Lady Dawgs split mercy-rule games with Waco, Midway

By TJ MAXWELL

Cove Leader-Press

The Copperas Cove Lady Dawgs have experienced a feast or famine in their five district games thus far with all five contests decided by double digits, including Mondays’ 12-1 win over Waco and Tuesdays 17-2 loss to the Midway Pantherettes where the two teams combined for nine home runs in four innings.

“There’s not much you can do when they’re hitting the ball as well as they were,” Copperas Cove head softball coach Bryan Waller said after Tuesday’s loss to Midway. “They’re a great-hitting ballclub. The points we stressed with our girls is, we can be okay with a loss if everything they give us is everything they can give us. That wasn’t the case today.

“We didn’t play strong enough defense like we’re capable of playing and we didn’t swing like we are capable of swinging. We have to be able to compartmentalize those things and come back and do better the next time. Those are the things we have to take away from this game.”

The Lady Dawgs got in an early hole Tuesday against the Pantherettes when throwing errors allowed Caroline Rowatt and Natalie Harris to score after reach on a walk and single, respectively.

Midway added to their lead in the top of the second inning when Tristian Thompson connected on a grand slam over the centerfield fence to score Ryleigh Firmin, Rowatt and Harris.

Midway’s Tatum Seith and Maddie Pfleging followed up the grand slam with a pair of solo home runs for an 8-0 Pantherettes’ lead.

Midway extended their lead to 15 runs in the top of the third inning when Rowatt connected on a two-run home run to score McKenley Clark, who lined a single to left field to reach.

After Harris doubled off the centerfield fence to put another runner in scoring position, Thompson connected with her second multiple RBI home run of the game for a 12-0 Midway lead. 

Catcher Charlee Yourman got in on the home run derby with a three-run shot over the left field fence with two outs for a 15-0 Midway lead.

The Lady Dawgs kept the game alive for another inning with a pair of home runs by Sarina Gray and relief pitcher Brooke Schmit.

“Sarina had a good at-bat,” said Waller. “She hit her home run with two strikes. That’s what we’ve got to have from all of them.”

The Pantherettes closed out the contest with their seventh home run of the game and second blast by Pfleging that scored Hannah Sterriker, who connected on a leadoff double to reach. 

Thompson led the Pantherettes at the plate. She was 2 for 3 for two runs and four RBIs with two home runs. Pfleging was 2 for 4 for two runs and three RBIs and two home runs followed by Rowatt (2 for 2, 3R, 2RBI, HR, BB), Harris (2 for 3, 3R, 2B), Yourman (1 for 4, R, 3RBI), Sterriker (1 for 1, R, 2B), Seith (1 for 4, R, RBI), Kaitlyn Powers (2 for 3, R), Alex Earhart (1 for 3, R), and Toni Mishnick (1 for 1, 2B).

Schmit was 1 for 2 with a run, an RBI and a homerun and Gray was 1 for 1 for a run, an RBI and a home run to lead the Lady Dawgs. They were followed by Ezra Peterson (1 for 2), Madalyn Scribner (1 for 2) and Lynsey Robinson (1 for 2).

Seith picked up the win in the circle for Midway. She allowed two earned runs on five hits while striking out seven.

On Monday, the Lady Dawgs were on the other end of a mercy-rule with a 12-1 win over Waco on the road where the Lady Dawgs jumped out to a first-inning lead.

A triple by Emma Wasiak and walks by Schmit and Alina Salazar put runners on before a single by Ezra Peterson scored courtesy runner Angelica Montanez.

After Robinson loaded the bases for the Lady Dawgs, Annisa Amaro connected on a grand slam home run for a 7-0 Cove Lead. 

After 3 ½ scoreless innings, the Lady Dawgs added five more runs when Gray connected on a three-run home run, scoring Amaro and Bush who reached on walks. 

A bunt by Wasiak and an RBI double by Schmit another run across home plate and runner on the base paths before an error allowed Schmit to score for a 12-0 Cove lead.

Wasiak was 3 for 4 with two runs, a double and a triple to lead the Lady Dawgs. Schmit (2 for 3, R, RBI, 2B, BB), Gray (1 for 3, R, 3RBI, HR), Amaro (1 for 2, 2R, 4RBI, HR, BB), Peterson (1 for3, R, 2RBI), Scribner (1 for 3, R), Kyla Bush (1 for 2, R, BB) accounted for the rest of Cove’s 10 hits in the win.

Schmit picked up the win in the circle. She allowed one earned run on two hits while striking out six and walking two in five innings. 

The Lady Dawgs (11-8, 3-2 in District 12-6A) have a 10-day break before returning to District 12-6A action on Friday, March 20 at Harker Heights.