Lady Dawgs run-rule Lady Roos on the road 19-5
By TJ MAXWELL
Cove Leader-Press
KILLEEN – It didn’t take long for the Lady Dawgs to set the tone as they combined for seven hits, three walks and 13 runs in the top of the first inning of their 19-5 five-inning win over the Killeen Lady Roos in Killeen Tuesday night.
Senior Kristen Wasiak led the way with four hits and also reached on an error in her fifth at bat. Angelica Montanez, Anissa Amaro, Ezra Peterson and Sarina Gray each added multiple hits to the Lady Dawgs’ 14-hit night.
Cove head coach Bryan Waller liked what he saw in that big inning, but wanted to see his team keep that momentum.
“We stress keeping the momentum, he said. “I think they got ahead and relaxed a little too much. They’ve got to keep that focus. If they got 13 in the first inning, they should be able to get more in the next innings. Just make the game as short as possible.”
A lead-off single by Wasiak and a walk by Brooke Schmit put runners on before doubles by Alina Salazar, Montanez and Amaro; along with a single by Madalyn Scribner; opened up a 5-0 lead for the Lady Dawgs with no outs.
An RBI ground out by Peterson scored Amaro for a 6-0 Cove lead.
A two-out double Gray started another Cove rally before Wasiak reached on an error, Schmit drew another walk, Salazar reached on an error, and Scribner walked to set up a two RBI single by Montanez for a 10-0 lead.
Amaro reached on another Killeen error, scoring Scribner before Peterson knocked home Montanez and Amaro scored on yet another Killeen error for a 13-0 Lady Dawgs’ lead after a half of inning.
A two-run home run by Killeen’s Kendall Gross scored Deanndra Jones after she connected on a lead-off single to right field.
A Cove error allowed Jailene Garza to reach base, but Ava Cathcart was thrown out at third base on the play for the second out after singling to left field to reach.
A strikeout of Gabby Buendia by Cove pitcher Brooke Schmit ended the threat.
The Lady Dawgs added another run in the top of the second inning when Wasiak stole home after connecting on a one-out triple to the left field wall.
A two-out single by Killeen’s Jones put a runner on but the fourth strikeout by Schmit closed the door.
The Lady Dawgs managed two more runners in the top of the third but were unable to get them home.
A leadoff single by Gross went for not as a strikeout, fly out and line out closed out the third inning with Cove maintaining their 14-2 lead.
The Lady Dawgs added two more runs in the top of the fourth inning when Gray scored on a passed ball after getting hit by a pitch to reach and Wasiak scored on a Scribner walk after bunting to reach base.
Three-consecutive strikeouts by Schmit closed out the Lady Roos and set up the final inning of scoring for the Lady Dawgs.
A walk by Amaro and a line drive single to left field by Peterson put runners on before a single to shortstop by Gray scored Amaro and a single to right field by Wasiak scored Peterson.
The final Cove run came when Gray advanced home on a passed ball.
The Lady Roos attempted to keep the game alive in the bottom half of the inning, but they were only able to muster three of the eight runs needed to prevent the mercy-rule from being invoke.
A leadoff walk by Jones and a single by Landry Searcy put runners on and a double by Gross drove them both home for a 19-4 score. Garza then connected on a line drive single to left field to score Gross for the final score of 19-5.
“We’re young,” said Waller. “We’re still growing, still learning and still figuring out who we are, but overall we’re progressing where we need to and I’m happy with that.
“Our biggest strength is their love for each other. They care about each other and want each other to be successful. It’s transitioning back to a true team atmosphere on the field.”
Wasiak (4 for 5, 3B, 4R, RBI), Amaro (2 for 3, 3R, RBI, 2B, BB), Gray (2 for 3, 3R, 2B, RBI), Peterson (2 for 3, R, RBI, BB), Montanez (2 for 4, 2R, 3RBI, 2B), Scribner (1 for 2, 2R, RBI, 2BB), and Salazar (1 for 4, 2R, RBI, 2B, BB) accounted for Cove’s 14 hits.
Schmit picked up the win in the circle for Cove. She allowed five earned runs on nine hits while striking out nine and walking one in five innings.
Gross was 3 for 3 with a home run, two runs and four RBIs to lead the Lady Roos. Jones ( 2 for 2, 2R, BB), Searcy (1 for 3, R), Cathcart (1 for 3), Garza (1 for 3, RBI), and Imani Davis (1 for 3) accounted for the rest of Killeen’s nine hits.
Cathcart suffered the loss in the circle. She allowed 19 runs, 10 earned, on 14 hits while striking out two and walking eight.
The Lady Dawgs are currently competing in the Marble Falls tournament where they opened tournament play with a 10-7 win over Canyon Lake before ending day one against Lampasas. The Lady Dawgs face SA Churchill and Sharyland Pioneer today before closing the tournament out on Saturday against Marble Falls and Harker Heights.
The return to District 12-6A action on March 3 at home against Ellison.
“I just want them to keep from guessing at the plate, see the ball better, work on timing, hit the ball hard and play good defense,” said Waller.