Errors lead to very different outcomes for the Lady Dawgs
Bad weather April 12 forced the Burnet High School softball team to play in back-to-back contests April 13-14 where the Lady Dawgs got different results.
Burnet (19-8, 5-4 District 19-4A) defeated Taylor (6-3) 6-4 one night after losing to Salado (3-5) 9-4.
“It was huge,” head coach Hailey Wooten said of the win. “They could see our playoff hopes dwindling, and they knew that’s not how it’s supposed to be, not with all the potential we have. It was needed for sure.”
The Lady Dawgs were able to send the seniors out the right way on senior night. Wooten pointed to a message senior Rylea Whitus sent on a group text to players and coaches that made its way to social media. Whitus wrote about what playing for Burnet and with these athletes has meant to her.
“She had it in her mind that (the game against Taylor) was going to be different,” the coach said. “She made sure everyone knew that. She posted that in our group chat that today was the day, and it was. We were going to break out of our slump and get back to what we know how to do and who we are.”
So the Lady Dawgs were mentally ready to compete in all phases as faced the district’s top pitcher, senior Lindsay O’Dell, who is headed to Loyola Marymount University,
While O’Dell had 15 strikeouts, Burnet sophomore Camrynn Guthrie hit a two-run homer and added a 2-RBI double off the fence to lead the Lady Dawgs in being offensive. The Lady Ducks committed four errors.
“We laid bunts down that we were able to force them to make errors,” Wooten said. “It definitely adds a lot of momentum that carries over to the defense.”
Wooten opted to start freshman pitcher Presely Crawford in the circle against Taylor. Crawford didn’t give up a run until the fifth inning when the Lady Ducks plated three. Before sophomore Kyleigh Mott relieved her, Crawford had struck out three.
“It’s based on the last two games,” Wooten said of her decision to start Crawford. “We feel like she’s been getting it done. She made it to where they’re weren’t hitting the ball super hard, and we’re able to make plays on them. She was able to do her job and put balls where they needed to be. I don’t believe there were any errors.”
Mott entered the game in relief and turned the Lady Ducks away by striking out two in 2 2/3 innings. The coach commended Mott for ensuring the Lady Dawgs remained in control of the contest.
“She came in a tough situation with bases loaded and was able to get out of the inning without giving up a run,” Wooten said. “Kyleigh came in and just played with great effort.”
To Wooten, each contest calls for making the expected defensive plays.
“They know that if we can make plays, we’ll compete in any game,” she said. “They did what they were supposed.”
During the loss to Salado, the Lady Dawgs committed seven errors.
“That didn’t feel good for sure,” the coach said. “You can’t win with seven errors. They had one earned run, that was it. We had a couple of good hits, but they made plays and we didn’t.”
Burnet ends the regular season at Lake Belton at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 19. Taylor and Lake Belton (8-0) are the top teams followed by Burnet, Salado (3-5) and Georgetown Gateway (3-5). Salado and Gateway, which are tied for fourth in the district, play each other Friday, April 15.
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