In an early surprise, the Kennedale Lady Kat softball team has been booted from the playoffs. The Lady Kats had a season that almost every others 3A softball team would loved to have. The Kats ranked #2 at the end of the regular season ended their season at 23-8 with an undefeated district championship and a bi-district win. {{more}}
Kennedale, playing without their pitching ace Allie Turner lost the best of three series to Lampasas early Saturday morning in the final game 9-8. Turner had twisted her ankle last week and was hoping to return to the mound as early as next week.
After losing the opening game Thursday, the Lady Kats knew they had to take the next two games.
Friday night they kept the hope alive with a 9-3 slashing of Lampasas. In the game Kennedale jumped on Lampasas with a big 7 run first inning. They added another two runs in the second and the game was in all intents and purposes over. Lampasas did managed 3 runs in the fourth but never threatened after.
Alexa Neifert got the win, allowing 3 runs on 7 hits with 5 strike outs and four walks.
In the first after two walks and a hit batter the stage was set for the Kennedale batters. RBI singles by Ciera Trotter, Alicia Lopez and Maegan Garza scored the first four runs. A ground out by Jamie Franks and an error on a hit by Neifert scored two more. A ground ball fielder?s choice by Aubrey Wooden scored the final run of the inning.
In the second, the Kats scored their last two runs after a lead-off Elizabeth Schiele single, an RBI Jazlyn Crowder double and a sacrifice by Carson Whatley.Stats for Game 2
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E KNDL 7 2 0 0 0 0 0 9 7 0 LMPS 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 3 7 3
Saturday morning was another good start for the Lady Kats with 3 runs in the bottom of the first giving the Kats the lead at 3-1. Kennedale scored in the inning on an RBI triple by Elizabeth Schiele, an RBI single by Jazlyn Crowder, and an RBI single by Carson Whatley.
But Lampasas base runners were busy scoring runs in the first (1), 3rd (4) and 4th (4) ending the game with nine runs on 11 hits.
A four-run fifth inning helped bring Kennedale within one. A two-run single by Whatley and a two-run error set off a Lady Kats rally helped along with a single by Ciara Trotter and a double by Maegan Garza.
But it was one run short and it was Lampasas who walked away with win and the area championship.
Neifert recorded the loss. Whatley racked up four RBIs on three hits for Kennedale. She singled in the first, third, and fifth innings.Stats for Game 3
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 R H E LMPS 1 0 4 4 0 0 0 9 11 2 KNDL 3 0 1 0 4 0 0 8 10 3
