Ladycats run-rule Lady Rough Riders

Following a 14-2 win over Saginaw on Friday, April 5, the Ladycat softball win streak advanced to 20 games as they propelled into the top three in the Texas Girls Coaches Association state softball rankings.

The Ladycats (24-2, 9-0 in District 5-5A) started off the game with a four-run first inning as Addie Perry, Ana Flores, Marina Taveras, and Kyleigh Pawlak all scored. 

Saginaw came out aggressive at the plate in the home half of the first inning, hoping to get some of those runs back before Taylor McKean had a chance to settle into the circle.

Uncharacteristically of her, McKean issued a walk to the second batter she faced. The Lady Rough Riders managed to follow up the free pass with back-to-back extra-base hits to cut the Ladycat lead in half, 4-2.

From there, McKean flipped a switch. She struck out the next two batters she faced to get out of the inning, then surrendered just one more hit down the stretch.

Back at the plate in the top of the third inning, the Ladycats put together a big inning. Aledo put nine runs across the plate to go up by double digits with an opportunity to close out the Lady Rough Riders early on their home field.

Leading 13-2 heading into the fifth inning, Aledo added one more to increase their lead to a dozen runs with another run-rule win on the horizon.

Desperate for runs to keep their chances alive, the Lady Rough Riders got no help from the Ladycats. Saginaw got a baserunner to start off the frame as McKean issued her fourth free pass of the contest. 

However, that is where the charity stopped. McKean struck out the second batter she faced for out number one. Delaney Rosser fielded the sacrifice attempt for the easy 4-to-3 play, giving the Rough Riders one last chance to extend the game.

The chance Saginaw was looking for never came as Maddy Flora collected the final out on a fly ball to left.

Of their 20 consecutive wins, the Ladycats have run-ruled their opponents in 11 of those games. 

With Tuesday’s game against Forney rained out, the Ladycats have just three District 5-5A games left on the regular season schedule with the playoffs just around the corner. The next district game on the schedule is a home game against Brewer on Friday, April 12. First pitch is slated for 6:30 pm.

Aledo vs. Saginaw – Fri, April 5

    R   H   E

Ladycats 4 0 9 0 1 x x - 14 15 0

Saginaaw 2 0 0 0 0 x x - 2   3   4

Aledo hitting: Addie Perry 2-for-4, 3B, 2 R, RBI; Delaney Rosser 2-for-3, R, RBI; Ana Flores 2-for-4, 3B, 2 R, 2 RBI; Marina Taveras 1-for-3, SB, R, RBI; Kyleigh Pawlak 1-for-4, SB, 2 R, RBI; Kennis Marx 4-for-4, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI; Austyn Marriage 1-for-1, 2B, SB, R, 2 RBI; Maddy Flora 1-for-3, R, RBI, BB; Jordan Edington 1-for-4, R, RBI.

Aledo pitching: Taylor McKean 5 IP, 3 H, 2 R (2 earned), 4 BB, 7 K.