Lady Hawks Stymied by Brownfield, Errors in Area Round

FORSAN, TX -- After an incredible turnaround, the Wall Lady Hawks season came to a close on Thursday in Forsan in the area round of playoffs.

The Wall Lady Hawks fell 12-2 to the Brownfield Lady Cubs in a game where they were stymied by Brownfield and their own errors.

Wall committed a total of six errors while being struck out five times and held to just three hits. Head coach Steve Bain expected his opponent to put a good effort forward.

“We were talking about it and everything they did was right,” Bain said. “Their approach at the plate, defensively, everything. We can learn some things and work on those things we didn’t do well this time around.”

Gallery: Wall vs Brownfield

Bain said there was no margin for error in this game and the errors made it an uphill climb.

“It’s hard. It’s super hard,” he emphasized. “In the one game you don’t have room for errors. Today, we made some errors that we normally don’t make and they took advantage of it.”

Wall fell behind 1-0 in the top of the first before rallying to tie the game on an RBI groundout from Ashlynn Box. Brownfield then scored five unanswered runs, including a two-run home run in the fifth, and didn’t look back. Wall’s only other RBI came on a single from Kaitlyn Stephens in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Payton Box looked to have extra bases and possibly an RBI following Stephens’ at-bat, only to be robbed by Ashley Ramirez and a spectacular diving play in right field. That play kept all momentum with Brownfield.

Ashlyn and Payton Box, and Stephens each had a hit for the Lady Hawks. Ashlynn Box and Stephens each picked up an RBI.

With her hit, Ashlynn Box will take a 51-game on-base  and 26-game hit streak to Angelo State University.

Izzy Vera would take the loss after throwing a total of five innings and allowing seven runs on six hits and two walks with five strikeouts.

Getting to the area round of playoffs seemed far fetched for Wall considering where they were in early March -- 2-16 overall and had just lost their first two district games.

But the return of Ashlynn and Payton in the early days of district play sparked a revival for Wall’s season. Prior to Thursday’s loss, they had won 12 games in a row.

“I did not [think we’d be here],” Bain said. “The team did a great job and got it rolling in district. For us to be here, it’s a blessing.”

It’s a blessing and experience for the young Lady Hawks, who will only lose the Box cousins next season.

That experience is something Bain hopes will carry over into 2020.

“Experience is huge for us. The more they play, the more they’re in that situation and the more they’re on a big stage like that,” he said. “Hopefully, next year, we’re back in this spot and we don’t make those errors.”

Wall finishes the season 14-17 and claimed another district championship.