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Bayler Boatman (7) takes a big cut off of a pitch during the Lady Wildcats' Area playoff game against Ford Friday. Boatman batted 1/3 and scored two runs in the Lady Wildcats' 10-3 win. Photos by DJ Spencer -
Nicole Higgins (18) slides home for the first run of the game in the Lady Wildcats' Area playoff game against Ford Friday. Higgins had a stellar performance, batting 3/4, recording two RBIs, and scoring a run in the Lady Wildcats' 10-3 victory. -
Hannah Speed (14) delivers a pitch during the Lady Wildcats' Area playoff game against Ford Friday. Speed earned the victory in the circle, tallying seven strikeouts.
Higgins tallies three hits
COMMERCE — The Sulphur Springs Lady Wildcats earned an Area championship Friday following a 10-3 win over the Ford Lady Panthers in their one-game playoff series. Throughout the game, the Lady Wildcats capitalized on most opportunities and kept Ford off balance, leading to the win.
The Lady Panthers stepped up to the plate first, facing Hannah Speed in the circle. Ford went down in order after a fly out and a pair of strikeouts.
The Lady Wildcats stepped up the plate next. Their turn began with Emerson Thompson striking out.
They would gain a runner after Nicole Higgins hit a double. After Speed struck out, the bases loaded up when Bayler Boatman walked, and Reese Ragan was intentionally walked.
The Lady Wildcats would get on the board when Higgins scored on a passed ball, giving them a 1-0 lead. Their turn came to an end after Claire Thompson hit a fly ball for an out, closing out the first inning.
The second inning began with a ground out and a fly out. After a walk, a strikeout ended the Lady Panthers’ turn.
The bottom of the second inning started with Abbey Goldsmith being walked. Another runner was gained when KK Montgomery hit a single.
Two outs followed when Anahi Velasquez struck out and Emerson Thompson hit a fly ball for an out. Higgins would then hit a 2-RBI single, bringing Goldsmith and Montgomery home and extending the Lady Wildcats’ lead to 3-0. The inning would end when Speed hit a fly ball for an out.
The Lady Panthers were retired in order to start the third inning following a pair of fly outs and a strikeout.
The bottom of the third inning kicked off with the bases loading after Boatman reached base on an error, and both Ragan and Claire Thompson walked. This was followed by Goldsmith hitting a fly ball for an out.
On the next at-bat, Montgomery hit a 2-RBI single, bringing Boatman and Ragan home and increasing the lead to 5-0. Velasquez grounded out next, but Claire Thompson managed to score, extending the Lady Wildcats’ lead to 6-0.
Emerson Thompson would then bring Montgomery home with an RBI double, bringing the score to 7-0. The third inning then ended when Higgins struck out.
The fourth inning started with a runner reaching base on an error. Following a fly out, the bases loaded up after Speed hit the next two batters with pitches. From there, a strikeout and a fielder’s choice out ended Ford’s turn.
The bottom of the fourth inning started off with Speed being walked. Two outs followed when Boatman hit a fly ball for an out, and Ragan grounded out.
The bases then loaded up when both Claire Thompson and Goldsmith walked. Unfortunately, the Lady Wildcats couldn’t capitalize on a potential scoring opportunity, as Montgomery struck out on the next at-bat to end the inning, still leading 7-0.
The fifth inning started with a ground out and a strikeout. Following an error that led to a runner reaching base, a fly out ended the Lady Panthers’ turn.
The bottom of the fifth inning began with Velasquez grounding out and Emerson Thompson striking out. Though a runner was gained when Higgins hit a single, the inning came to an end when Speed grounded out, with Sulphur Springs still leading 7-0.
The sixth inning kicked off with a fly out. After a single, a two-run home run finally put the Lady Panthers on the board, trimming the score to 7-2.
Two more runners were then gained on a walk and a single. The next batter would ground into a fielder’s choice double play, ending Ford’s turn.
The bottom of the sixth inning started with Boatman hitting a double, and Ragan being intentionally walked. Consecutive outs followed when Claire Thompson hit a fly ball for an out, and Goldsmith grounded out.
Montgomery would then reach base on an error, and both Boatman and Brailie Blevins, who was pinch running for Ragan, scored, raising the score to 9-2.
Velasquez then brought Montgomery home with an RBI single, extending the Lady Wildcats’ lead to 10-2. The inning ended after Emerson Thompson grounded into a fielder’s choice, where Velasquez was tagged out at second base.
The seventh inning started with a strikeout. This was followed by a single.
After a fly out, an RBI single brought home another run, cutting the score to 10-3. From there, a ground out ended the game, as the Lady Wildcats polished off a 10-3 win.
As a team, the Lady Wildcats batted 8 for 28 (.286) from the plate. Higgins led the way with three hits. Montgomery added two hits, while Boatman, Emerson Thompson, and Velasquez recorded one hit each.
Montgomery was the leading scorer with three runs. Boatman scored two runs, while Blevins, Goldsmith, Higgins, Ragan, and Claire Thompson all scored one run each.
Speed earned the win in the circle. Over seven innings, she tallied seven strikeouts, allowing only five hits, three earned runs, and two walks.
With the win, the Lady Wildcats improved to 21-82 on the season.
The Lady Wildcats will play the Van Lady Vandals in the Regional Quarterfinals in a best-of-three series at Lone Oak High School. Game One is Wednesday at 6 p.m. Game Two is Thursday at 6 p.m. Game Three, if needed, would be Friday at 6 p.m.