Bryson SB loses in bi-district

GRAFORD — Bryson Softball Coach Gary Kirby was in a bit of a pickle during his playoff game April 28.

His Cowgirls were having issues with Alvord pitcher Mikena Mader, who had allowed just three baserunners over the first five innings. Kirby had some news to open the sixth for leadoff hitter Makayla Foyt.

“I told her to lay down a bunt,” Kirby said. “We had to get something going.”

The ploy worked, as the bunt was thrown away by Mader and allowed Foyt to get to second. A sacrifice fly later brought Foyt home and put Bryson on the board.

Unfortunately, it would be the lone Cowgirl run, Mader being too strong in allowing four hits and striking out 15 in a 7-1 Alvord win in the Class A bi-district playoffs here. Bryson, the fourth-place team in District 11, ends its year at 11-7.

While the loss was tough to take. Kirby found plenty of positives to take with it.

“Despite the loss, this was one of our better games,” Kirby offered. “We had the one bad inning where they broke it open.”

Kirby praised the work of his outfield throughout the game and of pitcher Jacie Lewis for hanging tough when the chips were down. 

Kirby said he called for the bunt to put pressure on Alvord and knew Foyt was the girl to do it.

“We needed to get some good things going, and it worked,” Kirby said.

Alvord struck for a single second inning run and two in the third before a four-run explosion in the fourth allowed the Lady ‘Dogs (16-8) to take command. 

It was the Cowgirls who had tried to draw blood in the first.

Foyt drew a four-pitch walk to start the 99-minute contest. With one gone, Bryson pitcher Jacie Lewis aided her cause by beating out an infield single. It wasn’t to be as the next pair of Cowgirls were retired.

After five straight Cowgirls struck out in the second and third, Breanna Denton stroked a two-out single in the third but was left holding the bag after an infield popup ended the inning.

After the sacrifice fly by Lewis got the Cowgirls on the board, the rally continued as Kayleigh Pippin stroked a single with senior K.T. Sherrin getting hit by a pitch. A wild pitch put the pair into scoring position ... where they would remain following a strikeout.