Lady 'Birds jump on BC early, cruise for W
By KRIS BAGLEY sports@leader-news.com

L-N Photo by Kris Bagley Marik Makes It Lindsey Marik beats out the throw to first for a single in El Campo's latest game against Bay City. The Lady 'Birds won 5-0 and moved to 6-1 in district play.

An early offensive spurt shot El Campo past the Lady Blackcats 50 Tuesday. All five of the Lady 'Birds runs came in the first inning.

Head Coach Shane Wagner said he was glad to get the win but upset with his team's play over the final six innings.

"We talked about the fact that Bay City played us 0-0 after the first inning," Wagner said of his team's meeting after the win. "They played a good game and their little pitcher had a good game, but we just didn't play our game today. It was like we just put it in cruise control once we got those five runs in.

"Not many teams, if hardly any, score five runs on us. I think they knew that was going to be enough and it was just, 'OK, let's get through this game.' We can't have that. We've got to have a killer instinct - especially if we want to win the district championship and make a run in the playoffs."

L-N Photo by Kris Bagley High Speed Delivery Try hitting the ball to the left side and you will have this arm to answer to. Brittney Oates provides strong defense for the Lady 'Birds at shortstop.

El Campo is ranked 18th in this week's Texas Girls Coaches Association softball poll. Friday, they faced the 13th-ranked Foster Lady Falcons.

The Lady 'Birds may have looked past Bay City once they scored five runs and focused more on the upcoming game with Foster, but Wagner said that is no excuse for the lack of offense late in the game.

"Well, I hope just the fact that we're playing softball or that this is Bay City (keeps our focus)," Wagner said. "A lot of these girls know a lot of their girls and want to win. If you're going to be a good softball team or a good team in any sport, you've got to have the killer instinct to finish off a team when you jump on top of them.

"I give all the credit in the world to Bay City because they stayed in there and played a good game the rest of the night. They could have folded and said, 'Let's go home. Let's get this over with.' They stayed and they played hard the whole game. Actually, I think after that first inning, they probably played a better game than we did and that's very upsetting and disturbing to me."

By the end of the first inning, the game was practically decided.

With Bay City scoreless in the top of the first, the Lady 'Birds took charge in the bottom of the inning. El Campo capitalized on several Bay City errors to score five early runs.

Anna Raun started the inning off with a walk and Angela Fiala followed with a single to left-center field. Brittney Oates hit a single to the shortstop to load the bases.

Alexis Cooper sent a shot to the left infield and beat out the throw to first while Raun crossed home plate for the first score.

Danielle Smith tried to clear the infield, but ended with a direct hit to Bay City's pitcher. In an attempt to catch Fiala out at the plate, the pitcher threw home, but it was too high. Fiala scored on the play to put El Campo up 2-0.

A wild pitch caught Emily Bergstrom on the arm and she took first base. Oates came in for the third score and Lauralee Collins stepped up to the plate with the bases still loaded.

Collins connected for a hardhit ground ball to Bay City's shortstop and Cooper scored the fourth run of the inning while Collins claimed first base. Elizabeth Lurker came in to pinch run for her.

With panic spread across the field, Bay City finally came through with an out in the next at-bat.

Kristi Michaelsen made a nice hit that would have normally reached the outfield for a pair of runs. Bay City's shortstop made a nice leaping play to catch the line drive and earn the first out.

It seemed like the Lady Blackcat defense could be warming up, but the next play was another error.

Lindsey Marik sent a looper directly to left infield. It fell in the shortstop's glove and quickly bounced out. Smith scored easily on the play and Marik took first base.

Marik's hit put eight of El Campo's first nine batters that inning on base and brought the top of the lineup to the plate.

Raun hit another shot to Bay City's shortstop and the Lady Blackcats earned an out on a flukey play.

Hayley Pierce, who was pinch running for Bergstrom, was about to cross home plate when Lurker was called out for running into the shortstop on her way to third.

Fiala popped out to second in the following at-bat and the inning ended with El Campo ahead 5-0.

The Lady 'Birds outlasted Bay City to finish the game with a five-run win.

As of Tuesday's win, El Campo had yet to clinch a playoff spot. At 6-1 in district play, the Lady 'Birds have at least clinched a playoff for third place.

That scenario would require El Campo losing its last three games and Lamar Consolidated and Seven Lakes winning out.