One big upset highlighted last week’s action in District 24-5A softball.
Clear Brook stopped Brazoswood’s unbeaten string with a 2-1 triumph. That put the Lady Wolverines firmly not only into the playoff chase but the title chase.
The Lady Bucs, ranked No. 2 in the area, were 20-0 at the time and cruising in district action before the Wolverines surprised them at Brazoswood.
Jill McGinnis pitched the triumph, giving up four hits to bring her overall mark to 13-3.
Brook coach Ashley Pillow called the game “A win for this program. I couldn’t be prouder of my girls.”
The Wolverines scored in the top of the first inning as Molly Fichtner’s groundball scored Amy Gonzales from third base. Gonzales opened with a walk and then stole second and third.
Brazoswood tied it 1-1 in the fourth. From there both teams put runners on base but neither scored until the seventh frame.
In that seventh Brook showed how teamwork can win games.
Michelle Svehla’s grounder was misplayed by the Bucs infield and she was safe on first. Erica Brody then moved Svehla to second on a perfect sacrifice bunt. Brook’s next batter, Bridgette Begle hit a line drive single between first and second and into the gap enabling Svehla to score the eventual winning run. Begle wound up on second and went on to steal third but could not be brought in for an insurance run.
But Brazoswood showed why they’re one of the state’s top programs in the bottom of the seventh.
Brook’s defense made standout catches deep in the outfield to get the first two outs. But the Bucs’ next batter hit a bullet to the fence for a stand-up double. The Wolverines walked the next better and McGinnis got the third out on a grounder to third-baseman Begle for the win.
“We are looking to build on that win and continue to take it one game at a time,” Pillow added. “We will have our hands full (Tuesday v. Pearland) but I think that we are ready mentally and physically for the challenge.”
The Wolverines were more than ready for the challenge as they defeated the
Lady Oilers 2-0 on Tuesday night, scoring both runs in the bottom of the fifth
inning. Jill McGinnis got the win allowing only three hits by Pearland. In
another game on Tuesday night Brazoswood edged Clear Lake 1-0 in extra innings .
The Bucs scored in the top of the eighth frame . Clear Creek is still struggling
and fell to 0-5 in district after a 6-2 loss to Alvin. [see Aces comments below]
Lady Wildcat coach Andrea Cash said the team’s “Defense is getting a little better but we are not hitting the ball.”
With the win over Brazoswood, Brook joins the corps of teams 4-1 [shoud be 3-2] in district, which includes Clear Lake, the Bucs, Alvin [not 4-1, but 3-3] and Pearland. It’s going to be a tight race all the way. Lake is 10-7 on the year.
Friday’s matchups see Brook hosting Creek and Lake hosting Pearland, all at 7:30 p.m.
On Tuesday, April 1, Brook is in Alvin and Lake is at Creek. Those games are
at 7 p.m.
Comments by Texas Aces Webmaster on Tuesday, March 25 games:
In the Clear Lake loss to Brazoswood in extra innings, with Beth Evans pitching a fantastic game for Lake, Brazoswood catcher Mallori Linscomb was hit by a pitch in the top of the 8th, and her pinch runner scored the eventual winning run for Brazoswood.
Clear Creek won their first district game as Michaela Adams and Katie Moulder combined for a one-hitter in a win over Ball.
Alvin was off on Tuesday, but beat Clear Creek on Thursday, March 20.
| Team |
District Record |
| Brazoswood |
5-1 |
| Clear Brook |
4-2 |
| Clear Lake |
4-2 |
| Pearland |
4-2 |
| Alvin |
3-3 |
| Clear Creek |
1-5 |
| Ball |
0-6 |
