Lovelady steamrolls Como-Pickton

The Lovelady Lady Lions checked off another box on their banner with a series sweep over Como-Pickton in the regional semi-finals last week in Tyler. LARRY LAMB | HCC

By Larry Lamb
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TYLER -- It was business as usual for Lovelady's  softball team.

The Lady Lions continued their string of shutouts with a 10-0, 10-0 series sweep over the Como-Pickton Lady Eagles in the Class 2A regional semifinal.

The series opener Tuesday at Legacy High School went just five innings. Como-Pickton extended its season an inning longer in Game 2, which lasted six innings.

Lovelady pitcher Macie LaRue, who went the distance in both games, threw a one-hit shutout in both games. She recorded a total of 17 strikeouts in 11 innings and walked three in each game.

In Game 1, Lovelady jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first and continued to pull away with three in the second, two in the third and two in the fourth.

Batting 2-for-3 were  Scout Lovell, Mihyia Davis and Haven Prager, who hit a RBI triple in the second inning.

Morgan Womack went 2-for-2 while Rylee Biedrzycki, Shyanne Pipkin and Bailee Albinus each had a base hit. Lovell, Biedrzycki and Pipkin each collected two RBI.

Always-dangerous slugger Linda Martinez didn’t get a chance to bat as she was intentionally walked twice.

Como-Pickton pitcher Mattison Buster went four innings, surrendering 10 runs on 11 hits with five strikeouts and three walks.

Returning to Tyler on Thursday, the Lady Lions picked up where they had left off  and jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first frame.

After intentionally walking Martinez the first time she stepped up to the plate, Como-Pickton decided to take their chances when she led off the third. After fouling off the first pitch from Buster, Martinez mashed a fly ball to left field that put Lovelady up 5-0.

After scoreless fourth and fifth frames, the Lady Lions scored five in the sixth.

With two runners in scoring position, Lovell hit a hard ground ball to third base to bring home Kenzie Seale and Albinus. Prager reached safely on a dropped third strike and Lovell scored to make it 8-0.

After Martinez singled, Womack hit a hard grounder and reached on an error by the second baseman.  Martinez scored and Prager came home on the same error for a 10-0 lead midway through the sixth.

Down to their final three outs, the Lady Eagles were unable to score and the game ended under the 10-run rule after six innings.

LaRue struck out the first batter and walked the next but the runner was caught stealing second on a throw from home by catcher Womack. LaRue sealed the win with a strikeout and the Lady Lions checked the regional semi-final championship off their to-do list.