Monday was nothing out of order for the Lady Dogs, a team that has 10-run-ruled their opponents in all but three of their 13 District 27-2A contests.
They opened their homestand with Holland by scoring 15 runs in the the first inning. Over the course of the inning, leadoff hitter Emilee Baker saw the plate three times and Kelsey Kovar and Cassidy Eubanks each had two hits. With another four runs in the second off hits from Bailee Baker, Cassidy Eubanks and Kovar, the game was called after the top of the third, meaning a 19-0 win and a District 27-2A championship for THS.
Coach Lance Betak said he was glad the game went the way it did, especially after coming off a 7-1 win over Bremond the Monday before.
“(The game with Bremond) was a lot closer than it sounds, we only had four hits,” Betak said.
POST-SEASON—Lady Dog softball ended the regular season in Granger Tuesday after press time and with their bi-district playoff game not scheduled until late next week, Betak has scheduled two games to get his team ready for the 2021 postseason.
On Friday, they head west to take on Hutto, who finished 4-10 in District 25-6A after a 10-0 loss to Vista Ridge Monday evening. Game time is 6 p.m.
On Tuesday, they host Class 4A Salado, a playoff team that is 5-4 in District 19-4A with losses only to Lake Belton and Taylor.
Betak put the games on the schedule for a multitude of reasons.
“Well number one, I didn’t want to have 9 or 10 days in between games,” Betak said. “Then stepping up and playing some better teams, seeing some more variety and teams that are going to put the ball in play a lot and make us make more plays than what we’ve been having to make is another reason.”
“Also, just playing seven innings too. Quite a few of our games were four or five innings, a couple of them were three innings,” he said. “That’s going to be one of the struggles for us is playing seven innings, especially if we have to play seven innings two or three days in a row and that’s going to be the first time we’ve done that all year because in tournaments you play about five.”
Following their warm-up games, Thorndale’s probable opponent is Harper, who is tied for third in District 25-2A, but has to face Johnson City Monday to see whether they finish third or fourth. Johnson beat the Lady Longhorns 17-9 on March 29.
Despite Thorndale’s success, Betak says his team has to remain vigilant from here on out.
“The main thing for us is to stay focused,” Betak said. “We have all big games left, we have all important games. Games to get us ready for the playoffs and then of course in the playoffs, (where) you have to win or you go home,” he said.
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