Lady Dogs moving on up after bagging Bremond
Solid defense won the game

BY MARIE BAKKEN
Reporter Staff Writer

 CAMERON—“Solid defense.”
 That is what Thorndale head softball coach Tim Berg would have the Lady Dogs team yell each time they took the field on Friday night against a tough Bremond squad.
That solid defense is what helped them hang on for a 4-3 victory on Friday night and advance to the third round of the state playoffs.
 The area round game, held at the new Mark Humble Softball Complex, saw three lead changes in the tough defensive battle.
 The win sets the Lady Dogs (11-2) up with a regional quarterfinal showdown against District 28-A runner up Flatonia on Friday night at the Bastrop Softball Complex. First pitch is set for 7 p.m.
Bremond
Quick base running aided Thorndale in its slim margin win. The Lady Dogs took a 1-0 in the first after sophomore Berlin Hernandez was walked, stole second, reached third on a single by Carissa Goetz and then stole home on a passed ball.
That lead stuck until the bottom of the third when Bremond played small ball. Both Kari Groholski and Sydney Redus reached base on bunts. They then scored on a massive hit to right center field by senior Christy Screws, giving the Lady Tigers a 2-1 advantage.
 Thorndale found its grove in the top of the fifth, getting runners on base and in scoring position. Kayla Lindemann hit a single through the short stop to get on and Samantha Vasquez walked. Lindemann came across the plate from third after tagging up on a Hernandez sacrifice fly to left field. Vasquez scored on another hit that got through the infield, this one by Goetz.
 The Lady Dogs then doubled up their lead when freshman speedster Mirah Knapek beat the throw to first to open up the sixth inning. She then moved to second on a Lauren Culp bunt and scored on a passed ball and throwing error.
Bremond tried to rally in the bottom of the inning, scoring one run. Screws hit another hard ball, this one bouncing off the wall in left field for a sliding triple. Top Bremond hitter Kaylan Pruitt then hit a line drive to the center field for a double, scoring Screws.
Pruitt then tried to steal third on a bad pitch, the throw went wide and Knapek ran in from left field to make the throw home where Pruitt was tagged out. The next two Bremond batters went down with a fly ball and strike out, respectively, ending the Lady Tigers threat.
The Lady Dogs could not score in the top of the seventh, but held on behind the pitching of junior Angel Bigan to retire the side and take the 4-3 win.
Bigan struck out eight and walked just one in the win.
 Defensively, catcher Samantha Vasquez came up big behind the plate, standing tall and tagging out two runners at the plate.
On the offensive side of the ball, Vasquez also came up big with a team high three for four at the plate. Hernandez and Goetz went two for four and Knapek two for three.
“We were aggressive on the bases and the field,” Berg said. “We had nothing to lose and laid it all on the line...”
Flatonia
 The Lady Bulldogs from Flatonia (15-7-2) are the next test for Thorndale, the District 27-A champions. The Lady Bulldogs defeated Saratoga West Hardin 10-0 in area action last week in Brenham to reach the regional quarterfinal round. Flatonia defeated Thorndale’s district foe Granger 7-4 and 11-1 in the bi-district round.
 “Flatonia has very good pitching and they are extremely good hitters,” he added. “We will prepare for a lot of different situations this week and continue to improve on what we do.”
 Flatonia head softball coach Rodney Stryk feels that the teams are equally matched and it should be a good game.
“Whoever plays the best on Friday will win,” Stryk said. “We’ll do what we do and get up there and take our swings.”
The main weapons for the Lady Bulldogs are pitchers Katrina Mica, a senior, and sophomore Kalli Mikulik. Mica has a 1.20 ERA had has struck out 79 this season. Mikulik has sat down 63.
 Stryk said that Mica is much more consistent on the mound, making batters work for their hits, while Mikulik is more of the “fireballer”, bringing the heat to batters.
 He also mentioned multi-year outfield starters and athletes Kayla Dunk and Kayla Michalec are strong defensively with very strong arms and quick feet.
Offensively, Flatonia has five girls hitting over .300, including Michalec, whose current batting average is .418.
 These two teams faced each other last season with Thorndale coming out on top 3-2 in the bi-district playoff. Flatonia returns all but two starters from their ’07 team.
 Directions to Bastrop Softball Complex
-Take Hwy. 77 south to Hwy. 21.
-Go right and head west on Hwy. 21 to Bastrop.
-At the Hwy 21 and Texas 95 intersection (light), turn right onto Texas 95.
-Go about a quarter of a mile and take a left on to Cedar Street.
-Complex is at the intersection of Cedar and Hill streets

marie@rockdalereporter.com

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