Marble Falls softball ends first week with wins
Courtesy photo
The Marble Falls High School softball team went 2-4 at the Ingram-Kerr County Softball Tournament Feb. 12-14.
The Lady Mustangs began the event by beating C.H Yoe 11-1 and Spring Woods 23-0 then lost to Plano 3-1, Giddings 7-4, College Station 9-2 and Southlake Carroll 28-3.
While the Lady Mustangs (3-4) didn’t get the ending they wanted, head coach Alex Lozoya had nothing but praise for how the first week of the season began, which includes a 14-1 victory against Round Rock McNeil Feb. 9.
“Everyone is doing a good job of putting the ball in play,” he said. “We are getting to situations where teams have to trade runs for outs. Very proud of how everyone else is competing.”
Sophomore pitcher Brooklynn Damico led the defensive effort during the win against Yoe.
Sophomore pitcher Callie Phillips picked up the win the in the circle and hit two homers against Woods.
Junior Jocelyn Suarez hit a homer against Yoe and Woods.
During the victories, Marble Falls has outscored opponents 48-2.
Lozoya noted the players are displaying several traits at the plate that are resulting in runs: patience, seeing the ball better, and taking the pitch count deep.
“I think it’s a mix,” he said. “The girls are doing a good job of hitting the ball where it’s pitched, taking walks and just focusing on striking the ball well.”
He credited the pitchers for forcing batters to hit into routine plays and their teammates for making them.
“Brooklynn and Callie are doing a great job of pounding the zone and working around it when they are ahead,” the coach said. “The defense has stepped up to make the routine plays and keep our innings short.”
The program’s veterans have attacked various parts of the offseason to improve in numerous ways. Their weight room work in evident in how far the ball is traveling off their bats and how fast they are running the bases. It’s evident in how they are making routine defensive plays and forcing opponents to hit into gaps to get on base.
“Our upperclassmen are doing a great job being an example for our newcomers,” Lozoya said. “Jocelyn and Callie are leading it offensively, (senior) Cheyenne Thompson is having very productive and team friendly at-bats. It’s great to see this early in the season.”
Marble Falls will travel to play at Fischer Canyon Lake Tuesday Feb. 17, with the junior varsity playing at 5 p.m. and the varsity to follow at 7 p.m.
Then the Lady Mustangs host their own tournament Thursday-Saturday, Feb. 19-21. They face Little River Academy at 3:30 p.m. and Saginaw at 7:30 p.m., both Feb. 19, Bastrop at 1:30 p.m. and Killeen Chaparral at 7:30 p.m., both Feb. 20, and Canyon Lake at 1 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 21.
“We look forward to getting better every time out,” the coach said. “The newcomers seem to be getting in a good groove, things are going well now, and we look forward to keeping it going.”
