Posey Drives in 5 Runs, Morgan Fowler Shuts Down Sonora for District Win

SONORA, TX-- The Grape Creek Lady Eagles came from behind to beat the Sonora Lady Broncos 16-12 on a wet Tuesday at Sutton County Park.

"This [win] is huge," said Grape Creek's first-year Head Coach Cara Thiel. "I feel like, going into this game, we were a little disappointed in the way that we had played the past two games, even with a win over TLCA. So coming into a game like this and hitting like I know we can hit will give us confidence. That's really what we need because I'm new and the girls are still trying to learn me and learning to trust me. Having this confidence is going to help us tremendously."

Grape Creek led 5-1 after two-and-a-half innings before the Lady Broncos stormed back with seven runs in the rain during the bottom of the third inning to take an 8-5 lead.

Morgan Posey was hit by a pitch in the top of the fourth inning when Rose Bannert scampered home. After a passed ball scored Sonora's Dekota Morrow in the bottom of the inning, Gaby Zapata doubled through the right side of the infield, scoring Alex Torres from second base to grow Sonora's lead to 10-6.

The center fielder, Morrow, would be charged an error after dropping a pop-fly from Posey in the top of the sixth inning which scored two runs for the Lady Eagles. Morgan Fowler was plated on a passed ball from Sonora catcher Jackilyn Sykes before Hayley Robinson drove in Posey with a single to center field to tie the game at 10.

In the same inning, Robinson made it to third on a passed ball. That same passed ball found it's way near Sonora's dugout where assistant coach Troy Wellmann picked it up. The umpires deemed the ball went out of play at that moment, giving Robinson a free pass to home plate to give Grape Creek an 11-10 lead.

"Honestly, sometimes, I think being clueless is good," Thiel laughed. "Our girls really didn't know what was going on [in the sixth inning]. Our girls don't overthink things. So, when things like that happen, we just roll with it and that's good."

Sonora would regain the lead at 12-11 in the bottom of the inning on a pair of RBI singles from Aislin Nixon and Kristin Garrett.

Thanks to another five-run inning in the top of the seventh inning, the Lady Eagles went back on top for good.

"I was very proud of the way our girls fought," Thiel said. "I feel we have not done that all year long and this is kind of a new thing for this team, not giving up and fighting 'till the end. I can tell you I went through every emotion. I was mad when we made errors. I was disappointed when we didn't make some plays. But, at the same time, when we came back and scored runs, I was proud of them."

In the bottom of the seventh, Sonora had runners on the corners with one out before Fowler forced a pair of ground outs to close out the game.

Fowler came on in the fifth inning for Bannert after she went four full innings allowing 10 runs on 10 hits. Fowler shut the door on Sonora by allowing two runs on six hits in three innings of work to get the winning decision.

"I felt like [Sonora] was coming up on seeing [Rose] four times," Thiel said. "They were hitting off her and I knew then I wanted to make a change.

"Morgan Fowler is very mentally strong. When I put her in situations, she's going to compete and that's what I'm proud of for her. She did a good job just competing and getting outs. That's all I can ask of her."

The losing decision went to Danyse Cantu after a valiant effort in seven innings where the Lady Bronco hurler threw 177 pitches.

Posey finished the day 1-for-4 at the plate with five RBIs and two runs scored for Grape Creek. Robinson went 3-for-5 with three RBIs and three runs scored. Morgan Fowler and her sister, Caroline, combined for five hits and six runs scored.

Torres led the Lady Broncos offensively with a 2-for-5 day at the plate, two RBIs and three runs scored. Garrett, Morrow, Nixon, Zapata, Karah Martinez and Audry Nolen had multi-hit games for Sonora in the loss.  

The win moves Grape Creek to a 13-4 overall record and a 2-2 record in District 4-3A. The Lady Eagles are now just a half-game behind Reagan County, who plays Wall today. Next up for Grape Creek is Ballinger on the road at 5 p.m. on Thursday.

Sonora falls to 9-9 overall and 1-3 in district play. The Lady Broncos host Reagan County on Thursday at 5 p.m.