Girls prepare for the start of district in softball

Local softball teams played in tournaments the last week of February in preparation for the start of district games. The Class 3A Orangefield Lady Bobcats played their first district game on February 28 against Kountze while the schools in Class 4A start district Tuesday, March 7.

Orangefield participated in the Port Neches-Groves Softball Tournament over the past weekend. The Lady Bobcats won one game, lost three, and had two ties over the weekend.

The first game was a tie on Thursday with Anahuac in which Charlee Sanches had two hits and three runs batted in. Orangefield lost its other game on Thursday to Vidor.

The Lady Bobcats defeated the host Port Neches Groves Lady Indians 5-2 on Friday. Pitcher Abigail Curphey had a great performance giving up just one earned run on three hits while striking out seven. Orangefield got its offense from several Lady Bobcats including Aubree Beck who had a double, scored a run, and drove in a run.

Later on Friday Orangefield tied Hamshire-Fannett 4-4. Sanches pitched and did well allowing two earned runs on five hits with a strikeout. Beck hit her first career homerun and Harleigh Rawls had a double and a triple.

The Lady Bobcats lost two on Saturday. They lost 7-2 to Lumberton and later were beaten by Nederland.

Orangefield opened district at home against Kountze on Tuesday. The Lady Bobcats next district game is Tuesday, March 7, at Kirbyville.

The West Orange Stark Lady Mustangs hosted a tournament. The Lady Mustangs captured the third place trophy going 4-2 over the weekend.

West Orange Stark won its first two games on Thursday beating Kelly 7-5 and East Chambers 6-3. Kensley Wall pitched striking out five and got the win against Kelly. Lady Mustangs Erika Jordan hit a triple while Nataleigh Sims and T'Era Garrett both had doubles to spur the offense.

Sims won the second game with East Chambers throwing two and a third perfect innings striking out two in a superb relief effort. Tessa Turner hit a triple and finished the game with two runs batted in and two runs scored. Peyton Zimmerman went two for two with three runs batted in.

On Friday the Lady Mustangs split a pair losing to Kirbyville 12-0 before rebounding and popping Port Arthur Memorial 7-1. Tessa Turner won the second game for WOS pitching two innings and allowing just the one run with four strikeouts. Sims got the save retiring all three batters she faced striking out two of them. Garrett swung the big bat for the Lady Mustangs smashing a triple and a homerun driving in two runs and scoring two times.

On Saturday West Orange Stark lost its opening game 16-1 to Warren. Then the Lady Mustangs used six walks and nine stolen bases to beat East Chambers for the second time 5-1 to earn third place in the tournament.

The Lady Mustangs play in the Anahuac Tournament the first weekend of March. West Orange Stark opens district on Tuesday, March 7, at Vidor.

The Little Cypress Mauriceville Lady Bears participated in the Sweeney Tournament. The Lady Bears went 3-3 over the three days after losing twice on Thursday.

Friday was better with the Lady Bears winning twice taking the first game 6-2 over Danbury. Ella Stephenson was the winning pitcher. Later Little Cypress Mauriceville got a one hitter from Jacelyn Cook in an 8-0 shutout against Tidehaven. Asia Woodson hit a two-run homer and Eden Frenzel had two hits, two runs batted in, and a run scored.

The Lady Bears split their two games on Saturday losing 7-5 to Rockport-Fulton before defeating the host team Sweeny 4-3. Freshman Tessa Erickson was the winning pitcher pitching six and a third shutout innings in the game.

Little Cypress Mauriceville plays one more tournament this weekend. The Lady Bears open the district with a bye and then play at home on Friday, March 10, against Bridge City.

The Bridge City Lady Cardinals got some good new the last week of February with the return of pitcher Carson Fall to the lineup. Fall had a leg injury that kept her out of the circle for a couple weeks.

Carson pitched shutout ball upon her return. The Lady Cardinals also got shutouts from Kaydence Corkran and Cambree LaComb during the Jasper tournament.

After a tournament this weekend Bridge City will open district play on Tuesday, March 7. The Lady Cardinals open with Silsbee at Bridge City.