Wylie East junior Kinley Kovar looks at home plate as she unleashes a pitch during last week’s home game against Sachse. Photo by Oladipo Awowale / C&S Media
By David Wolman
With the high rate at which runs were being scored by the Sachse and Wylie East softball teams Friday, it appeared the team that got more consistency from its pitching staff was going to win.
Enter Wylie East junior Grace Maddux.
When Maddux entered the game in the fifth inning, the two District 9-6A rivals had already combined for 11 runs. Maddux didn’t allow Sachse to gain any more momentum. She held an explosive Lady Mustangs offense to no runs and two hits over the game’s final three innings with three strikeouts, helping lead the Lady Raiders to a 10-6 come-from-behind win.
Jaycie Watson broke a tie with a three-run home run in the top of the fourth inning to give Sachse a 6-3 lead.
Watson finished 2-for-4 with two RBIs. Kendyl Cruz, Maya McClarity and Xochitl Mendoza each had two hits in the loss for the Lady Mustangs.
But in a game that featured three lead changes, Wylie East had the better finish. In addition to Maddux’s lockdown pitching, the Lady Raiders strung together timely hits on offense. Gabby Flores brought Wylie East to within 6-5 after hitting an RBI double in the fourth inning. Amaya Scott gave the Lady Raiders the lead for good with a three-run home run in the fifth.
Wylie East (9-8 overall, 3-0 District 9-6A) had a much easier time with North Garland earlier in the week, building a 12-0 lead on the way to a 12-2 triumph.
Flores hit a home run and scored three runs, while Jayleigh Dressler went 3-for-4 with an RBI. Maddux pitched a complete game, allowing two runs on four hits with eight strikeouts in a game that ended in the fifth inning via the run rule.
Sachse rallied from a three-run deficit to topple Lakeview Centennial 22-7 on March 3. The difference was a 12-run second inning for the Lady Mustangs. McClarity hit two home runs and drove in nine runs. Cruz set the table well at the top of Sachse’s lineup, collecting four hits and adding two RBIs for Sachse (6-12-1, 1-2).
Wylie didn’t have to worry about any dramatics as the Pirates cruised to a pair of double-digit wins, topping South Garland 22-0 and Naaman Forest 17-1.
Amira Forbit and Ava Cook each hit a home run and drove in three runs apiece in the dominant win over Naaman Forest, while Julia Barta added two doubles.
Leading 2-0 after two innings, Wylie scored eight runs in the third inning and tacked on seven more runs in the fourth.
Freshman Avery Neville starred on the mound, striking out five while allowing one hit and one run (zero earned) over five solid innings.
The Pirates (12-7-1, 3-1) didn’t need as much time to get going offensively against the Lady Titans.
Wylie scored 11 runs in the first inning before adding eight more in the second. Angel Wright collected two doubles. The Pirates managed just five hits but drew 14 walks.
Wright and Ka’Dyn Allison combined on a one-hitter with nine strikeouts.
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