on another Billies error giving the Hawks their first lead EVER in the series.
The lead was short lived as Fredericksburg tied it up in the next half inning. The run scored as a result of the last error the Hawks would make.
Canyon Lake would take the lead back in the bottom of the fifth inning, when Senior Megan Browning worked a walk from Billies Pitcher Amanda Lochte.
Jordan reached base on a fielders choice and scored the final and winning run off a hit from first baseman Lilimae Daily.
The outfield for the Hawks did play an exceptional game. Megan Browning had two great catches in leftfield and Jordan responded with a throw to the plate in the second inning. The throw allowed catcher Katy Payne for the tag and keeping the run from scoring.
“I got so pumped and then angry because the runner made it after I missed the ball,” right fielder Jordan said sternly. “This win means everything for our team!”
“We have been working with the outfield this past week,” John Gallagher said. “We work with the first step back and then sprint to the ball.”
The great plays did not stop there, as first baseman Daily also took the bat out of another Billies hand when she dove in foul territory catching a ball just off a blade of grass.
“I just dove for the foul ball,” the grass stained Daily said. “I just went for it, it was a all or nothing play.”
Romero has now gone two whole game without issuing a walk. In fact, the first batter for Fredericksburg to work the count to three balls was the last batter. A victim of the fifth strikeout for the sixteen game winner.
“Just hitting my spot,” the shoulder ice packed pitcher said.
Canyon Lake now has a whole different set if issues. The drought has been broken and the team now has to figure out what they want to do with all the water coming down around them.
“We (Hawks) have more stability and they did not give up,” Coach Mary Beth Gallagher said. “We have a lot of youth at the corners and the two different type of coaches help balance the team.”
The Hawks next game is April 21st at home against Navarro. With a win Canyon Lake will have a chance to finish second in District 26-3A and the better seeding.
For all the news on your Hawks, visit this site and invite your friends, so they can read up on the Playoff bound team.
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E Billies 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 4 6 6 CL Hawks 2 0 2 0 1 0 x 5 7 6
LOB-FHS 8; CL 6. 2b-FHS Robledo (1), Casada (1).
SB-FHS Harris (1); CL Arredondo (3). SAC-FHS Kyzar (1),
Kerda (1); CL Arredondo (1).
Pitching IP H R ER BB SO NP ERA Lochte-FHS 6 7 5 1 2 5 106 1.17 Romero-CL 7 6 4 0 0 5 87 0.00
PB-FHS Casada (1). W-Romero 16-8; L-Lochte 8-12.
Legend:
LOB-Left on Base
SB: Stolen Base
SAC: Sacrifice Bunt
PB: Passed Ball
2b: Double
NP: Number of Pitches
