Bennett thrown to ‘Cats; comes out with win

HENRIETTA – Jacksboro sophomore Avery Bennett was a bit nervous heading into the March 30 road game here, seeing how a win would mean a first-round District 7-3A sweep over a team that has given the Tigerettes fits over the years.

Bennett continued her bend but not break philosophy in the circle, allowing herself and her teammates one bad inning. The five-run Lady ‘Cat third meant little, as the Tigerettes opened with a 10-run, seven-hit first which put them in the driver’s seat in what would end an 18-7, five-inning victory here.

Fifth-ranked Jacksboro went to 6-0 in the loop and 20-4 overall. Henrietta is 3-3 and 8-9 overall.

Jacksboro Coach John Bennett said remembering the mantra he has implored his troops to follow motivated them.

“We cannot worry about how good the team is that we are playing,” Bennett said in a text. “It doesn’t matter who they are, every game we are going out there to get better at what we do.”

The offensive explosion came vs. Lady ‘Cat lefty Mae Cason, who has given Jacksboro problems in the past. Not on this day as Bennett’s battery mate Hadlee Richardson drew a walk while Kylie Tullous opened an 18-hit attack with a single.

Both scored on senior Alex Holman’s double. Freshman Rylee Mathis tripled home Holman for a 3-0 lead. With one gone, Destany Valles doubled into the left center field gap, scoring Mathis.

A catcher’s error brought aboard Jaci Gann while Harlee Richardson walked. A right fielder’s miscue brought Bennett aboard and plated Valles for a 5-0 lead. Back to back singles from Tullous and Holman and a two-out double by Teagan Reynolds would finish the scoring.

Jacksboro added a third-inning run on hits by Tullous and Reynolds. Bennett retired the first six batters she faced before Cason and Katelin Goodin came through with two-RBI base hits to cut the lead to 11-5.

A seven-run fifth for the visitors opened with singles by Tullous and Holman and a walk to Mathis to fill the pond. Singles by Reynolds, Valles, and Gann kept the bases full and extended the lead to 14-5.

The hit parade continued as Harlee Richardson’s single scored Reynolds while pinch runner Makenna McAnear came home on Bennett’s single for a 16-5 lead.

A bases loaded walk to Hadlee Richardson and infield single by Holman ended the Tigerette scoring. Henrietta scored twice in the bottom of the inning but it was too little too late.

The midway point of the district has his Tigerettes feeling pretty good.

“They understand the task at hand for the second round of district, they are confident and ready to play anybody that you can throw out there on that field,” Bennett said.