Softball roundup: Richland stymies Birdville plus more results from Fort Worth-area

The Texas high school softball season is well underway, and so is district play. Here is a roundup of the action from Tuesday night plus in depth coverage of our game of the week.

Make sure to check out the baseball roundup too.

Game of the week: Richland senior pitcher stymies Birdville

Richland senior Jacey Lees tossed a two-hit shutout, striking out seven, as the Royals downed Birdville 2-0 in a District 7-5A showdown on Tuesday at Richland High School.

It was a pitchers duel between two of the top teams in 7-5A with Birdville (14-6 overall, 4-1 district), ranked No. 2 in the Star-Telegram Class 5A rankings, sending Reagan Jordan into the circle to face Lees and No. 3 Richland (16-5-3, 3-2).

There were only two base runners, one for each team, until the bottom of the fourth. Birdville catcher Haley Mennenga lined a ball off the left-center field wall with two out in the first inning, but the ball was hit so hard Mennenga had to stop at first and was stranded there.

Lees reached in the bottom of the first on a throwing error on a grounder to short, but pinch runner Callie Sawyer was doubled off of second for a double play to end the threat.

Jordan ran into trouble in the bottom of the fourth when Rachet Houston led off reaching on an error by the catcher on a throw to first. After Houston stole second and Lees lined out hard to first base, freshman Stacy Jennings followed with a soft bloop over first out to right field that scored Houston.

An out later, Chauncey Guerrero drove Jennings home with a rocket to right center that short-hopped the wall for a double. Both runs against Jordan were unearned.

“This was a big game for us,” said Richland coach Stephanie Graham. “I felt like we were on their pitcher and we were making contact. I tell the girls that if we’re making contact then we’ll bust open at some point.”

In the top of the fifth, the Hawks got a two-out infield single by Valeria Bridges, but Emma Becraft followed with a screaming liner to third that was hauled in by Royals third baseman Maeleigh Self to end the inning.

Birdville hit two, deep fly outs to start the top of the seventh. But after Lees walked one of her two hitters on the night, she fanned the final hitter to secure the win.

“When Jacey’s rolling I like to leave her in and just let her go,” said Graham. “Our defense came through for Jacey. I think they had two hits, the one shot and the bunt, but our defense had a lot of put outs.”

Southlake Carroll handles Haslet Eaton

Southlake Carroll scored three runs in each of the fourth and seventh innings to help keep Haslet Eaton at bay in an 8-3 win in a District 4-6A game on Tuesday at Eaton High School.

Sinclaire Robinson got the win pitching a strong five innings for the Dragons allowing four hits and one earned run. Robinson struck out three and walked two.

Ava Ordaz starred at the plate for Carroll going 2-for-4 with a double, three RBI and two runs scored. Cate Stoklas went 1-or-4 with three runs scored for the Dragons.

Ava Jacinto went 2-for-4 for Eaton with a triple and two runs batted in.

Carroll, No. 5 in the Star-Telegram Class 6A rankings and No. 25 in the state in 6A according to the Texas Girls Coaches Association, improved to 3-1 in district and 19-5 overall.

Aledo run rules Brewer

Kennis Marx went 3-for-4 with two homers and Ana Flores had five runs batted in with a home run as the Ladycats rolled over Fort Worth Brewer 15-1 on Tuesday in a game halted after five innings.

Aledo (19-2 overall, 4-0 in District 5-5A), No. 1 in the Star-Telegram Class 5A rankings, scored seven runs in the third to go up 11-0 and put the game out of reach. The Ladycats pounded out 12 hits against Brewer (3-1, 7-14-2).

Taylor McKean was stellar in the circle for Aledo tossing five innings giving up two hits while striking out nine. Marx and Flores both scored twice with Marx knocking in four and Flores going 2-for-3 at the plate.

Byron Nelson keeps Keller Central winless in district

Trophy Club Byron Nelson pitcher Ava Weeke scattered five hits over five innings walking three and striking out four as the Bobcats ran away from Keller Central 12-3 in a District 4-6A game on Tuesday at Central High School.

Nelson (7-12-1 overall, 2-2 district), No. 9 in the Star-Telegram Class 6A rankings, will host No. 5 Southlake Carroll on Friday.

Central (10-13, 0-4) scored twice in the bottom of the fourth to cut the lead to 5-3, but the Bobcats put up three runs in the fifth and four in the sixth to put the game out of reach. The Chargers had six hits on the night.

Haltom takes down Sam Houston

Haltom rapped out four doubles on the night to help pound Arlington Sam Houston 19-3 in a District 8-6A contest on Tuesday at Haltom High School.

Tryniti Cortez had two of the doubles with Rachel Harris and Brianna Navarrete with one each for Haltom (6-18 overall, 4-1 district). Avary Daniel was the winning pitcher for the Buffaloes.

Boyd walks it off against Paradise

Mekenzie Wilson drew a bases-loaded walk in the bottom of the seventh to give Boyd a 2-1 victory over Paradise in a District 10-3A game on Tuesday at Boyd High School.

Abby Atkinson tossed a one-hitter and struck out 13 Panther hitters while walking three in the complete-game win for Boyd. Atkinson’s only hit allowed was a solo home run by Paradise catcher Reese Yoder in the top of the sixth that tied the game 1-1.

Lilly Lambert led off the game with a solo home run for the Yellow Jackets. It was one of six hits for Boyd.

Stephanie Salas went 2-for-4 at the plate for Boyd with Kayli Dobyns going 2-for-3 for the Yellow Jackets.