The Llano High School softball team assembled all the pieces at the utmost time.
The Lady Jackets swept Comfort in back-to-back District 5-3A games – 17-1 March 17 and 8-7 March 14.
'We have always talked about not trying to be real high,' head coach Tim Hulon said. 'I wanted us to start playing well as we start to head into district. Everything else before doesn't matter.'
Llano's victory in game one may have paved the way for the outcome in the second contest.
The Doe ( 3- 15, 0- 2) raced to a 4-0 lead in the second inning and added a run in the third for a 5-0 advantage.
By then, Hulon made a pitching change, handing the ball to senior Lyndi Landers.
She and the defense neutralized Comfort until the Lady Jackets could get the bats going.
That happened in the fifth inning when Llano plated six runs. Comfort scored one to tie the game at 6-6 in its half of the inning. Then the Lady Jackets regained the lead by scoring a run in the sixth and another in the seventh for an 8-6 advantage.
The game ended when a flyball was caught the final out, forcing the Doe to strand three of their 12 runners.
Llano, meanwhile, stranded 18 runners.
Still, Hulon said, the Lady Jackets saw an opportunity in the district home opener and went to work.
'That momentum carried us,' he said. 'That set the tone where we weren't going to put ourselves in that spot.
We came out swinging the bats early.'
After senior pitcher forced all three outs into routine ground balls, the Lady Jackets went to work on scoring.
Senior Morgan Williamson led off with a walk, while a catching error on the center fielder allowed senior third baseman Lanee McCurry to reach base. Junior catcher Emilie Clopton hit a RBI single to center field, while Duroy hit an infield RBI single. Shortstop Landers singled to load the bases. Then sophomore centerfielder Karli Wyatt hit a two RBI single to left field. Junior first baseman Madi Whittenburg was hit with a pitch. After two strikeouts, Williamson hit a two RBI single.
By the end, Llano scored six unearned runs off five hits and sent 11 Lady Jackets to bat.
After Comfort stranded a runner, who reached on a walk, Llano scored only one run in the bottom half of the second inning. But it was a big one.
Clopton hit a solo home run that cleared the center- right field 'green monster,' some 225 feet for a 7-0 advantage.
The Doe left another runner, who reached on a walk to begin the third inning. Llano, meanwhile, scored six runs highlighted by Clopton's 3 RBI double to center field. Duroy, Landers and Wyatt each hit RBI singles.
By the end, the Lady Jackets led 13-0.
Comfort scored an unearned run in the fourth inning on a wild pitch. The defensive play of the game came from McCurry, who caught her third line drive for one out and touched her bag to complete the double play.
'She's a great player,' the coach said. 'I think she was ready for the moment. Those things are that you can't prepare in practice to be ready for a situation like that. She didn't panic when she got it.'
Llano answered in its half of the inning. Wyatt hit two RBI double, while Clopton hit a RBI double and Duroy hit a RBI single to end the contest.
Going into the game, Hulon asked the Lady Jackets to contribute offensively by sticking to what made her successful in the sport. If that's being a power hitter, then go be one. If that's being patient at the plate to force the pitcher into a throwing mistake, continue doing that. If that's putting the ball in
SOFTBALL continued on page 14 play and beating the throw to first, go do it.
'We simplified a little bit with some of my girls,' he said. 'We had a little talk and at practice, we got back to work on some of what they bring to the table. And they have to be good at that. When we do this, it's going to put a lot of pressure on people, because we have pretty good speed. So when we're on base, we can make things happen.'
Meanwhile, Duroy pitched all four innings where she allowed only one earned run off one hit with four walks and struck out two.
'It's gotta be a mindset,' the coach said. 'I thought that she responded very well and was excited to get the ball again and then she threw well enough to keep us in the game and then we swung the bats.'
Hulon praised his players for enduring a challenging pre-district schedule designed to help them reap the rewards of district victories. And he credited them for continuing to believe in the process and putting it all together when it counted the most.
'They just set the tone,' he said. 'We had a lot of energy in the dugout. We winded up with our 16 hits, and it was big. You can stop momentum with what you do at the plate. We did a great job there. Putting ourselves in position to go get a big run. I'm really proud of the girls. Hopefully it's going to continue to pay off.'
