Hamlin fends off Haskell in district softball opener, eyes another deep playoff run
HAMLIN – After reaching the Region I-2A finals last year and returning every starter, the Hamlin softball team began the season as a favorite to unseat two-time region champion Stamford.
It certainly seems possible with Stamford ace Citlaly Gutierrez now pitching for the University of Texas.
Jason Botos, whose Lady Pipers went 27-3 a year after winning only four games and finishing last in district, believes his team can make another run at the program’s first state tournament berth.
“If we’ play the game like we’re capable of playing and pitch the ball like we’re capable of pitching it and make routine plays, we’re tough to beat,” said Botos, the Lady Pipers’ fourth-year coach. “We can make some things happen.
“But, man, there’s so many great teams in our region right now. It can go anyway. We’ve got four or five teams that are solid programs, and they all want the same thing. They want to get to state.”
Of course, Hamlin has to get out of district first – and that’s no easy chore in a league that includes Stamford, Haskell, Anson and Hawley.
The Lady Pipers got off to a good start.
Roxanne Rivera’s two-run home run capped an eight-run second inning, and Samantha Gonzalez added a solo shot in the fourth as Hamlin beat Haskell 10-6 in the District 7-2A opener Thursday.
The Lady Pipers were on the verge on run-ruling the Maidens, after building a 10-2 lead.
But Hamlin left six runners stranded the final two innings, while Haskell turned up the heat on a chilly day, getting four runs in the seventh – three on Alyssa Stock’s homer with two outs.
While happy with the victory, Botos said his team must learn to put away opponents early, when possible, if the Lady Pipers want to be a region power.
Hamlin loaded the bases with one out in the fifth, needing two runs to end the game on the 10-run rule. But Haskell starter Paige Scheets got Gonzalez and Rivera – the Nos. 3 and 4 batters in the lineup – to pop up and strikeout, respectively.
Hamlin also came up empty in the sixth after a leadoff double by Bo Richardson and loading the bases with two outs.
“We’ve got to be able to shut the door, and today we didn’t shut the door,” Botos said. “I think our kiddoes know that. I think they’re a little frustrated with themselves, and it’s OK to be frustrated and hold yourself to a little bit higher standard.”
Haskell coach Emily Dyes was encouraged by the late rally, especially after her team had managed just two runs through six innings but still went the distance with the Lady Pipers.
“I told the girls the score itself is a reflection of how good we can play,” Dyes said. “We’ve just got to play that way the whole entire time.”
Pipers start fast
Gonzalez doubled in Emalee Duniven for a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Duniven had reached on a leadoff walk.
Haskell answered with a run in the second on Miley Rodriguez’s sacrifice fly. It should be the third out of the inning, but an error at second on Harley Medford’s ground ball put the first two batters on. Stocks had led off with a walk.
Hamlin responded by sending 12 batters to the plate in the bottom of the inning. Richardson got her first of three doubles on the day, including two in the inning, and she finished 4-for-4 overall. Laynee Claterbaugh hit a three-run double, and Zoe Moore had an RBI single – two batters before Gonzalez’s two-run blast.
Three errors and a wild pitch on a strikeout fueled the big inning.
Haskell got a run in the third as Camacho hit a lead-off double and scored on Scheets’ single to make it a 9-2 game.
Gonzalez made it 10-2 with leadoff homer in the fourth.
Missed opportunities kept Hamlin from ending the game early, and Haskell finally got to Lady Pipers’ starter Moore in the seventh. Raegan Adkins reached on a one-out error, and Camacho singled. Hamlin was an out away from winning 10-2 when Scheets got her second RBI single of the game. Stocks followed with a three-run homer.
Moore got the win, allowing six runs on 10 hits. She struck out none, walked one and hit one.
Timely stops
Moore got some help from her defense, which turned two doubles plays. Gonzalez also snagged Scheet’s hard-hit liner for the final out in the fifth with runners at first and second.
Hamlin also might have avoided a big inning in the fifth, when Stocks was thrown out at the plate for the second out. Duniven, the catcher, managed to snag a high throw and get the tap on a close play after Rodriguez reached on an error. Mia Williams, who had gotten on base after her fly ball was dropped in the outfield, also was thrown out advancing to third for the final out.
Scheets took the loss, surrendering 10 runs on 13 hits. She struck out 10 and walked one. The Maidens made five errors.
Few outside of Haskell might have expected such a close game, and Botos thought his team pressed in some big moment instead of relaxing and playing its game.
“If it wasn’t for a couple of big plays defensively for us, it could have been a whole different ballgame right there,” Botos said.
Haskell eyes big season
Dyes said her team waited too late to fight back.
“We’re the type of team that when the momentum is going our way, we play fine,” Dyes said. “When the momentum’s not going our way, we don’t always play our best. So, we’ve got to get through those mental blocks and be able to play no matter what.
“But, overall, we know where we need to improve. We know where we can get better, and we’ve just got to keep playing our game and get better defensively.”
Dyes, a 2015 Holliday grad, begins her first year at Haskell, after a year at Petrolia – her first as a head coach. She also was an assistant volleyball and basketball coach at Munday.
She inherits a team that returns six starters from a 10-10 team that was swept 2-0 by Stamford in the region quarterfinals last season.
Despite Thursday’s loss, Dyes hopes to be in the thick of the district title race.
“We’re excited, and, overall, I think we’re ready to go, and we’re just looking at getting better and continuing to progress at our game,” Dyes said. “Hopefully, we can get them the second round of district. We need to keep our heads up and keep playing strong.”
Pipers’ year?
Botos, who picked up his 100th career victory earlier this season at the Concho Classic in San Angelo, believes the district title could be up for grabs with Gutierrez gone. But he said don’t count Stamford out just yet.
“They’ve got two good pitchers,” he said. “They’ve got the (Brylee) Strand girl, who is a senior, and a little freshman who is good. She can move the ball around. And they didn’t lose their hitters. They can hit, and they’re going to produce runs.”
Then there’s Hawley, Anson and Haskell, who make for a formidable league.
“All of them are great programs,’ Botos said. “It’s going to be a tough district race. Everybody can play. It’s going to be an exciting couple of weeks.”
The region, too, is loaded with Colorado City, Forsan, Tahoka, Ralls and Floydada.
The Lady Pipers could make another run at the region title.
“There are three things we’ve got to do,” Botos said. “No. 1, we’ve got to stay hungry for it. We’ve got to stay humble, and we’ve sure got to stay healthy. We’re going to continue to grow and learn and get better every day.”
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Hamlin slips past Haskell in District 7-2A softball game
