Lady Lions trade beaches for bats over Spring Break

The Lady Lions Varsity softball team expanded their district record to 4-0 and their season record to 15-5-1 as they faced formidable district and non-district opponents over Spring Break. There was no rest for the tough and talented Lady Lion team, who added one loss and three wins to their score sheet on the season.

Lady Lions v. San Marcos
On March 18, the La

dy Lion Varsity softball team defeated the scrappy San Marcos Rattlers 4-3 at Lady Lion Field.

Lockhart scored in the second inning, with Jamie Schulle driving the ball to center field for a single, but stretching her way to third on a San Marcos error. With Schulle in scoring position, Amanda Capello sent the ball screaming to deep left field to score Schulle on the sacrifice fly.

The Lady Rattlers battled back, run by run, tying the game 3-3 in the fifth.

The Lady Lions were determined, answering back in the bottom of the fifth when Brandy Stacks got on base and was moved into scoring position by Chelsea Capello. Taylor Rives brought Stacks home with a hard hit up the middle, bringing in the final run and closing scoring at 4-3.

Offensively, the Lady Lions were led by Rives (2-2 with a double), Schulle (2-3 with two RBIs), A. Capello (1-2 with a sacrifice fly), and C. Capello, Briana Ortiz, Veronica Escobedo and Stacks with a single each.

Rives shut the Lady Rattlers down at the plate, throwing outs and letting the defense work behind her.

Lady Lions v. Manor
The Luck of the Irish was not with the Lady Lions on St. Patrick’s Day as the team traveled to Manor for their third district match-up. However, despite their struggles, the Lady Lions managed a 2-0 victory over the Lady Mustangs.

According to Coach Alisha Homann, the Lady Lions were solid on pitching and defense, but lacking in run production. They struggled at the plate, leaving 12 runners on base, and “made things interesting” by going six innings without a run.

However, Homann said, when it was “Do-Or-Die Time,” the Lady Lions pushed through, putting two runs on the board and taking the victory.

The rally was started in the seventh inning, when Schulle led off with a line drive to right field. The Mustang short stop had trouble handling a hard hit from Rives, who made her way to first and moved Schulle around the diamond just in time for Escobedo to send a line drive to left field and score her. Rives was thrown out when she was caught in a run-down. Ortiz then stepped to the plate and sent the ball deep into center field, scoring Escobedo and taking the lead for the Lady Lions.

Schulle and Rives split pitching duties, with Schulle starting and throwing three complete innings, and Rives coming in for the final four.

Lady Lions v. Lehman
In their second district match-up on March 16, the Lady Lions embraced their home field advantage and trounced the Lehman Lobos 8-3.

The Lady Lions took advantage of several walks from the Lobos, which allowed runners to get to scoring position. Lockhart had a huge fourth inning, scoring five runs and continued to be consistent at the plate.

The Lady Lion defense was solid with only one error committed.

Rives delivered nine strikeouts from the mound and allowed the Lobos only three hits on the night.

Lockhart’s offensive standouts were Schulle (3-4), Chelsy Martinez (2-2), Ortiz (2-4), Escobedo (2-3 with a triple) and Rives with a double.

Lady Lions v. Pflugerville
On March 10, the Lady Lion varsity softball team faced the Pflugerville Hendrickson Lady Hawks in a non-district competition. Lockhart fought hard but came up short losing, 4-3.

The Lady Lions had trouble containing the Hawks’ aggressive base-running and had several errors.

Lockhart was hot at the plate, scoring two runs in the first inning and one in the fifth, but fizzled out, leaving nine runners stranded on base. The Lady Lions could not string enough hits together in the end to finish the game.

Big hits came from Stacks (2- 3), Taylor Rives (2-4), Escobedo (2-4 with two RBIs), Ortiz (2-2) and Schulle with a sacrifice fly and an RBI.

The Lady Lions will close the first round of district play at home tonight as they face district rivals the Elgin Lady Wildcats beginning at 7 p.m.
(Courtesy of Alisha Homann)