Marble Falls softball beats Taylor

CAPTION: The Marble Falls High School softball program celebrated third baseman Cheyenne Thompson and manager Harlie Penny, who are both seniors (each holding flowers), before playing Taylor. Courtesy photo

The Marble Falls High School softball team defeated Taylor 3-2 March 27 in District 24-4A play.

It’s the first time this season the Lady Mustangs have won back-to-back district games.

“Both have been one-run games where the kids feel ‘hey, we won one on the road where we had to shut them down on defense (against Jarrell 6-5 March 18) and then we won (March 27),” head coach Alex Loxoya said. “I”m not going to say it was a pitchers’ duel, but it was defense making plays, it was us putting good barrels on the ball and their defense making the play and vice versa.”

With the game tied at 2-2 in the bottom of the seventh inning, sophomore Callie Phillips led off with a single and took two bases on a bunt by freshman Abigail Suarez. Then junior Jocelyn Suarez hit a game-winning RBI double.

“Callie and Jocelyn played well,” the coach said. “Callie went off the hit, Abby did a good job of bunting her over, and Callie went first to third on a bunt instead of being stuck at second. Then Jocelyn gets the hard line drive up the middle to score her and win the game. Even though it was 2-0, 2-1, it never felt like we lost control of that game.”

Freshman Adyson Floyd got the scoring going thanks to hitting a 2 RBI single off the wall in the first inning.

Taylor’s Chandler Woodruff responded with a solo home run over center field in the fourth inning then hit into a fielder’s choice that brought another run home to tie the contest in the top of the sixth inning.

“We didn’t play a ball very well in right field,” the coach said. “We always talk about peer leadership. I don’t think I ever took a circle visit (to talk to sophomore pitcher Brooklynn Damico). I looked up, and there’s Jocelyn Suarez with the group in the circle. Her and Callie are like ‘we’re fine, we got this.”

With a Lady Duck at third and no outs, Abigail Suarez caught a pop-up for the first out, Jocelyn Suarez got a grounder and threw home. Though it was a little high, Phillips caught it, but it wasn’t in time to keep the runner from scoring. Realizing she could still get the runner out a first, Phillips fired to Floyd for the out.

“I thought Callie did a good job of catching it and making the tag,” Lozoya said. “In my opinion, she got the tag on the helmet before the foot crossed the base. The umpire didn’t see it that way. She didn’t really wait for the call after she tagged the girl. The girl who hit it probably could have taken second. Callie didn’t focus on the call — she hung with the play, turned her feet and made a throw to first base and got the out. I think the next girl was one Brooklynn struck out.”

Then Damico struck out the next batter to end the inning.

Damico earned the win by allowing one earned run off three hits and three walks while striking out three in seven innings.

Taylor pitcher Payton Burrow was credited with the loss by allowing three runs off nine hits and three walks with nine strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.

Phillips led with four hits, while Floyd had 2 RBI and a walk and Jocelyn Suarez had 1 RBI.

Lozoya credited assistant coach Aspen Howie for helping the players make adjustments, the players for executing and the upperclassmen for empowering their teammates and stating how much they believe in each other to make the plays to ensure a win.

Marble Falls welcomes Georgetown Gateway Tuesday, March 31, then takes a road trip to Lampasas Thursday, March 2. The junior varsity playing at 5 p.m. then varsity at 7 p.m.

Because of the Easter holiday, District 24-4A is scheduled to play games Tuesday and Thursday. But Lozoya noted that games may be moved because of weather.

“We might end up going on the next available date,” he said. “All we can focus on right now is let’s have a good practice Monday (March 30) and we get to host Gateway at home.”