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(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Pitcher Ruby Shaffer takes the mound for the Lady Blues in the top of the first inning during their Tuesday, April 1 matchup against the Lady Rams. Graham defeated Mineral Wells 6-5. -
(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Hannah Mason lined up at the ready defensively at shortstop for the Lady Blues in their matchup Tuesday, April 1. The team despite having some struggles in the field kept themselves within range of a comeback. -
(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Gabriella Reyes stationed behind home plate at catcher for the Lady Blues during their matchup Tuesday, April 1. Reyes would also spend time platooning at third base later in the game. -
(ALEX HAVARDANSKY | THE GRAHAM LEADER) Kloe Hammond makes solid contact with the ball while up to bat for the Lady Blues in the top of the first inning of their game Tuesday, April 1. Coach Kasey Williams said getting a feel for the pitcher was critical in eventually breaking through offensively.
The Lady Blues junior varsity softball team came back home to Graham and made the hometown community proud by picking up a big win over the Mineral Wells Lady Rams Tuesday evening.
What makes the win even more impressive is that it was a come from behind effort for Graham.
The Lady Blues struggled somewhat early in the first inning surrendering a run after a few wild throws led to the Lady Rams opening baserunner being able to make it all the way around the diamond and score to make it 1-0 Mineral Wells.
Despite this setback, and later going down 4-0 in the game, the score did not due justice to the work that Lady Blues starting pitcher Ruby Shaffer was putting in on the mound.
Shaffer struck out the side in the top of the 2nd and also made solid plays with runners in scoring position to keep the Lady Blues in the contest throughout. Junior Varsity head coach Casey Williams praised Shaffer after the game for her efforts.
“She came back when she needed to,” Williams said. “She got down in the count a few times but came back and did what she needed to do.”
The real story of this game began in the bottom of the third inning. As Williams said to her team after the game, the number one thing they didn’t do and improved upon was not watching strikes cross the plate.
This meant that the Lady Blues were aggressive at the plate offensively and consistently putting the ball in play which led to an eruption of runs in the home half of the third.
Hannah Mason got things started for Graham by hitting a single into left. Peyton Petty followed this up by drawing a walk to put runners on first and second base.
After putting in work on the mound, it was now Shaffer’s turn to show what she could do at the plate. Shaffer ripped a bases clearing double into the outfield, scoring both Mason and Petty to cut the Lady Rams lead in half 4-2.
The Lady Blues weren’t done yet though, After Shaffer stole third base, Gabriella Reyes walked on a hit-by-pitch and then Ariel Tucker hit an infield single to load the bases. With a chance to put their stamp on the game, Kloe Hammond rose to the occasion knocking in a 2-RBI single into left field scoring Shaffer and Reyes to tie the score 4-4.
The team wrapped up their offensive clinic with an infield hit by Blissany Little which was ruled a dead ball. This scored an additional two runs making it 6-4 Graham resulting in the inning being mercy ruled.
“I think we went through the lineup one time so everybody got to see the pitcher once and started hitting the ball.”
The Lady Blues will look to continue the momentum as they travel Friday, April 4 to Stephenville.
