AREA SOFTBALL: Pitching Proves Vital for Winters in Extras Against Miles

MILES, TX -- Behind gritty pitching from junior Miranda Rodrigues, the Winters Lady Blizzards picked up a 5-4 win over the Miles Lady Bulldogs in eight innings to open play in District 5-2A.

Rodrigues went the full eight innings, allowing four runs on 12 hits against five strikeouts and no walks for the win. More importantly, Rodrigues and the Lady Blizzards were able to hold Miles' Skyler Brooks, a .700 hitter, to just two hits and one RBI.

"Miranda's a seasoned pitcher," Winters head coach Kendra Bryant said. "She pitched for us all last season. So, she's been in situations like that."

Winters and Miles were tied after the third inning. The Lady Blizzards then scored three runs over the next four innings to take what seemed to be a commanding 4-1 lead into the bottom of the seventh.

Miles used back-to-back-to-back-to-back extra base hits, including three consecutive triples from Allie Kalina, Skyler Brooks and Cambree Schwartz to tie the game at four. Schwartz would be stranded at third to force extra innings.

In the top of the eighth, Arazeli Reyes drew a lead-off walk before advancing to third on a groundout and coming home to score on a wild pitch from Brooks. That run would prove to be the game winner.

"That's something we've been trying to hit hard, we've got to stay mentally focused," Bryant said. "No matter what happens, errors, hits, to come back to it and be like 'what do we have to do with this next play.' ... I'm so incredibly proud of them."

Miles couldn't capitalize on two at-bats with the winning run at the plate in the bottom of the eighth.

Saleen Jalomo was the only Lady Blizzard with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 at the plate with a pair of runs scored. McKenzie Ventress had the only multi-RBI day for Winters, going 1-for-4 with two RBIs.

Lizzie Syler ended up with no decision as the starter in the circle for Miles, going 6 1/3 innings and allowing four runs, three earned, on six hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Syler had a stellar day offensively, going 4-for-5 with a run scored.

Brooks took the loss for the Lady Bulldogs in 1 2/3 innings of relief for Syler. Brooks was charged with an unearned run on the wild pitch in the eighth. The Ole Miss commit went 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and two runs scored.

Winters (10-5, 1-0) will square off with Rotan on March 22. Miles (7-9, 0-1) will host Hermleigh this Saturday.

Stephens Sends Wall Fans Home Happy with Walk-Off Against District Leader Ballinger

The Wall Lady Hawks scored two runs on their final out to down district front-runner Ballinger 6-5 and inch within a game of first place in 4-3A.

Kaitlyn Stephens proved to be the hero for Wall after Julie Martinez committed an error on Stephens' ground ball in the seventh. That allowed Taylor Hunt to score and pick up Wall's third win in a row.

Ballinger looked to have control of the game after going up 4-1 in the top of the second inning thanks to a two-run double from Lauren Jalomo.

Wall answered back with three runs in the fifth inning to tie the game at four. Hunt and Sloan Smith drove in a run in back-to-back at-bats to tie the game.

An RBI double from Kelsey Hughes gave the lead back to Ballinger in the sixth inning before Wall stormed back.

Izzy Vera went all seven innings for the Lady Hawks, allowing five runs on eight hits with a strikeout and two hit batsmen. Despite registering a hit offensively, Vera helped her own cause by driving in a pair of runs and scoring another.

Hunt finished the day 2-for-4 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored. Smith and Cassidy Perkins each had an RBI. Ashlynn Box extended her on-base streak to 42 games and her hit streak to 16 by going 2-for-3 with a pair of runs scored.

Daniella Luna was charged with the loss after allowing six runs in seven innings of work where she struck out five and walked five. She was 1-for-3 at the plate as well.

Jalomo led Ballinger's offense going 2-for-4 with two RBIs and a run scored. Hughes had the only other RBI for the Lady Bearcats.

Wall (5-16, 3-2) will look to continue their run on the road at Reagan County this Friday. Ballinger (5-5-1, 4-1) will look to bounce back when they host TLCA this Friday.

Central Can't Hold Off Hurst Bell's Late Rally

The Central Lady Cats allowed a four-run lead to slip away after Hurst Bell scored six unanswered runs in the final two innings on Tuesday.

Central got out to a 4-0 lead by the fourth inning thanks in part to a two-run home run by sophomore Ashton McMillan in the third inning. Taylor Martin picked up an RBI single in the fourth inning to cap off Central's scoring.

McMillan and Martin picked up their only hits and RBIs in that time.

Rylee Dehn was the only Lady Cat with a multi-hit game, going 2-for-3 with a run scored.

Alizayah Talamantes picked up the loss for the Lady Cats in two innings of relief. She allowed three runs on three hits with three strikeouts. Bailee Fulps started in the circle and allowed three runs on seven hits and two walks with a pair of strikeouts.

Central (7-11-1, 1-4) will look to end their four-game skid with a non-district game against Abilene Cooper.

Brady Ties District Lead in Offensive Thriller with Sonora

The Brady Lady Bulldogs needed a run in the seventh inning to pull out a win after the Sonora Lady Broncos scored five runs to tie the game on Tuesday. The win, coupled with Ballinger's loss, put Brady tied for the District 4-3A.

Katie McAnelly drove in the winning run on a single to center field to score Felicity Hernandez in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Brady trailed 3-1 after the top of the third inning when Sonora's Aislin Nixon drove in a run on a sacrifice fly and Dekota Morrow drove in another two on a double. The Lady Bulldogs responded by sending 11 runners to the plate to score six runs and take a 7-3 lead to the fourth.

The Lady Broncos clawed back with four runs in the fifth to bring the game level again. That effort would once again be silenced by Brady, who plated five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning, two of which came from Destiny Williams' home run.

Back-to-back RBI doubles from Brae Harris and Morrow would spark a five-run rally in the seventh inning that saw the Lady Broncos pull even once again. But it wasn't enough.

McAnelly picked up the win in the circle for Brady after going seven innings and allowing 12 runs on 15 hits with 13 strikeouts. McAnelly was also 1-for-3 at the plate with an RBI and a run scored with two walks.

Williams finished as one of two Lady Bulldogs with multiple RBIs. She went 1-for-3 with two RBIs, a run scored and a walk.

Aislin Nixon was given the loss after 2 1/3 innings of work. Nixon allowed seven runs on one hit with three strikeouts and a walk.

Dekota Morrow was 3-for-4 at the plate with a three RBIs and two runs scored.

Brady (4-1, 4-1) will travel to Grape Creek this Friday. Sonora (4-13, 1-5) will travel to Grape Creek next Tuesday to begin the second round of district play. 

Other scores from the area

• Midland Greenwood 14, Lake View 4
• Grape Creek 23, TLCA 7
• Eldorado 23, Christoval 2
• Harper 15, Menard 0

This story will be updated.