Lady Wildcats sweep Bi-District playoff series against the Brownsboro Bearettes

ATHENS — The Sulphur Springs Lady Wildcats won their Bi-District playoff series against the Brownsboro Bearettes this past weekend, sweeping Brownsboro two games to none. After a close win in the first game, the Lady Wildcats won the second game in shutout fashion, advancing to the second round of the playoffs.

GAME ONE

SULPHUR SPRINGS 5

BROWNSBORO 2

The Bearettes stepped up the plate first, where they faced Hannah Speed in the circle. Brownsboro was retired in order after Speed recorded three consecutive strikeouts.

The Lady Wildcats stepped up the plate next. Sulphur Springs was likewise retired in order after both Emerson Thompson and Nicole Higgins grounded out, and Speed hit a fly ball for an out, ending the first inning.

The second inning started with the Bearettes gaining two runners on a walk and a double. A pair of strikeouts followed.

Then, an error led to a pair of runs, giving the Bearettes a 2-0 lead. Following a double, a fly out ended their turn.

The bottom of the second inning began with Bayler Boatman hitting a double. Then, Reese Ragan launched a two-run home run, where Boatman also scored, tying the score at 2-2.

Two outs followed when Claire Thompson struck out and Abbey Goldsmith grounding out. After another runner was gained when KK Montgomery hit a double, the inning ended when Anahi Velasquez grounded out, ending the second inning in a 2-2 tie.

The third inning kicked off with a ground out. After the next batter was hit by a pitch, a strikeout and fly out followed, ending the Bearettes’ turn.

The bottom of the third inning began with Emerson Thompson hitting a single. On the next at-bat, Higgins swatted a two-run home run, where Emerson Thompson also scored, to give the Lady Wildcats a 4-2 lead.

Unfortunately, three consecutive outs followed when Speed hit a fly ball for an out, Boatman grounded out, and Reese struck out, ending the third inning.

The Bearettes were retired in order to begin the fourth inning, as Speed induced three consecutive fly outs.

The bottom of the fourth inning started with Claire Thompson grounding out. After a runner was gained when Goldsmith walked, the inning ended after Montgomery and Velasquez both hit fly balls for outs, with the Lady Wildcats maintaining their 4-2 lead.

The Bearettes once again went down in order to begin the fifth inning, following a strikeout, a fly out, and a ground out.

The bottom of the fifth inning started with Emerson Thompson striking out. A runner was then gained when Higgins hit a single.

After Speed hit a fly ball for an out, another runner was gained when Boatman hit a double. Soon after, Higgins managed to score, raising the score to 5-2. The inning then ended when Ragan hit a fly ball for an out.

The Bearettes would be retired in order once again to start the sixth inning, following two strikeouts and a fly out.

The bottom of the sixth inning started with Claire Thompson hitting a pop fly ball for an out. Following a single by Dotti Smith, Montgomery hit a single, but Smith was tagged out at second base. The inning ended when Velasquez grounded out.

The seventh inning started with a pop out and a strikeouts. Following a triple, another strikeout ended the game, allowing the Lady Wildcats to cap off a 5-2 victory.

As a team, the Lady Wildcats batted 9 for 26 (.346) from the plate. Boatman, Higgins, and Montgomery led with two hits each, while Ragan, Smith, and Emerson Thompson added one hit each.

Higgins was the leading scorer with two runs. Boatman, Ragan, and Emerson Thompson all scored one run each.

Speed earned the victory in the circle. Over seven innings, she struck out 11 batters, allowing only three hits, two runs, and one walk.

GAME TWO

SULPHUR SPRINGS 12

BROWNSBORO 0

The Lady Wildcats stepped up to the plate first. The game started with a pair of outs after Emerson Thompson hit a fly ball for an out, and Higgins grounded out.

Speed then hit a single, and managed to score a run on an error, giving the Lady Wildcats a 1-0 lead. This was followed by Boatman hitting a single.

On the next at-bat, Ragan launched a two-run home run, where Boatman also scored, raising the score to 3-0. Their turn came to an end when Claire Thompson grounded out.

The Bearettes came to the plate next, once again facing Speed in the circle. They were retired in order following a fly out and a pair of strikeouts.

The second inning began with Goldsmith hitting a fly ball for an out. Two runners were then gained after Montgomery hit a single, and Velasquez reached base on a fielder’s choice.

Emerson Thompson then hit a 2-RBI double, bringing Montgomery and Brailie Blevins, who was pinch running for Velasquez, scored and raised the Lady Wildcats’ lead to 5-0. Their turn would then end after Higgins hit a fly ball for an out, and Speed ground out.

The bottom of the second started with a walk. From there, three straight outs followed on a pair of strikeouts and a fly out, with Sulphur Springs holding a 5-0 lead.

The third inning began with Boatman hitting a fly ball for an out. After that, Ragan hit a single.

Claire Thompson then hit a single, and Ragan managed to score on an error, bringing the score to 6-0. After Goldsmith grounded out, Claire Thompson scored on a passed ball, raising the score to 7-0.

Though another runner was gained when Montgomery hit a triple, their turn ended when Velasquez hit a fly ball for an out.

The Bearettes were retired in order during the bottom of the third inning, as Speed recorded three consecutive strikeouts.

The fourth inning began with Emerson Thompson launching a solo home run, extending the Lady Wildcats’ lead to 8-0. This was followed by Higgins lining out.

The bases then loaded up when Speed walked, Boatman reached base on an error, and Ragan walked. Soon after, Tatum Thompson, who was pinch running for Speed, and Boatman scored on a passed ball, bringing the score to 10-0.

Claire Thompson grounded out next, but managed to bring Ragan home, making the score to 11-0. After Goldsmith walked, their turn ended when Montgomery hit a fly ball for an out.

The bottom of the fourth inning kicked off with a line out and a fly out. After a walk, a strikeout ended the inning.

The fifth inning started with Allison Frazier hitting a single, and made it to third base on an error. This was followed by Emerson Thompson grounding out, but Frazier managed to score, bringing the score to 12-0.

Their turn ended after both Higgins and Speed hit fly balls for outs.

The Bearettes were retired in order during the bottom of the fifth inning, as Speed struck out the first three batters, ending the game and winning the game 12-0 and the series 2-0.

As a team, the Lady Wildcats batted 10 for 27 (.370) from the plate. Montgomery, Ragan, and Emerson Thompson led with two hits each, while Boatman, Frazier, Speed, and Claire Thompson added one hit each.

Ragan finished as the leading scorer with three runs. Boatman added two runs, while Blevins, Frazier, Montgomery, Speed, Claire Thompson, Emerson Thompson, and Tatum Thompson all scored one run a piece.

Speed pitched a no-hitter in the circle, striking out 11 batters and conceding only two walks.

With these wins, the Lady Wildcats improved to 20-8-2 on the season. They also advanced to the Area round of the playoffs.

The Lady Wildcats will play the Ford Lady Panthers in the second round of the playoffs. The game will be Friday, 5 p.m. at Commerce High School.

Continued coverage of the Lady Wildcats’ playoff run will be published in upcoming editions of the News-Telegram.