Softball: Hawks Prepare for Navarro in Bi-District Best of 3
Canyon Lake Softball will start their post-season on Wednesday at the Hawk Nest when Navarro will be the opponent in this best of three Bi-District contest.
The Hawks lost an earlier game this year against Navarro by one run, 7-6 and will look to turn those results around this time with the first pitch starting at 6:30pm at the Hawk Nest.
In that first outing, The Lake had more hits in their loss but errors would prove to be the downfall with two unearned runs leading to that one run downfall.
Kenzie Sayles walked 4 batters and matched that with 4 strikeouts in this heartbreaker. At this writing the Hawks have not decided on their starter in this first game but one of CL’s assets is having the ability to use both pitchers if the game calls for a change in the circle.
Navarro waltzed through their district undefeated and scoring double digit runs which will be one of the objectives in keeping this powerful team on the bench and not allowing extra at bats based on those field miscues that helped lead to that earlier set back.
Kenzie Sayles was on that last Hawk team that made the playoffs which ironically pitted these same two teams in a first round Bi-District battle.
Canyon Lake came out on top sweeping the Panthers, 8-7 & 10-9 as they continued three post-season trek that season and finished as an Area Finalist.
On thoughts entering post-season play as a Senior this time around, “I feel anxious and excited,” Sayles said. “We know how they play and if we can take care of the our fielding then we have a chance.”
A first seed playing a 4th seed will usually have, a school that won district, choosing a one game scenario. That other choice is a best of three series and it is unusual for a first seed to opt for a series. With that first game coming down to a one run advantage might have had something to do with this being dubbed with more than one win or go home contest.
“Yeah, we might be in their head a little but they are not in ours as much,” Sayles continued. “We will need to hit more and stay above the ball and get more ground balls and that should help.”
Sayles has been an outfielder throughout her career and if not pitching she will take residence in left-field, “We are the last line of defense and with Jodi (Glen-Millhouse) in centerfield we know each other well.”
Canyon Lake has had the ability to make comebacks during district play and if Navarro gets out to a quick start then it won’t always result in a win if CL can make things interesting and allowing an, anything can happen, scenario during this time of the season.
“It makes us feel good and I am glad we have been able to come back in those games,” Sayles closed. “We just have to take care of our fielding.”
Another Senior, Centerfielder Jodi Glenn-Millhouse will be hoping for a chance to continue her Hawk career with a series win as Jodi follows Sayles who leads off in the batting order and gives CL a good one-two punch to open a game.
“I can either slap (the ball) or bunt and try to place it when I come to bat,” Glenn-Millhouse calculated. “I will just try to keep my head on my shoulders and do whatever the team needs me to do!”
Canyon Lake has been blessed with some good centerfielders these past few years and Glenn-Millhouse has not disappointed in the outfield these past two seasons.
“I try to back-up everybody (left & right fielders) and I will look to see if they (our outfielders) have a good angle to get to the ball.”
These two Hawks will have their sights on continuing their career as battles against a District Champion will have CL as an underdog but having a Boerne & Fredericksburg in the same district might play dividends when facing this Panther team and knowing that a few less fielding mistakes might have had that earlier game in the win column.
That is why they play the game and the Hawk Nation needs to be in the stands at the Hawk Nest to encourage these young Ladies.
Go Hawks & Beat Navarro!!