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Abbey Goldsmith (5) delivers a pitch during the Lady Wildcats' game against Paris Wednesday. Goldsmith pitched a no-hitter in the Lady Wildcats' 23-0 victory. She also scored a run on offense. -
Reese Ragan (20) takes a big cut off of a pitch during the Lady Wildcats' game against Paris Wednesday. Ragan batted 1/3, recorded three RBIs, and scored two runs in the Lady Wildcats' 23-0 victory. Photos by DJ Spencer -
Nicole Higgins (18) takes a lead off from second base during the Lady Wildcats' game against Paris Wednesday. Higgins batted 1/1, recorded three RBIs, and scored four runs in the Lady Wildcats' 23-0 victory.
Goldsmith pitches no-hitter
PARIS — The Sulphur Springs Lady Wildcats started district play with a bang Wednesday, annihilating the Paris Lady Wildcats 23-0 on the road. The game’s outcome would be determined right away, as Sulphur Springs put up 15 runs in the first inning and never looked back, paving the way for a shut out.
Their win would also be highlighted by pitcher Abbey Goldsmith pitching a no-hitter.
Sulphur Springs stepped up to the plate first, and immediately loaded the bases after Emerson Thompson walked, and both Nicole Higgins and Hannah Speed were hit by pitches. Soon after, Reese Ragan reached base on an error, and Emerson Thompson scored, giving Sulphur Springs a 1-0 lead.
Bayler Boatman walked on the next at-bat, bringing Higgins home and raising the score to 2-0. On the next at-bat, Claire Thompson grounded into a fielder’s choice, where Speed was tagged out at home plate. Despite this, Ragan would score on an error, bringing the score to 3-0.
After Goldsmith walked, KK Montgomery was walked, bringing Boatman home and extending the lead to 4-0. Soon after, Anahi Velasquez reached base on an error, and Claire Thompson scored, as Sulphur Springs brought the score to 5-0.
Sulphur Springs scored again when Braille Blevins, who was pinch running for Goldsmith, and Montgomery both scored on a wild pitch, raising the score to 7-0. This was followed by Emerson Thompson being walked.
On the next at-bat, Higgins hit a 2-RBI double, driving Niya Yancy, who was pinch running for Velasquez, and Emerson Thompson home and raising the score to 9-0. Speed was walked on the following at-bat.
Ragan would then hit a 2-RBI double, bringing Higgins and Speed home and bringing the score to 11-0. The bases would then load up after Boatman and Claire Thompson both walked. Goldsmith was walked next, bringing Ragan home and extending Sulphur Springs’ lead to 12-0.
Montgomery was then hit by a pitch on the following at-bat, bringing Boatman home and rising the score to 13-0. Velasquez would be hit by a pitch next, allowing Claire Thompson to score and raise the lead to 14-0.
Emerson Thompson was then hit by a pitch, bringing Blevins, once again pinch running for Goldsmith, home and making the score 15-0. After this, Montgomery and Yancy, on base for Velasquez, stepped off their bases to facilitate outs, ending Sulphur Springs’ turn.
Paris then stepped up to the plate, where they faced Goldsmith in the circle. Paris would be retired in order following a fly out, a strikeout, and another fly out, bringing the first inning to a close, with Sulphur Springs on top 150.
The second inning began with Higgins and Speed being hit by pitches. After Ragan was thrown out on a dropped third strike, Yancy grounded out, but Higgins managed to score, raising Sulphur Springs’ lead to 160. Their turn ended when Speed was caught stealing home plate.
The bottom of the second inning began with Paris gaining a base runner on an error. From there, three consecutive outs followed on a ground out, a strikeout, and another ground out, closing out the second inning, with Sulphur Springs holding a commanding 16-0.
The third inning started with Allison Frazier being hit by a pitch and Goldsmith being walked. On the next at-bat, Montgomery hit an RBI single, bringing Frazier home and making the score to 17-0.
After Velasquez was hit by a pitch, Dotti Smith would get hit by a pitch, allowing Goldsmith to score and raise the lead to 18-0. Higgins then walked on the following at-bat, bringing Montgomery home bringing the score to 19-0.
On the next at-bat, Blevins would hit a grand slam, bringing Velasquez, Smith, and Higgins home, raising the score to 23-0. After Ragan walked next, she stepped off her base to facilitate an out.
Yancy would then get hit by a pitch next, and soon stepped off base for an out. After Frazier was hit by a pitch, Sulphur Springs’ turn ended when Goldsmith hit a fly ball for an out.
The bottom of the third inning started with the Paris gaining three runners on a pair of errors and a walk. From there, a strikeout and a double play would bring the game to an end, as Sulphur Springs capped off a 23-0 run rule victory.
As a team, Sulphur Springs batted 4 for 10 (.400) from the plate. Blevins, Higgins, Montgomery, and Ragan all recorded one hit each.
Higgins finished as the leading scorer with four runs. Nor far behind was Blevins with three runs. Boatman, Montgomery, Ragan, Claire Thompson, and Emerson Thompson all scored two runs each, and Frazier, Goldsmith, Smith, Speed, Velasquez, and Yancy all scored one run each.
Goldsmith pitched a no-hitter in the circle, striking out three batters and walking only one.
With the win, the Lady Wildcats are now 1-0 in district and 9-7-2 on the season. Their next game is set for Tuesday, when they welcome the Pittsburg Lady Pirates to Ladycat Park.