Softball teams open 2020 season

by By Michelle Dillon michelle@thecherokeean.com
Courtesy Photo
New Summerfield Lady Hornets Courtesy Photo
New Summerfield Lady Hornets

New Summerfield

The New Summerfield Lady Hornets lost their first scrimmage, 5-3, against John Tyler, but won their second, 13-11, over TK Gorman.

Head coach for the Lady Hornets is Aaron Warren who is in his second year at New Summerfield. He has served 12 years overall as an assistant with his last job prior to New Summerfield being in Rusk. Braden Robey serves as assistant softball coach.

Although the team went without a victory during the 2019 season, Warren believes “the future is bright in New Summerfield as we battle through a lack of experience on the field.”

Warren continued, “After a tough 2019 season in which pitchers Madison Rawlinson and Madison Zavalla, both new to pitching, struggled for consistency, we expect much more solid performances this season. With upperclassman leadership coming from Natalie Neeley behind the plate and Melissa Rocha at first base, it will hopefully push the younger girls. Jennifer Aguilar is moving from second base to short stop and will help solidify the defense. Seniors Alexis Donnell and Kelly Uribe are coming back after not playing last year. They will help with experience also.”

The Lady Hornets lost to Cushing, 23-8, on Tuesday, Feb. 18, but picked up a win over Latexo, 14-12, on Friday, Feb. 21, despite having only two hits and recording two errors.

In the game against Latexo, the team allowed the Lady Tigers to score four runs at the top of the first and plated only three runs of their own. Three Latexo runners crossed home at the top of the second, but the Lady Hornets scored in double digits, putting 11 runs on the scoreboard to lead, 14-7. The Lady Tigers plated five runs in the top of the third inning, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the deficit.

Zavala pitched the three-inning game, striking out five batters.

The Lady Hornets were slated to play at Fruitvale Tuesday, Feb. 25, and will travel to Apple Springs for a game beginning at 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 28. The team will travel to Eustace Tuesday, March 3, with a game start time of 4:30 p.m.

Troup

The Troup Lady Tigers opened their season against the Grand Saline Lady Indians, dropping the 10-inning game by a single run, 3-2.

“The fight that was shown between both teams was unbelievable,” Troup Head Coach Sam Weeks commented. “Nobody was going to give up at any point in time. The Lady Tigers did a great job working together and keeping everyone ‘up’ throughout the entire game.”

Runners scoring for Troup were freshman Karsyn Williamson and sophomore Lindsay Davis.

Davis pitched the entirety of the game against Grand Saline and struck out 19 batters, allowing only four walks and two earned runs.

The Lady Tigers hosted the Brownsboro Bearettes Friday, Feb. 22. The game resulted in a win for Troup, leveling their record, 1-1.

The game was scoreless through the first four innings. Brownsboro scored in the top of the fifth and the Lady Tigers tied the game 1-1 in the bottom of the sixth. Neither team was able to score in the seventh inning. During the eighth inning, a walk-off by Jessie Minnix allowed Davis to score the winning run.