Lady Lions dominate Round Rock Invitational

After a rocky start to their season, the Lady Lion varsity softball team proved they could play with the best in the area by bringing home the first place trophy this weekend after the Round Rock Invitational. The annual tournament included powerhouse teams, such as Canyon, Westwood, Stoney Point, Elgin, Round Rock, Waco Midway, Magnolia West, and many more.

In Frid

ay’s pool games, the Lady Lions faced off with Birdville, Killeen Ellison and Waco Midway. After falling 1-0 to Birdville, the Lady Lions dug in their heels, bouncing back to defeat Ellison (4-0) and Midway (1-0). After winning their pool, the Lady Lions entered the “Gold” Bracket, along with other top-notch competitors.

Although they got a slow start on Saturday, the Lady Lions found their stride, and took down their first opponent, McKinney, with a score of 7-4.

According to coach Alisha Homann, the Lady Lions couldn’t quite get their bats going until the fourth inning, when freshman Mikaela Flores led off the inning with a single. The hits multiplied from there as Amanda Capello and Taylor Rives added back-to-back doubles, Morgan Rives chipped in with a single, and Brandy Stacks and Briana Ortiz each picked up a double. Flores topped off the hitting fiesta with a shot to left field for a triple. Pitching for the Lions was senior Jamie Schulle, who struck out eight.

Lockhart then advanced to play a tough Stoney Point team, and once again coming up victorious, 1-0.

Junior pitcher T. Rives was focused on the mound, keeping the Stoney Point batters frustrated and off balance. She gave up only one hit for the game. Offensively, the Lady Lions struggled with the rise ball, Homann said, but eventually came through in the fifth.

M. Rives, a freshman, had the winning RBI to put Lockhart ahead. She was able to score Chelsea Capello who had reached base on a fielder’s choice. Other standouts at the plate were Stacks (2-3), Veronica Escobedo (2-3), Ortiz (1-2), and Flores with a single.

After a grueling day of play Lockhart moved on to the championship game, where they faced defending Class 4A State Champions Canyon High School. The Lady Lions entered the game nursing a collective bruised ego, after falling to Canyon on a run-rule game on Thursday.

Knowing they had to redeem themselves, the Lady Lions took the lead 1-0 in the first inning as Stacks reached first on a single. Freshmen slapper Mackinzee Griebel bunted Stacks over to second base while the clean-up hitter A. Capello hit a single to score Stacks and take the lead.

Lockhart added another run in the fourth inning as Ortiz hit a deep ball to left-center for a triple. Schulle then grabbed the RBI on a rocket hit to the first baseman to score Ortiz and bring the score to 2-0.
In the fifth, Escobedo landed a stand-up triple, which would turned into another run as A. Capello sent a long sacrifice fly to pick up the RBI, and the first-place-winning 3-1 victory.

Veteran pitcher J. Schulle pitched a stellar game from the circle, striking out five batters and keeping Canyon guessing with her drop ball. Solid defense came from C. Capello and Stacks. The battery throughout the tournament was A. Capello. The Lady Lions will begin district play at home on Friday, March 5 against Hays High School.

(Courtesy of Alisha Homann)