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Hannah Speed (14) takes her stance in the batter's box during the Lady Wildcats' game against Mabank Tuesday. Speed batted 3/5, scored three runs, and an RBI in the Lady Wildcats' 18-13 victory, including a solo home run in the sixth inning. -
Anahi Velasquez (16) catches a pitch during the Lady Wildcats' game against Mabank Tuesday. Velasquez batted 1/5 and recorded an RBI in the Lady Wildcats' 18-13 victory. Photos by DJ Spencer
SS recovers from slow start
The Sulphur Springs Lady Wildcats recorded a resounding comeback victory Tuesday, rallying back to defeat the Mabank Lady Panthers 18-13 at Ladycat Park. After falling behind 8-0 early on, the Lady Wildcats clawed back to take the win, pulling off a massive comeback.
The first inning saw the Lady Panthers step up to the plate first, where they faced Abbey Goldsmith in the circle. The Lady Panthers first gained a runner on a dropped third strike. Following a fly out, the Lady Panthers hit a double.
The next at-bat saw the Lady Panthers gain a runner on an error, and a score a pair of runs, taking a 2-0 lead. After a walk, a fielder’s choice led to an out. The next batter would be hit by a pitch, loading the bases.
The following at-bat ended in a walk, bringing home another run, extending their lead to 3-0. This was followed by a walk and a hit by pitch, bringing in two more runs and extending Mabank’s lead to 5-0.
A 3-RBI double on the following at-bat helped Mabank increase their lead to 8-0. A ground out on the next at-bat finally brought Mabank’s turn to a close.
The bottom of the first inning started with Emerson Thompson hitting a single. After Hannah Speed struck out, Reese Ragan would hit a single.
Soon after, Emerson Thompson scored on a wild pitch, bringing the score to 8-1. This was followed by Claire Thompson being walked.
After Goldsmith grounded out, KK Montgomery walked, loading the bases. Unfortunately, the Lady Wildcats weren’t able to capitalize on the opportunity, as Anahi Velasquez grounded out on the next at-bat, closing out the first inning, with Mabank on top 8-1.
The second inning started off with a walk. This was followed by consecutive strikeouts by Goldsmith. However, a batter hit by a pitch and a single would load up the bases.
After a dropped third strike, the Lady Panthers brought in two more runs, extending their lead to 10-1. A fly out on the next at-bat ended the Lady Panthers’ turn.
The bottom of the second inning started with Tatum Thompson hitting a single. On the next at-bat, Allison Frazier launched a two-run home run, trimming the score to 10-3.
Two base runners would be gained when Emerson Thompson hit a single and Speed was hit by a pitch. This was followed by Ragan hitting a 2-RBI double, bringing Emerson Thompson and Speed home, cutting the score to 10-5.
After Claire Thompson walked, Goldsmith grounded out. This was followed by Montgomery hitting a 2-RBI triple, bringing Ragan and Claire Thompson home and trimming the deficit to 10-7.
On the next at-bat, Velasquez hit an RBI single, driving Montgomery home and cutting the score to 108. The bases then loaded up when Tatum Thompson hit a single and Frazier walked. Emerson Thompson was walked on the next at-bat, bringing Katie Johns, who was pinch running for Velasquez, home and cutting the score to 10-9.
The Lady Wildcats’ turn would come to an end after Speed struck out and Ragan hit a pop fly ball for an out, closing out the second inning, with Mabank nursing a 10-9 lead.
The third inning began with the Lady Panthers hitting a single. Three consecutive outs followed on a fly out, a fielder’s choice out, and a ground out, ending their turn.
The bottom of the third inning began with both Claire Thompson and Goldsmith being walked. Unfortunately, three straight outs followed after Montgomery hit a pop fly ball for an out, Claire Thompson was tagged out advancing to third base, and Tatum Thompson struck out, closing out the third inning.
The fourth inning started off with a ground out. After the Lady Panthers hit a single, two more outs followed on a fielder’s choice and a ground out, ending Mabank’s turn.
The bottom of the fourth began with Frazier hitting a fly ball for an out. Two runners would then be gained when Emerson Thompson reached base on an error and Speed hit a double.
Though Ragan grounded out on the next at-bat, she was able to bring Emerson Thompson home, tying the score at 10-10. This was followed by Claire Thompson hitting an RBI single, driving Speed home and giving the Lady Wildcats an 11-10 lead.
On the following at-bat, Goldsmith hit an RBI single, bringing Claire Thompson home and extending the Lady Wildcats’ lead to 12-10. Though another runner was gained when Montgomery walked, the inning ended when Velasquez lined out.
The fifth inning started with the Lady Panthers loading the bases on a pair of singles and an error. The next at-bat resulted in a fielder’s choice, leading to an out and a run, as Mabank cut the score to 12-11. After an RBI single helped tie the score at 12-12, a runner stepped off base, leading to an out.
The Lady Panthers’ turn ended soon after on a fly out.
The Lady Wildcats would be retired in order during the bottom of the fifth inning, as Tatum Thompson grounded out, Frazier hit a fly ball for an out, and Emerson Thompson hit a pop fly ball for an out, closing out the fifth inning, with the score still tied at 12-12.
The sixth inning started with a single. Three consecutive outs followed after a strikeout, a fielder’s choice out out, and a pop out.
The bottom of the sixth inning began with Speed hitting a solo home run, giving the Lady Wildcats a 13-12 lead. The bases would then load up after Ragan walked, Claire Thompson was hit by a pitch, and Goldsmith walked. Montgomery would ground into a fielder’s choice next, but no outs occurred and Dotti Smith, who was pinch running for Ragan, scored a run, bringing the score to 14-12.
After Velasquez hit a pop fly ball for an out, Tatum Thompson swatted a 2-RBI single, driving Claire Thompson and Niya Yancy, who was pinch running for Goldsmith, home, raising the score to 16-12. This was followed by Frazier hitting a pop fly ball for an out, but Montgomery scored after tagging up, bringing the score to 17-12.
Tatum Thompson would score soon after on a wild pitch, bringing the score to 18-12. After Emerson Thompson and Speed walked, the inning ended after Ragan hit a pop fly ball for an out.
The seventh inning started with a line out. The Lady Panthers then gained two runners on a single and walk. This was followed by a fielder’s choice out.
An RBI single on the next at-bat brought home a run, as the Lady Panthers cut the score to 18-13. After a single, the game ended after a fly out, as the Lady Wildcats capped off an 1813 comeback victory.
As a team, the Lady Wildcats batted 14 for 34 (.412) from the plate. Speed and Tatum Thompson would lead the way with three hits each. Ragan added two hits, while Frazier, Goldsmith, Montgomery, Claire Thompson, Emerson Thompson, and Velasquez all recorded one hit each.
Speed, Claire Thompson, and Emerson Thompson all shared the title of leading scorer with three runs each. Montgomery and Tatum Thompson scored two runs each, while Frazier, Johns, Ragan, Smith, and Yancy all scored one run each.
Goldsmith earned the victory in the circle. Across seven innings, she managed five strikeouts, along with 13 hits, 13 runs (three earned), and five walks.
With the win, the Lady Wildcats improved to 8-72 on the season. They will be back in action Tuesday, when they travel to Bullard to face off against the Bullard Lady Panthers.