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The Sulphur Springs Lady Wildcats say a prayer before their game against Ford Tuesday. The Lady Wildcats earned a 12-8 victory in that game, improving to 5-1 on the season. Courtesy/David Carrillo
Ragan blasts two home runs
The Sulphur Springs Wildcats found the win column again Tuesday, defeating the Ford Lady Panthers 12-8 at Ladycat Park. In a high-scoring affair, the Lady Wildcats managed to come out on top, continuing their great start to the season.
The Lady Panthers would get on the board first in the top of the first inning with a pair of runs, taking a 2-0 lead. In the bottom of the first inning, the Lady Wildcats pulled ahead when Reese Ragan hit a grand slam, where Nicole Higgins, Bayler Boatman, and Claire Thompson also scored, giving them a 4-2 lead.
The second inning would be scoreless, with both defenses playing well. The Lady Panthers then scored a run in the top of the third inning, trimming the score to 4-3.
In the bottom of the third inning, the Lady Wildcats added onto their lead when Claire Thompson and KK Montgomery scored on a 2-RBI double by Ragan, bringing the score to 6-3.
The top of the fourth inning saw the Lady Panthers score another run, bringing the score to 6-4. The Lady Wildcats scored again in the bottom of the fourth inning when Emerson Thompson scored after stealing home plate, extending Sulphur Springs’ lead to 7-4.
The fifth inning would be scoreless, with both defenses playing well. In the sixth inning, the Lady Wildcats went on another scoring run.
Their next score came when Emerson Thompson scored on an RBI double by Boatman, bringing the score to 8-4. On the next atbat, Boatman scored on an error, making the score 9-4.
Soon after, Ragan launched a three-run home run, where Claire Thompson and Montgomery also scored, raising the score to 12-4 before the inning ended.
Though the Lady Panthers tried to fight back with four runs in the seventh inning, they weren’t able to keep the game going, as the Lady Wildcats closed out a 12-8 victory.
As a team, the Lady Wildcats batted 9 for 29 (.310) from the plate. Ragan led the way with three hits. Anahi Velasquez added two hits, while Boatman, Higgins, Montgomery, and Claire Thompson added one hit each.
Claire Thompson was the leading scorer with three runs. Boatman, Montgomery, Ragan, and Emerson Thompson all scored two runs each, and Higgins added one run.
Abbey Goldsmith earned the win in the circle. Across seven innings, she struck out six batters, conceding 11 hits, eight runs (six earned), and three walks.
With the win, the Lady Wildcats improved to 5-1 on the season. They resumed action Thursday, competing in the Mount Pleasant Tournament.