The Ladycats won by run-rule 12-1 after five innings, becoming the program’s 66th straight district win.
Aledo came into the game with a lot of confidence, having beaten the Lady Hornets comfortably three weeks previously. With it being senior night, there were some emotion heading into the game, but the Ladycats got things going immediately in the first inning.
Rylee Marx drove in two runs with a double. Brylee Gray followed with an RBI double. Two batters laters Kayleigh Martin hit a two-run home run.
Next batter Kellyn Overturff hit a triple and then scored later on a passed ball. Still in the first inning, Kyleigh Pawlak drove in two runs with a single to left field. Next batter Marx drove in another two runs on a double, just like she had earlier in the inning.
Aledo led 10-0 after the first inning.
In the second inning the Ladycats saw Overturff drive in a run on a single. In the fourth inning, a dropped third strike allowed Rosser to come in and score.
Azle needed to score three runs in the fifth inning to avoid getting run-ruled. After a leadoff triple, a sacrifice bunt got one run to come in. Aledo was able to close the game after that easily, winning 12-1.
Marx led the team with four RBIs and three hits, including two doubles. Martin and Pawlak each drove in two runs. As a team, the Ladycats had 12 hits and drew four walks.
On the mound, Lily Heckathorn pitched all five innings and allowed one hit and one earned run while striking out 10 batters.
Coach Heather Myers reflected the number of 66 straight district wins is impressive, but when she thinks of that number it means something else to her.
“It doesn’t even come close to describing the depth of love, joy and work ethic these young ladies have brought to this program each and every day,” Myers said.
With the playoffs coming up, Aledo played a warm-up game on April 20 against private Fort Worth Country Day.
The first inning saw the Lady Falcons threaten by loading the bases up with one out, but pitcher Tempe Perry struck out the next two batters to get out of the jam.
Aledo got things going in the second inning. An error trying to throw a base runner out at third base allowed one run to score. Martin then hit a sacrifice fly ball to drive in another run.
Two batters later Breleigh Mayer hit a two-run home run over the left field wall to make it 4-0.
In the third inning, the Ladycats added to their lead as Marx hit a two-run home run to center field. Aledo’s lead grew to 6-0.
In the fifth inning, Country Day got on the board with an RBI double into the gap. The Lady Falcons cut the lead to 6-1.
Aledo responded in the same inning and went for the kill shot. Tempe Perry hit a single to right field, but an error on the throw in allowed one run to score. Two batters later, Marx drove in two runs with a single up the middle. Later in the inning with two outs, Overturff came through with a single to left field that drove in two runs.
This ended the game early due to run-rule as the Ladycats won 11-1.
Marx again led the team with four RBIs while also hitting a home run along with Mayer. Overturff and Mayer drove in two runs each. As a team Aledo had seven hits and drew three walks and took advantage of three fielding errors from Country Day.
On the mound, Perry pitched all five innings and allowed one earned run on three hits while striking out seven batters.
With the playoffs starting this week, Myers thinks her team is ready. With so many of the players having experience from last year’s run to the state semifinals, she and her players knows what’s at stake and how hard the road is in front of them.
“They are locked in on both sides of the ball,” Myers said. “We remind them to take it one pitch, one inning and one game at a time. I tell them don’t let the enormity of any situation overshadow everything we’ve worked for. Turn pressure into calm.”
Aledo is scheduled to play Birdville in the bi-district round in a best of three series. Game one was played at Aledo on April 23. Game two is scheduled for April 24 at Birdville at 7 p.m. If game three is needed, it is scheduled for noon on April 25 at Kennedale.
Ladycats 12, Azle 1
RHE
Azle 000 01 - 1 1 1
Aledo (10)10 1x - 12 12 0
Aledo offense: Rylee Marx three hits, two doubles, four RBIs, one run; Kayleigh Martin, two hits, one home run, two RBIs, one run; Kyleigh Pawlak one hit, two RBIs, two runs, one walk, one hit by pitch; Brylee Gray one hit, one double, one RBI, one run; Kellyn Overturff two hits, one RBI, one run; Delaney Rosser one hit, three runs; Delaney Rosser one hit, three runs, one hit by pitch; Brooklynn Taloa one hit, one run, one walk, one steal; Tempe Perry one hit, one run, one walk; Maddy Martinak one run; Breleigh Mayer one walk.
Aledo pitching: Lily Heckathorn (W) five innings, one hit, one run, 10 strikeouts, three walks.
Ladycats 11, FW Country Day 1
RHE
FWCD 000 01 - 1 3 3
Aledo 042 05 - 11 7 0
Aledo offense: Rylee Marx two hits, two home runs, four RBIs, three runs; Kellyn Overturff two hits, two RBIs, one run; Breleigh Mayer one hit, two RBIs, one run; Kayleigh Martin one RBI, one walk; Tempe Perry one hit, one run, one hit by pitch; Brooklynn Taloa one hit, two runs, one hit by pitch; Kyleigh Pawlak two runs, two steals, two walks; Delaney Rosser one run, one hit by pitch.
Aledo pitching: Tempe Perry (W) five innings, three hits, one run, seven strikeouts, three walks.
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