Midway connects with two homers in 15-0 run-rule win over Copperas Cove in District 8-6A opener

By TJ MAXWELL
Cove Leader-Press

Not much went right for the Copperas Cove Lady Dawgs in their District 8-6A opener against the Midway Pantherettes.
A three-run home run over the centerfield fence by Midway’s Daija Davis set the tone for the contest as part of a 17-hit night for the Pantherettes Monday night in Copperas Cove in the 15-0 run-rule win by the Pantherettes Monday in Copperas Cove.
“The physical skills of doing it is there,” said Copperas Cove head coach Bryan Waller after the loss. “We have to know what we’re capable of doing and want to do that as a team. There is so much more in these girls. There is so much more they can do, but we have to get over that mental hurdle – whatever it is that each of them has to get through. Once we get through that, this team will be what they are supposed to be.”
The second home run of the night – a two-run blast over the right-field wall by catcher Sophie Wideman – made it a 10-0 contest with no out in the top of the fourth inning.
“Midway hits the ball well,” said Waller. “They do the right things and that’s what I’m trying to get these girls to understand. There’s a right way to do things and a wrong way. We can be successful, but they have to trust what we’re saying, buy into it and work with it.”
A double-play ball to Cove’s Madalyn Scribner at third base ended the Midway threat.
Scribner recorded Cove’s only hit on the night with a single up the middle in the bottom of the second inning. 
The Lady Dawgs managed to get another runner on the base paths when Alina Salazar reached on an error in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Singles by Kaydyn Trochim and Wideman put runners on the bases for Midway’s first home run by Davis. 
A double by Cameryn Collier then made it a 4-0 Midway lead, scoring Faith Fernandez from second base after she reached on a single and advanced on an error.
The Pantherettes added another run in the top of the second inning when Trochim connected on a two-out triple before bounding home on a passed ball.
Singles by Davis and Fernandez put more runners on for Midway in the top of the third before a hit batsman and a wild pitch helped the Pantherettes plate three more runs for an 8-0 advantage.
A walk by Midway’s Caitlin Dobbs set up the Wideman blast in the top of the fourth.
Midway closed out the win with four more runs in the top of the fifth for the 15-0 score.
Singles by Emma Johniken, Tatum Seith and Wideman, along with a walk by Marlee Veloz, led the way for the Pantherettes in the inning.
“They have to know it’s going to be a tough game and not let the score board dictate their mindset,” said Waller. “They are able to control their attitude and their effort. That’s what I preach to them and I don’t think we did a good job of controlling our attitude and effort tonight. We could have been a lot better.”
Wideman was 3 for 4 with two runs and three runs batted in and a home run to lead the Pantherettes while Davis (2 for 3, 2R, BB, 3RBIs, HR), Fernandez (2 for 2, 2R), Trochim (2 for 2, 2R) and Collier (2 for 3, R, 2RBIs) contributed to the 17-hit night.
Scribner was 1 for 2 with Cove’s only single on the night.
Jazmine Gendof picked up the win for the Panthertters. She surrendered one hit in three innings while fanning four. 
Brooke Scmidt picked up the loss for Cove. She surrendered 15 runs (13 earned) on 17 hits in five innings in the circle.
The district slate doesn’t get any easier for the Lady Dawgs (3-5, 0-1 in District 8-6A) as they return home to face the no. 5 (Texas Girls Coaches Association) San Angelo Central Lady Bobcats on Tuesday after competing in the Gatesville Tournament this weekend.
“I want to see them want to be out here, have fun, work hard together and do what their supposed to do,” said Waller.