Lady Blues fall in district opener at Stephenville
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(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham’s Kathryn Hughes takes a big swing at the plate during one of the team’s games earlier this season. The Lady Blues lost their district opener at Stephenville 5-4 on a walk-off hit last Friday, March 22. -
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham’s Reese Calhoun winds up and releases a pitch during one of the team’s games earlier this season. Calhoun pitched a great game but ran into trouble in the final inning at Stephenville as the Lady Blues took a 5-4 loss in their district opener. -
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham’s Paris Tate begins her swing in the box as she tries to slap hit to get on base during one of the team’s games earlier this season. The Lady Blues lost their district opener at Stephenville 5-4 last Friday, March 22. -
(TC GORDON | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Graham senior Olga Morales makes a throw to first base for an out during one of the team’s games a few weeks ago. The Lady Blues traveled to Stephenville for their district opener last Friday, March 22 but they took a 5-4 loss.
The Graham Lady Blues were within one out of securing the win in their district matchup at Stephenville last Friday, March 22, but things took a turn for the worse and they ended up with a 5-4 loss.
After leading the entire game, the Lady Blues headed into the bottom of the seventh inning with a 4-2 lead over the home team Honeybees. Pitcher Reese Calhoun retired the first two batters on a ground out followed by a strikeout to set the team up for the win.
But then Calhoun struggled to find the strike zone as she walked the next two batters and then the third Honeybee bunted for a single to load the bases.
Stephenville’s pitcher roped a double to right fielder Zoey Harrell, which scored two runs easily. The third and game-winning run came around to score on the throw home from the outfield and the Honeybees walked off with the 5-4 win.
Stephenville only had one hit in the entire game heading into that final inning — a home run from their pitcher who also ended up hitting the game-winning double. The Honeybees had managed to get runners on base with a few walks but no real damage occurred.
Meanwhile, Graham had built up a 4-0 lead in the first three innings of the game, something the team had become accustomed to doing. Olga Morales led off with a single to right field and came around to score two batters later on a long triple from Meagan Brooks.
Emily Lawson kept the scoring going with a single in the next at bat to score Brooks and give the Lady Blues an early 2-0 lead.
In the third inning, Graham tacked on another couple runs with small ball and patient approaches at the plate. Lawson and Paris Tate started the inning with back-to-back singles. Stephenville managed to get two outs after that, but Mayci Ryans walked to load the bases and Kathryn Hughes singled to right field to bring in another run.
With the bases still loaded and returning to the top of the lineup, Morales worked a full-count walk to make it 4-0 in Graham’s favor before the Honeybees got out of the inning.
The home team’s only hit prior to the final inning came in the bottom of the fourth to make it 4-1. But Graham stayed strong and Calhoun continued to excel in the pitching circle to keep her team ahead.
Stephenville scored their second run on a walk, a sacrifice bunt and a Graham error to make it 4-2 in the bottom of the sixth inning, despite still only having one official hit in the game.
The Lady Blues had continued to get runners on base in almost every inning but couldn’t cash in any more runs. And finally, what looked like a solid district-opening win turned into an unfortunate loss.
Brooks finished the game 3-for-4 with one RBI, Lawson went 2-for-4 with an RBI and five other Lady Blues recorded hits.
After a Monday game against Brownwood, the Lady Blues will travel to Glen Rose as part of their district schedule with the first pitch at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, March 28.
