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Shelbi Ricketson (32) awaits the pitch in the batter's box during the Lady Lions' game against Sulphur Bluff Monday. Ricketson batted a perfect 3/3 and scored three runs in the Lady Lions' 18-3 victory, including an inside-the-park home run in the first inning. Photo by DJ Spencer
Saltillo locks up district title
SULPHUR BLUFF — The Saltillo Lady Lions clinched the District 17-1A championship Monday following an 18-3 road win against their heated rival, the Sulphur Bluff Lady Bears. After a close first inning, the Lady Lions turned up the heat in the second inning and never looked back, leading to the win.
The Lady Lions stepped up to the plate first. They immediately gained a runner when Ryleigh Redar reached base on an error. Later on, Redar scored on a steal of home, giving the Lady Lions a 1-0 lead.
Two outs followed when Lani Dean hit a pop fly ball for an out, and Harley Perez lined out. On the following at-bat, Shelbi Ricketson hit an inside- the-park home run, extending the Lady Lions’ lead to 2-0.
Two more runners were then gained after Jaylee Miller walked and Jordan Cartwright hit a single. Their turn ended when Gabby Ross hit a fly ball for an out.
The Lady Bears came to the plate next, facing Redar in the circle. After a ground out began their turn, the Lady Bears hit a single. An RBI triple on the following at-bat brought home a run, trimming the score to 2-1.
Following a walk, a sacrifice bunt brought home another run, tying the score at 2-2. A ground out followed, bringing the first inning to a close.
The second inning began with the Lady Lions immediately loading the bases after Jasmine Alonso reached base on an error, Jaelynn Miller hit a single, and Redar was intentionally walked. Dean was walked next, bringing Alonso home and giving the Lady Lions a 3-2 lead.
Perez would be walked on the next at-bat, bringing Jaelynn Miller home and extending Saltillo’s lead to 4-2. Ricketson then reached base on an error, bringing Redar and Dean home and making the score 6-2.
After Jaylee Miller walked, Cartwright grounded into a fielder’s choice, where Ricketson would be tagged out at third base. Despite this, Perez managed to score, raising the score to 7-2.
On the next at-bat, Ross hit an infield fly ball for an out. The Lady Lions’ turn ended soon after when Jaylee Miller was caught stealing home plate.
The bottom of the second inning began with a ground out and a strikeout. After the Lady Bears gained a runner on a walk, the next batter grounded into a fielder’s choice, where the runner was tagged out at second base, bringing the second inning to an end.
The third inning started with Alonso getting hit by a pitch. This was followed by Jaelynn Miller grounding into a fielder’s choice, where Alonso was tagged out at second base.
Redar hit a single on the next at-bat, but another out occurred when Jaelynn Miller was tagged out at second base. Dean then hit an RBI double, bringing Redar home and extending the Lady Lions’ lead to 8-2.
On the next at-bat, Perez brought Dean home with an RBI double, making the score 9-2. Unfortunately, another out occurred when Perez tried to advance to third base.
The bottom of the third inning kicked off with a line out. After a single, and RBI single led to another run, as the Lady Bears trimmed the score to 9-3. Two more outs followed on a pop out and a pick off, ending the third inning.
The fourth inning started with Ricketson hitting a double. Jaylee Miller then grounded into a fielder’s choice, but no outs occurred. The bases then loaded up when Cartwright walked.
After Ross and Alonso both struck out, Jaelynn Miller hit a 2-RBI single, bringing both Ricketson and Jaylee Miller home and raising Saltillo’s lead to 11-3. The bases would load up again after Redar was intentionally walked for a second time.
Dean would then hit a 2-RBI single, bringing Cartwright and Jaelynn Miller home and raising the score to 13-3. After Perez walked, Ricketson swatted a 2-RBI double, driving Redar and Dean home and extending Saltillo’s lead to 15-3.
Jaylee Miller then hit a 2-RBI triple, driving Perez and Ricketson home and increasing the score to 173. After Ross reached base on an error, Jaylee Miller scored, bringing the score to 18-3. The third out followed when Cartwright was caught stealing third base.
The Lady Bears were retired in order during the bottom of the fourth inning, as Redar induced three consecutive ground outs, allowing the Lady Lions to cap off an 18-3 victory and clinch the District 17-1A championship.
As a team, the Lady Lions batted 11 for 19 (.579) from the plate. Ricketson led the way, batting a perfect 3/3. Dean and Jaelynn Miller tallied two hits each, while Cartwright, Jaylee Miller, Perez, and Redar added one hit each.
Redar finished as the leading scorer with four runs. Right behind her were Dean and Ricketson with three runs each. Jaelynn Miller, Jaylee Miller, and Perez scored two runs each, while Alonso and Cartwright scored one run a piece.
Redar earned the victory in the circle. Across four innings, she allowed only three hits, three runs, and two walks, also tallying a strikeout.
With the win, the Lady Lions conclude the regular season at 2-1 in district, finishing as district champions for the third time in four years.
The Lady Lions will now focus on the upcoming playoffs. Coverage of the Lady Lions’ playoff run will be published in upcoming editions of the News-Telegram.