Johnson City began its district campaign with a 10-0 win at home and a 17-2 win on the road to complete the sweep over Harper.
The Lady Eagles started the season 2-0 in district play and they are ranked 12th in the state among Class 1A and 2A softball programs. Johnson City looks to return to the playoffs after it lost to Thrall in the first round last season. With a lot of softball still to play, head coach Brent Harris is happy to get the season started off strong with a schedule packed with strong teams.
“It’s a big game for us tonight, I mean, you know, you want to get that first win underneath your belt,” Harris said. “Every game that we play… it’s a big game for us.”
The first game over Harper on Tuesday, Feb. 25, was all Johnson City from the beginning. The Lady Eagles scored three runs in the first and had seven more by the end of the fourth inning. With a 10-run lead after the fifth, Johnson City earned an early win to start the district season 1-0. Senior Bo Crownover pitched five innings of shutout softball for Johnson City and allowed just four baserunners on a hit, two walks and a hit batsman.
“[Crownover] was hitting her spots real well and keeping it in and out,” Harris said. “She’s a tough competitor.”
Senior Ava Craig got the scoring started for Johnson City in the bottom of the first, picking up a two-RBI double, and the Lady Eagles scored in every inning. Highlighted by home runs from Sara Kuvet and senior Madison Marshall, Johnson City scored 10 runs, with nine driven in and one unearned. Craig, Marshall and Ema Davis each had two RBIs, while Hannah Roy, Kuvet and sophomore Kendall Marshall picked up one each in the five-inning shutout victory.
“Good pitching, good defense, and clutch hitting, that’s what we did today,” Harris said. “So keep doing that, that’ll keep you in the game.”
The following Friday, Feb. 28, Johnson City traveled to Harper for the second game of the series and won 17-2 in five innings. Johnson City again scored in every inning, driving in 12 runs and scoring five unearned.
Davis pitched four innings for Johnson City, picking up nine strikeouts and allowing two runs, and Kuvet pitched one inning. Crownover, Madison Marshall, senior Kathryn Johnson and Davis all picked up two RBIs, and Crownover and Kendall Marshall each hit a home run. Kuvet, Craig and Haley each drove in one run to make up the rest of the Lady Eagles’ earned runs in the strong win over Harper.
As the calendar turns to March, Johnson City looks to its next six games, two each against Junction, Goldthwaite and Mason, with the latter two joining Johnson City in the top three in the district standings a season ago. For the Lady Eagles to repeat as district champions, these middle six district games represent important matchups and make up a stretch of tough opponents for coach Harris and Johnson City.
“You look at Goldthwaite, they’re good, and you look at Junction, they got an excellent pitcher,” Harris said. “[Mason’s] coach over there does a great job with them.”
Johnson City faced Junction on the road after press time Tuesday. The two teams meet in Johnson City on Friday.
Kathryn Johnson walked three times and stole two bases in the home win over Harper. (Photo by Andrew Hermes)
