Lackland Air Force Base, Texas –
Strong hitting and flawless fielding helped the Lackland Lady Warhawks snap a four-game losing streak in the San Antonio Parks and Recreation Spring Softball League last week.
Lackland smacked 18 singles and three triples as they beat the Lady Ramblers 18-8 April 19 at the Alva Jo Fischer Memorial Softball Complex.
It was the first win for the Warhawks since March 22. The weekend before their win over the Ramblers, Lackland went 4-2 and finished tied for ninth place among 40 teams during the 23rd Annual Women's Bluebonnet National Invitation Tournament in Austin.
"We came out of our slump, and I think our success (in the Bluebonnet) built up our confidence," said Megan Schafer, the Warhawks third baseman and assistant coach.
Lackland was up 7-4 after four innings against the Ramblers. During the top of the fifth, the Warhawks scored 11 runs on 12 hits to establish a commanding 18-4 lead.
Lackland pitcher Bobbi Russell led off the fifth with a walk. Left-center fielder Christy Hayes singled. Shortstop Anastasia Sybille tripled to drive in Russell and Hayes. First baseman Catrina Harden hit into a fielder's choice to drive in Sybille.
As the fifth continued, Lackland batted around and added eight more runs.
Catcher Nikki Chachere, right-center fielder Lyndsay Moen, pinch hitter Shaleya Elcock each drove in one run with a base hit. During their return appearances to the plate, both
Russell and Hayes drove in one run with base hits. Sybille singled two more runs home. Harden singled to drive in her second run of the inning.
As the Ramblers tried to catch up, they scored one run during the sixth inning, and three runs during their last at-bat during the bottom of the seventh. Their best inning occurred during the first, when shortstop Monika Johncour tripled to drive in three runs, and then, Johncour scored on a single by second baseman Lindsay Morales.
Earlier during the game for Lackland, triples by third baseman Jackie Hudock and Hayes drove in four runs. Both extra hitter Audra Britt and left fielder Tina Cooper drove in one run after they hit into a fielder's choice. A base hit by Harden drove in one run.
The Lackland defense committed no errors.
Cooper, Hayes and Moen combined for seven putouts to foil the Ramblers' right-handed pull hitters. And, Lackland right fielder Mari Hamilton made two putouts, including a difficult one-handed catch on an opposite field fly by Johncour during the sixth inning.
"They brought their A game tonight," Schafer said.
After the game, the Warhawks were 4-5 in the SAPAR YH-1 Division.