Lady Eagles fall to McLeod in Regional Quarterfinals

Lady Eagles fall to McLeod in Regional Quarterfinals Image

• Senior Addi Monk (7) takes a lead off from second base during recent action. In what turned out to be her final high school playoff series, she batted 3 for 5, scored three runs, and recorded an RBI in the Lady Eagles' pair of losses to McLeod. Photo by DJ Spencer

Dj Spencer Sports Editor Tue, 05/14/2024 - 19:28 Subhead

C-P’s season comes to bitter end

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HOOKS — The No. 3 Como-Pickton Lady Eagles saw their season come to a bitter end this past weekend after losing their best-ofthree Regional Quarterfinal series to the McLeod Lady Longhorns two games to none at Hooks High School. In both games, the Lady Eagles were outplayed at most opportunities and couldn’t establish any rhythm, leading to their season ending.

In the first game, the Lady Eagles suffered an 11-5 loss. Despite initially starting strong, the Lady Eagles faltered down the stretch, falling behind in the series.

Como-Pickton would score first in the top of the first inning when Bella Romero, Addi Monk, and Paisley Watkins all scored, taking a 3-0 lead. The Lady Longhorns answered with three runs of their own in the bottom of the first inning, tying the score at 3-3.

McLeod pulled ahead in the second inning with a pair of runs, leading 5-3. The Lady Longhorns then added four more runs in the third inning, increasing their lead to 9-3.

Following a scoreless fourth inning, the Lady Eagles scored again in the top of the fifth inning when Kati Calvillo scored a run, trimming the score to 9-4. The Lady Longhorns responded with a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, bringing the score to 11-4.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Lady Eagles trimmed the score to 11-5 after Monk scored her second run of the game. Unfortunately, that would be the final score of the game, as the Lady Eagles fell behind in the series with an 11-5 loss.

As a team, the Lady Eagles batted 9 for 30 (.300) from the plate. Sarah Corley, Monk, and Romero led with two hits each, while Calvillo, Saylor Smith, and Watkins added one hit a piece.

Monk finished as the leading scorer with two runs. Calvillo, Romero, and Watkins all scored one run each.

Lexie Rainey started the game at pitcher. In one inning, she recorded two strikeouts, allowing three hits, three runs (one earned), and one walk. Monk suffered the loss in her five relief innings, surrendering eight runs (one earned), six walks, and six hits, recording four strikeouts.

In the second game, the Lady Eagles suffered a 5-2 loss. Como-Pickton would fall behind early on and was unable to recover, leading to a series loss.

The Lady Longhorns got on the board first in the first inning with a two-run home run, taking a 2-0 lead. The Lady Eagles got on the board in the second inning when Monk scored a run, cutting the score to 2-1.

McLeod would extend their lead to 4-1 in the third inning with a pair of runs. This was followed by a scoreless fourth inning.

The fifth inning also ended scoreless, as both defenses kept the offenses off balance. A scoreless sixth followed after.

The Lady Longhorns extended their lead to 5-1 in the top of the seventh inning with a run. Though the Lady Eagles added another run with Sarah Corley scored in the bottom of the seventh inning, it was too little, too late, as McLeod capped off a 5-2 win, winning the series two games to none.

As a team, the Lady Eagles batted 4 for 27 (.148) from the plate. Corley, Sanay Diaz, Monk, and Watkins all recorded one hit each. Corley and Watkins both scored one run each.

Rainey suffered the loss in the circle. In seven innings, despite tallying eight strikeouts, she surrendered eight hits, five earned runs, and four walks.

With these losses, the Lady Eagles’ season has come to an end. The end the season with an overall record of 33-6, finishing as co-District champions, Bi-District champions, Area champions, and Regional Quarterfinalists.

These two games would also be the last two high school softball games for the Lady Eagles’ lone senior: Monk.

The Lady Eagles will look to improve in the offseason and make a deeper playoff run next year.