Lady Bobcats are softball district champs

The Orangefield Lady Bobcats won the softball district championship on Tuesday. The Lady Bobcats defeated the Hardin Lady Hornets in three innings 15-0 at Paul Cormier Field to clinch first place in District 22-3A.

Orangefield Coach Rebekah Ragsdale was excited for her Lady Bobcats to be district champions. "It's awesome! Considering we missed the playoffs a year ago and then to be able to turn it around and do this it's something super special especially with the group that we have. They're bought in, and you can tell from just day one to today it's a completely different team, and they get all the credit," Ragsdale responded.

Pitcher Abigail Curphey had another strong showing in the circle for the Lady Bobcats pitching an abbreviated shutout. Curphey gave up one hit, one walk, and struck out one during the game which was shortened to three innings because of the 15-run rule.

Every Lady Bobcat reached base at least once by either walking or getting a hit. The top of the batting order Aubree Beck reached base all three times she batted as did Harleigh Rawls and Emily Meyers for Orangefield.

Senior Rylee Dougay singled with two outs to start a five-run rally in the second inning. Alysen Vincent and Charlee Sanches had clutch hits to drive in Lady Bobcats that put Orangefield up 7-0 after two innings.

Meyers led off the third inning for Orangefield with a walk. It was the start of thirteen Lady Bobcats coming to the plate in the inning. Eight runs scored the last coming on a bases loaded walk to Abby Broussard forcing in the final run to invoke the 15-run rule for Orangefield's victory.

The champion Lady Bobcats are actually a fairly young group of players. Coach Ragsdale elaborated, "These five freshmen have had a lot of playing time. So, it's only up from here. I can only imagine in the next three years, next four seasons, what this group will do."

The first round playoff opponent for Orangefield will be the Central Heights Blue Devils out of Nacogdoches. The Lady Bobcats will play a best of three series with the Blue Devils. A doubleheader is scheduled for Wednesday, April 26, at Jasper with game one at 5:00 PM and game two to follow at 7:00 PM. A third game if necessary would not be played until Monday, May 1, at 6:00 PM also in Jasper.