14-run third keeps Tigerettes unbeaten

Fourteen runs is difficult to score in two games, let along one inning.

Jacksboro’s softballers kept up their solid season in 2021, using a 14-run third inning to break open a close game and post a 17-3, three-inning victory over visiting Bowie March 15. Jacksboro is now 2-0 in District 7-3A with Bowie going to 1-1 in the loop.

Tigeette Coach John Bennett said Monday’s win is nothing out of the ordinary of what his squad has done in 2021.

“Solid defense and good offense. Just like we have all year,” Bennett said followng the 84-minute affair. ”It was a good game.”

It was made doubly joyous by the fact Bennett’s sophomore daughter Avery got the win in the pitching circle. She scattered four hits and struck out four.

“Avery had good movement today and hit her spots,” Bennett said. “Except in the first and they got to her.”

Bowie jumped out to a 2-0 first inning lead but the Purple got the runs back in the bottom of the inning. Leadoff hitter Hadlee Richardson roped a triple and scored on an error to draw within one. A two-out rally began with Rylee Mathis stroking a double, moving to third on a wild pitch and scored on a catcher’s error on a dropped third strike.

Destany Valles walked with Teagan Reynolds’ infield single loading the sacks before a lone out to shortstop ended the threat.

Jacksboro took the lead for good with a single second-inning run. Bennet led off with a walk, courtesy runner Charlie Phariss stole second with Richardson drawing a walk and Tullous picking up a single to load the sacks. With one out, Mathis was hit by a pitch to score Phariss to put the Tigerettes ahead.

The big inning was highlighted with Mathis slapping a two-run double and Jaci Gann a two-run single on consecutive at-bats for a 10-2 lead. Tullous put the lead into double figures with an infield single while Holman added a pair go up 15-2.

The squad returned to action March 16 at home vs.City View (see story, above).