Hawks Win an Intentional Game with Navarro, 8-7
Jessie Melendez works a solid 1b during earlier contest against the Billies. (photo by Karen Holmes)
Canyon Lake pulled it off after trailing the whole game scoring 6 runs in their final two innings for an 8-7 win over Navarro Panthers in their first best of three, Bi-District series at New Braunfels High School.
“Never give up…never,” Head Coach John Gallagher stated while taking a hand-full of Rolaid’s. Our offense started late and our base running was good and we just fought thru it“
Let’s Go Hawks!!
Navarro would draw first blood with 3 runs during their top of the 3rd inning, all with 2 outs. The Panthers had 3 hits with a walk thrown in for those first tallies.
CL would respond during their half of that same frame when Marley Carrizales opened with one of her patented slap hits and then the Hawks had MVP Bailey Bryan with her 9th home-run of the season over the right field fence. Navarro would still lead, 3-2.
“My first home-run this year was against Navarro and that had given me confidence in the (batter’s) box and that helped,” (Babe) Bryan said. Bryan has now homered 9 times in her last 15 games.
The Panthers had a chance in their half of the 4th inning to stretch their lead when Sydnie Booker singled and stole 2nd base and then a Lindsey Gresham, Texas Leaguer, with 2 outs fell right before Bryan’s feet and then a strike throw to Kay Puente at home would end that threat. That would turn out to be a huge play in a game that would eventually go extra innings.
“I was thinking too much,” Bryan said in reference to here throw that helped double up and end that 4th inning. “I was hesitant to get the ball but it worked out.”
Understatement for this evening as Bryan has been good 6 other times this year throwing out baserunners from the outfield.
Navarro would score 2 more runs in their 5th, on a Hawk error and two hits that followed, which had your Hawks down by 3 runs, 5-2.
Don Chente says Go Lady Hawks!
That would be Maggie Banks last inning in the circle and CL would introduce, to the circle Freshman Kenzie Sayles who had pitched only 6 innings for the season and had an ERA over 10 runs. Not a knock on Sayles as those games had a Freshman pitching against 6A schools.
This game had only one scoring chance for Canyon Lake leading up to this part of their contest. In that first inning, The Lake, had loaded the bases with one out but two strikeouts would end that chance to take the first lead.
Up until that 7th inning, CL had only 3 hits and that one big hit by Bryan scored the only two salvos up to this point. Navarro’s Pitcher, Alexis Valdez, seemed to be getting stronger as she had struck out the middle of the Hawks line-up in that 6th frame leaving Canyon Lake with just one more chance.
Carrizales is working on an 8 game hitting streak, where she is batting a cool, .593 from the plate and had this to say on their two comebacks in those two latter stanzas, “We never gave up and we were going to give, 100%….we just got more pumped up and were ready to win.”
Sayles did her part keeping Navarro scoreless in the top of that last inning. The Panthers did have a hit and walk, but all three outs were fly balls and no damage.
Go, Go, Go Hawks!!
The Hawks would start their last chance to make noise with a soft line-out and then Kay Puente had the first hit for any CL player not named Carrizales or Bryan. Which is who the Hawks had coming up next. Carrizales would coax an infield hit that put the tying run at the plate.
Sayles responded with a screaming line drive that had the Panthers left fielder grasping for straws and a triple for the Hawk’s pitcher.
Still one out and a run just 90 feet from tying the game. An unintentional intentional walk to Bryan would give Maddy Puente a chance to win or tie this battle and on the 4th pitch, had a fielders choice out but Sayles, would delay her run for home and ended up beating the tag at the plate.
This was CL’s third time playing in the post-season which had resulted in two series sweeps and nothing to write home about. Lampasas was that first opponent and then last year, the La Vernia Bears, did the trick.
Navarro would not take long to put things in their favor when Amber Reneau had a double to left field and then a rocket home-run off the bat of Sydnie Booker would have the Panthers in the driver’s seat once again, 7-5.
Canyon Lake was not finished when Banks hit her 2nd pitch down the left field line that had her ball just grazing the foul pole and the Hawks would need one more run to extend their game or two runs for a win.
Way to Go Hawks!!
Melendez had a ground out and then Angie Rodriguez reached base via a short-stop error giving CL life. Kay Puente with a fielders choice out would give your Hawks 2 outs and the tying run on first base.
Kay Puente would come through with a tough out after a pop up to the back stop during that 6th inning and those defensive plays would be pivotable for keeping the Panthers off the bases.
“That hurt,” Puente remembered in getting that out. “When you are needed the most then you have to perform….we are coming together as a team and we came back with our sticks as those are what makes us better when we play defense in the field.”
CL would get their 2nd unintentional intentional walk which would put Carrizales on first base with two runners on base for Sayles.
On a one ball two strike count, the Freshman (Sayles) would become a Sophomore with a hit that squeezed between the glove of the Panther’s 3rd baseman and the bag that would clear the bases for an Intentional Victory for Canyon Lake.
“I was just thinking on how I would have to get it (hit) in a hole and I was glad I could do something to help get us get a win, because I knew we couldn’t lose,” Sayles said like a Salesman.
Go Hawks!!
On getting the call to start the 6th inning in the pitching circle, “I was excited I had an opportunity…I just got to do my best and try my hardest and comeback and get the next batter.” Sayles was commenting on her thoughts after giving up that home-run in the top of the 8th inning.
So now, Canyon Lake will be taking on these same Panthers this Saturday with the first pitch at 1:00pm. New Braunfels High School will be the venue as CL can accomplish another first and go to the next round in this Post-Season, with a win.
Now that would be a logical Intentional happening. On your way, go get some Rolaids.
Go Hawks!!
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 R H E Navarro 0 0 3 0 2 0 0 2 7 9 2 CL Hawks 0 0 2 0 0 0 3 3 8 8 2 ab r h bi 3b hr bb so misc Marley Carrizales 4 3 3 0 0 0 1 0 sb 3 roe Kenzie Sayles 5 1 2 4 2 0 0 0 fc Bailey Bryan 1 1 1 2 0 1 3 0 sb 2 Maddy Puente 3 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 Adriana Peaslee 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 ph Kaitlyn Cox 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 Maggie Banks 4 1 1 1 0 1 0 2 Jessie Melendez 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 Adriana Zunker 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 ph Angie Rodriguez 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 roe Kay Puente 4 1 1 0 0 0 0 1 totals 35 8 8 8 2 2 5 7 pitching ip h r er bb so W L Maggie Banks 5.0 6 5 4 1 2 0 0 Kenzie Sayles 3.0 3 2 2 1 3 1 1 totals 8.0 9 7 6 2 5 pitches-strikes: Maggie Banks 77-43 Kenzie Sayles 55-37
