AREA SOFTBALL: 5th Inning Hit Parade Keeps Wall in Title Hunt

WALL, TX -- An eight-run fifth inning helped the Wall Lady Hawks pick up their sixth straight win in a 12-5 come-from-behind win over the Brady Lady Bulldogs on Tuesday.

The Lady Hawks trailed 4-0 entering the bottom of the fourth and 4-2 entering the fifth inning. Wall then sent 11 to the plate in the fifth inning to score eight runs and take the lead.

Taylor Hunt tied the game with an RBI fielder's choice. The very next batter, Sloan Smith drove in a pair of runs on a single to right field to give Wall a 6-4 lead. Sophomore Kaitlyn Stephens capped off the scoring when an error on a ground ball enabled a pair of runners to score. Stephens would come around to score on a second error.

"That's the cool thing about hitting, it's contagious," Wall head coach Steve Bain said. "Our lineup, towards the bottom, they did an awesome job. That's one thing about hitting, it's contagious and it rolls on."

Brady took the lead in the fourth inning by plating four runs on two hits and an error. Only two of those four runs were of the earned variety.

"Brady is a tough team," Wall head coach Steve Bain emphasized. "They came out swinging and they went ahead. That's just how our district is this year. You just never know ... The kids showed a lot of heart today."

Smith would finish the day 3-for-4 with two runs scored and four RBIs. Senior Ashlynn Box went 3-for-3 with three runs scored and a walk to extend her on-base streak to 45 games and her hit streak to 19.

Brady's Alyssa Nino was one of two Lady Bulldogs to register a multi-hit game, going 2-for-2 with a pair of runs scored and a hit-by-pitch. Paige Bauer was 2-for-4 at the plate for Brady.

Izzy Vera earned the win in the circle after throwing 74 pitches in seven innings of work and allowing five runs, three earned, on 11 hits with three strikeouts. Katie McAnelly took the loss for Brady after six hard-fought innings where she allowed 12 runs, eight earned, on 10 hits and two walks against seven strikeouts.

The win moves Wall to 7-16 and 6-2 in district 4-3A. That keeps the second place Lady Hawks at one and a half games back from first place Ballinger after the Lady Bearcats beat Grape Creek. Tuesday's result also completed Wall's turnaround after starting district play with losses to TLCA and Brady last month.

"That just shows you their heart," Bain said. "They never give up, they play as a team, you know. That's how they are. As long as we keep doing that, the sky's the limit for these guys."

Wall will travel to Sonora this Saturday for a 10 a.m. game. Brady (5-4, 5-4) will host TLCA at the same time this Saturday.

Ballinger Runs Away from Grape Creek Behind Luna's Stellar Day

The Ballinger Lady Bearcats held their distance at the top of District 4-3A with a 12-2 win over Grape Creek in six innings on Tuesday.

The win was helped in large part from sophomore pitcher Daniella Luna's stellar day at the plate and in the circle.

Luna finished the day 3-for-4 with five RBIs, a double and a triple. She matched that by hurling all six innings and allowing two runs on three hits with 11 strikeouts.

The Lady Bearcats were also lifted by Jenna Battle's two RBIs. She went 2-for-4 with a pair of runs scored.

Grape Creek led 1-0 after the top of the first inning thanks to an RBI single from Morgan Fowler. She would finish the day 2-for-3 with the one RBI. Nita Betts picked up the other RBI for the Lady Eagles.

Ballinger ended the game on a sacrifice fly from Caitlyn Guillen in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Fowler took the loss for Grape Creek after allowing 12 runs on 18 hits and three walks with three strikeouts.

Ballinger (9-5-1, 8-1) will travel to Reagan County on April 8. Grape Creek (7-6, 5-3) hosts Reagan County this Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

Miles Dominates Twin Bill with Hamlin

The Miles Lady Bulldogs swept Tuesday's doubleheader with Hamlin in dominant fashion.

Miles won 21-0 in three innings for the first game and 23-9 in five innings in the second.

The Lady Bulldogs poured it on in the bottom of the second inning in the first game, sending 20 batters to the plate to score 15 runs. Skyler Brooks highlighted the inning with an inside-the-park grand slam.

Brooks would finish the day 4-for-4 with nine RBIs and eight runs scored.

Lizzie Syler picked up both wins in the circle for Miles. She through a total of 6.2 shutout innings where she allowed eight hits and struck out five.

Miles (10-11, 3-3) will travel to Winters this Friday to start the second round of district play.

Central Pulls into Fourth Place Tie with Win at Euless Trinity

The Central Lady Cats pulled into a tie for fourth place in district 3-6A with a 9-4 win over Euless Trinity on the road Tuesday.

The Lady Cats picked up the win behind 15 hits, six of which were doubles. Kaliegh Ochinang and Bailey Fulps each had a pair of RBIs. Ochinang finished 2-for-5 and Fulps was 1-for-4.

Sophomore Ashton McMillan picked up the win in the circle after striking out 13 batters in the win. McMillan also went 2-for-4 at the plate with a two runs scored.

Central was tied with Trinity at 1-1 heading into the sixth inning before tallying five runs on five hits and an error to take the lead.

Central (10-12-1, 4-4) will host district front runner Abilene this Friday for senior night.

Junction Run Rules Menard Behind Johnson's No-Hitter

The Junction Lady Eagles run ruled Menard 15-0 in three innings behind Jordan Johnson's no-hitter on Tuesday.

Johnson threw all three innings and didn't allow a hit, but walked a pair of batters and hit another two while striking out seven to pick up the win.

Junction's offense was highlighted by Macy McAdams who went 2-for-2 with three RBIs and a pair of runs scored. Dylan Tapia was the only other Lady Eagle to pick up multiple RBIs after going 2-for-2 with two RBIs and a pair of runs scored.

Junction jumped out to a 7-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning before adding another six runs in the second to take a 13-0 lead. McAdams put the game to bed with a two-run single in the bottom of the third.

Carmen Garcia took the loss for Menard after allowing 15 runs on 11 hits and eight walks in 2.2 innings.

Junction (10-7, 3-2) will host Mason this Friday. Menard (1-6, 1-5) will host Harper this Friday.

Scores from the area:

• Hermleigh 14, Winters 2
• Big Spring 16, Lake View 3
• Reagan County 8, Sonora 1