Ladycats remain unblemished in district

On Monday, April 17 people from all over the world participated in the 127th running of the Boston Marathon. While the Ladycats were not there physically, they were there in spirit having nearly completed a marathon of their own around the bases in their 15-1 rout of Brewer’s Lady Bears on Friday, April 14.

Aledo (23-4-1 overall, 10-0 in District 5-5A) extended their win streak to 15 consecutive games without a loss while maintaining their perfect District 5-5A record. The number-one seeded Ladycats hold a decisive lead over second-place Northwest with just two games remaining in the regular season, hosting Azle at press time and visiting Granbury Friday, April 21 at 7 p.m.

Brenlee Gonzales was spectacular for the Ladycats as she toed the rubber in the pitching circle. She tossed a six-inning, one-run ballgame in which she surrendered just a single hit while striking out a dozen Lady Bears.

Offensively, the Ladycats were trouble up-and-down the lineup. Eight of the nine Aledo batters garnered at least one hit in the contest.

Things got off to a fast start for Aledo. Addie Perry led off the game with a line-drive single to center, immediately putting pressure on Brewer’s hurler with a runner on base. Claire Byars reached base on a fielding error by the Lady Bears second baseman to put a pair of Ladycats onboard early.

Presley Hull drove in the first run of the game for Aledo with a line-drive single to center of her own that scored Perry from second. Texas Ray followed suit with a hard-hit grounder right back up the middle that drove Byars home, putting Aledo up 2-0 with no outs recorded.

With runners on second and third, Gonazales helped herself out with a ground ball to the right side of the infield. Gonzales was out on the routine 4-to-3 play, but Hull was able to score from third, giving Gonzales the RBI as the Ladycats charged ahead, 3-0.

Ana Flores drove in Ray from third with a sacrifice fly to center for the final Aledo score of the frame.

Leading 9-1 heading into the top of the sixth, the Ladycats went looking for a rally that would invoke the run rule to end the game early. They found the rally they were looking for as they plated six more runs before the Lady Bears were able to get off the field.

Perry led off the inning with a triple to right that lifted the Ladycat faithful in the stands to their feet. Two batters later, Hull drew a one-out walk to put runners at the corners before Ray singled to center yet again to drive in both Aledo baserunners.

With the potential run rule in hand, Aledo wasn’t done. Gonzales hit a single to left, but was able to advance to second on a fielding error to put a pair of baserunners in scoring position with Flores striding to the plate.

Chloe Cox came in to run for Aledo’s hurler on second base. Flores hit the 0-1 offering to center that ended up being deep enough to score Ray from third for the sacrifice fly and an RBI.

Leading by 11 runs with a runner on, Delaney Rosser singled to center to drive in Cox, putting the Ladycats up by a dozen with two outs gone in the inning.

Maddy Jarvis doubled down the left field line in the following at bat to put a pair of Aledo players in scoring position once again. Reagan Davis hit a laser out to left in her at-bat that was too hot for the leftfielder to handle. The fielding error allowed Davis to trot into second while Rosser and Jarvis scored to produce the final score.

Aledo 15, Brewer 1

April 14 
Ladycats 402 215 X - 15  14 0
Brewer 010 000 X -  1   1   6
Aledo hitting: Addie Perry 3-for-5, 3B; Claire Byars 1-for-4, HR, SB, RBI; Presley Hull 2-for-3 HR, 2 RBI, BB; Texas Ray 3-for-3, 3 RBI, BB; Brenlee Gonzales 1-for-3, RBI, HBP; Ana Flores 2 RBI; Maddy Jarvis 1-for-3, 2B; Reagan Davis 1-for-4.
Aledo pitching:  Brenlee Gonzales 6.0 IP, H, R (earned), 2 BB, 12 K.