The Llano High School softball team celebrated its seniors April 14 in the best way – earning a decisive victory in a game that ended in five innings.
It came against Brady 14-3 in the final regular season home game of the season in District 5-3A play.
The Lady Jackets (5-4) blew the game open in the second inning.
After taking a 1-0 lead in the first, senior Lyndi Landers reached first and got to third on a double by freshman Emmaryee Roberson. Then junior Emilie Clopton smacked a three-run homer over the center field wall. Senior Jayme Duroy followed with a stand-up triple to the left corner and junior Madi Whittenberg hit a RBI triple for a 5-0 advantage.
The Lady Bulldogs scored a run in the top of the third inning but left the bases loaded.
Meanwhile, Llano went right back to work in its half of the inning, scoring five runs for a 10-1 lead.
Brady plated two runs in the fifth but the Lady Jackets scored four highlighted by a two RBI hit by Roberson.
"I thought us responding was huge for us and not letting the game get away from us," head coach Tim Hulon said. "I thought that was a big key in momentum being gained or kept by our at-bats."
In all Llano plated 14 runs off 12 hits led by Clopton, who had three hits and five RBI. Roberson had three RBI off two hits. Duroy had two hits and sophomore Cambree Hoyt, Whttenburg and Landers each had a hit. Eight Lady Jackets recorded a run.
Hulon pointed out that several Lady Jackets throughout the lineup, including the bottom, contributed to the offense.
"We played well," he said. "We had a good approach at the plate with young kids; they're trying to figure it out."
Defensively, pitcher Duroy gave up four hits, four walks and three unearned runs, while striking out 10 in five innings.
Hulon noted that Duroy didn't allow much to sidetrack her – not a walk or a hit or a hit by pitch. He commended her for staying focused on the next batter and hitting her spots.
"She kept pounding the strike zone," he said. "Jayme threw well. If I'm not mistaken, 10 strikeouts is pretty close to a season high. She had four walks, but she scattered them. The team played pretty well behind her."
He noted the Lady Jackets were diving for balls and barely missed some well hit balls to earn their spots on the bases.
"We played good defense and the routine plays – we made sure to make those happen," he said.
The win comes after losing to Ingram Tom Moore 20-2 April 11.
The Lady Jackets finish the regular season at 6 p.m. Thursday in Brady before starting the Class 3A Division I playoffs next week.
