Lady Bulldogs Battle Elements, Beat Ozona to Lock Up Second Place

MILES, TX-- In the midst of one of the worst dust storms in recent memory and 50 mph gusts blowing in, the Miles Lady Bulldogs were able to battle through to secure a 12-5 win against Ozona on Friday in Miles.

"We've played tough all year," Miles Head Coach Matt Jones said. "There hasn't been a game that we haven't been in. No matter what the score is, this group of girls comes back constantly. This is a fun group. They'll battle through anything, even 50 mph winds."

Ozona got the scoring started in the first inning to go up 2-0. The Lady Bulldogs answered right back with their first at-bats.

In the top of the first inning, sophomore Skyler Brooks laid down a bunt to utilize her speed to get an early base hit. An error by the Lady Lion first baseman let the ball roll far away and let the track-star Brooks round the bases for the return salvo from Miles.

"Our younger group has a lot of smart players who play softball in the summertime," Jones said. "Girls like Skyler and Tycie Lange, some of those girls, they play a lot of ball. They know the situations. They know on days like this you've got to keep the ball out of the air and use your speed to move the bases." 

Taylon Book would tie the game with one gone in the top of the first on a double past third base to score Tycie Lange. Megan McAda would give Miles a 3-2 lead with a single to shortstop to score Book from third base.

Ozona didn't go down without a fight and got within one run after trailing 6-3 in the bottom of the third. Miles, however, did not relinquish the lead and scored six more runs to close out the game.

McAda got the win in the circle for the Lady Bulldogs by going five innings in which she allowed five runs on 13 hits while striking out four along the way.

McAda helped her own cause by going 2-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored.

Leading the Lady Bulldogs offensively was Lange who went 4-for-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored in the win. Brooks went 2-for-3 with an RBI, three runs scored and a walk for Miles. Book also tallied a pair of RBIs in her 2-for-4 performance at the plate.

The win assures the Lady Bulldogs (12-6, 6-2) the second place spot in District 5-2A and a first round bye in the UIL playoffs. Miles will close out their season with a doubleheader against Menard on Tuesday, April 17, at 4 p.m.