Texas signee Gutierrez guides Stamford past Haskell for Region I-2A quarterfinal sweep

Citlaly Gutierrez has made a name for herself as an overpowering pitcher. The Stamford senior and University of Texas signee also swings a mean bat.

After driving in two runs and tossing a five-inning two-hitter in a 10-0 victory over Haskell, Gutierrez wrapped up the Region I-2A quarterfinal playoff series by hitting three homers, including two three-run blasts, to power the defending state champion Lady Bulldogs to a 16-6 victory in six innings Wednesday at Poly Wells Field.

Jacelyn Bell also hit an inside-the-park homer in Game 2 as Stamford (23-4) advances to play the Clarendon/Floydada winner in the region semifinals.

Gutierrez, who totaled nine RBIs in the two games, hadn’t had a three-homer game since playing 14-and-under youth softball.

“I think it’s really special, especially since it’s my last region quarterfinal game,” Gutierrez said. “Doing it against our district rival made even more sweet.”

Gutierrez had an idea she would have a good day at the plate Wednesday.

“I think at practice I had a pretty good hitting week,” Gutierrez said. “I went and practiced on my own time, and I think that really helped out.”

Stamford coach Cyndi Herrera said Gutierrrez’s effort in both games underscores her drive to lead the Lady Bulldogs to another state title.

“If that right there doesn’t tell you this kid wants to go back to state and win it all, I don’t know what does,” Herrera said.

Savanna Camacho went 2-for-3 with two hits and three RBIs, including a two-run homer, to lead Haskell (10-10) in Game 2.

“I’m proud of the way my girls fought this year,” Haskell coach Toby Allen said. “They did a fantastic job. We had a lot of things that we could have hung our heads about, but we kept fighting to very end in that game right there (in Game 2).”

Haskell finished fourth behind Stamford in District 7-2A. The Lady Bulldogs beat them twice in league play – 15-0 in three innings in Stamford and 9-0 in the second meeting in Haskell.

Herrera said she expected her team to get up for its district rival, and she was glad the Lady Bulldogs responded.

Now, they move another step closer to a much-anticipated return trip to Austin. Every round win is a sigh of relief for Herrera.

“We came in here confident. Not cocky, but confident,” Herrera said. “There is a lot of pressure on us. We’re just taking it one game at a time and doing the small things right and hoping to get back to Austin.”

Gutierrez quiets Maidens in opener

Gutierrez struck out the first seven batters she faced in the opener, including four in the first inning. The leadoff batter, Alyssa Stocks, struck out swinging but reached on a wild pitch.

Camacho broke up Gutierrez’s no-hitter with a one-out double in the fourth, and Kayce Coleman beat out a bunt single with two outs in the fifth.

Gutierrez struck out 11 of the 18 batters she faced in the game, and only four Maidens put the ball in play – including Emma Roewe, who hit into a fielder’s choice after Camacho’s double. Camacho was caught off second and tagged out on the grounder to short.

Stamford scored all the runs it needed in a four-run first inning.

Laylonna Applin had two hits, including a triple, two RBIs and scored three times. Macy Detamore had a two-run double and scored a run, while Bell reached on three of our four at-bats and scored three runs. Gutierrez went 2-for-2 with a double and a walk.

All nine starters in Stamford’s lineup had at least one of the Lady Bulldogs’ 10 hits.

Wild finish

Gutierrez got Stamford rolling with a two-out, three-run homer in the first inning of Game 2.

The Lady Bulldogs added three more runs in the second as Emily Patterson had an RBI single and Applin capped the inning with an RBI double.

Stamford pushed its lead to 8-0 with two more runs in the third. Shandlee Mueller walked and scored on a wild pitch, and Patterson added a two-out, RBI triple.

Gutierrez, who drew a walk her second at-bat, hit a solo homer in the fourth for a 9-0 lead.

Gutierrez started Game 2 but pitched only two innings. She struck out the final six batters she faced after giving up a leadoff single to Laney Hanson.

Brylee Strand relieved Gutierrez and retired the first five batters she faced before Stocks singled with two outs in the fourth. Camacho followed with a two-run homer.

Bell led off the fifth with an inside-the-park homer for a 10-2 lead, but Haskell made things interesting with a four-run outburst in the bottom of the inning. Roewe drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk, and Stocks hit a two-run single. Camacho then hit an RBI single.

Stamford scored six runs in the sixth. Two runs scored on a wild pitch and error, respectively, while another scored on Patterson’s ground out. Gutierrez then crushed a monster shot to left center field for a three-run blast and a 16-6 lead.

“I was really just looking to get on base,” Gutierrez said. “I guess hitting it over (the fence) is a bonus.”

Each of her homers came off a different pitcher as Haskell used three pitchers in the game.

Strand, who had two hits and scored twice, finished off the Maidens with a scoreless sixth. She allowed six runs on five hits in three innings, striking two and walking four.

Hanson, Haskell’s starter, gave up eight runs on five hits. She struck out two and walked five in three innings. Camacho surrendered two runs on three hits in 1⅓ innings. Mia Williams finished the game, giving up six runs on five hits.

Williams went the distance in the opener, allowing 10 runs on 10 hits. She struck out one and walked none. She hit one batter.

Joey D. Richards covers Abilene high schools and colleges, Big Country schools and other local sports. Follow him at Twitter at ARN_Joey. If you appreciate locally driven news, you can support local journalists with a digital subscription to ReporterNews.com.

REGION 1-2A QUARTERFINALS

GAME 1

Stamford 10, Haskell 0 (5)

Haskell … 000 … 00 – 0 … 2 … 4

Stamford … 420 … 13 – 10 … 10 … 0

Mia Williams and Jolie Torres. Citlaly Gutierrez and Jay’Lynn Hatley. W – Gutierrez. L – Williams. 2B – Haskell: Savanna Camacho; Stamford: Gutierrez. 3B – Stamford: Laylonna Applin.

GAME 2

Stamford 16, Haskell 6 (6)

Stamford … 332 … 116 – 16 … 14 … 1

Haskell … 000 … 240 – 6 … 6 … 3

Gutierrez, Brylee Strand (3) and Hatley. Laney Hanson, Savanna Camacho (4), Williams (5) and Torres. W – Strand. L – Hanson. 2B – Stamford: Applin. 3B – Stamford: Emily Patterson. HR – Stamford: Gutierrez 3, Jacelyn Bell; Haskell: S. Camacho.

Records – Stamford 23-4; Haskell 10-10.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Defending Class 2A champion Stamford sweeps Haskell in softball