Marble Falls softball goes 2-2-1 at Hill Country Classic

CAPTION: The Marble Falls Lady Mustangs enjoy a team selfie after blasting Stonybrook for their final win of the Hill Country Classic March 4. Courtesy photo

The Marble Falls High School softball team ended the Hill Country Classic with a 2-2-1 record March 2-4.

After coming from behind to beat Mason and tying Ingram, the Lady Mustangs defeated Stonybrook 17-5 in another come-from-behind win March 4.

Stonybrook took a 5-0 lead that compelled the Lady Mustangs to respond in the bottom of the first inning with all 17 runs.

Kylie Roberts hit a bases-clearing triple, and Brie Kingsbury added a bases-clearing double to highlight the offensive production. 

Pitcher Marisol Ramos threw 1 1/3 innings of shutout softball. 

“Marisol hadn’t pitched in awhile, but this is what we needed to do to get better,” head coach Alex Lozoya said.

The losses were to San Angelo Central 15-1 and Bangs 16-6.

“I think they showed some growth and some character,” Lozoya said. “They had a lot of confidence going into San Angelo Central. They are a great hitting team.”

He noted Central players found the holes in the defense to record hits and put pressure on Marble Falls.

“I think they showed a lot of growth, and they showed some fight,” he said of his athletes. “They finished the last two innings going three up, three down and had a couple of double plays to get out of it.”

Sophomore Camille Catalfamo also pitched.

“Camille didn’t get much circle time,” the coach said. “This is what we needed to do to get better. (Catalfamo and Ramos) are both very coachable. They just lack the experience to come in and command the strike zone, to be more consistent. When things are going well, when things are not going well, all eyes are one you. It takes a tough-minded individual.”

He complimented his players for being patient at the plate where a battle of wills between the pitcher and the batter typically highlights the at-bat.

“I was very impressed with the discipline at the plate,” Lozoya said. “At the plate, they have the confidence to go and compete. I made the comparison to them that when the other team scores, we’re not getting the ball back (for our at-bats). We have to get outs (to get out of the inning).”

He noted Bangs scored most of its runs in one inning where the Lady Mustangs weren’t consistent enough defensively.

“We made some adjustments at the plate, especially against Bangs,” the coach said. “We made our swings quicker and stronger.”

Overall, Lozoya believes the tournament helped his players in many ways because they faced numerous situations and were tested. This roster has a mix experience. Some have played the sport since grammar school, others played and stopped and then came back, and some are playing the sport for the first time. And among the many traits the players have in common is a desire to perform well, he said.

“It was a long day,” he said. “I told the girls that we can’t stop competing. We’re trying to win this pitch and this inning. And they had a good practice (March 3). We have to go game to game and take advantage of the opportunities and make defensive plays and come up with timely hits. We appreciate the work the girls are putting in. They’re trying to get better every day.”

Marble Falls takes a bye Tuesday, March 7, and travels to Fredericksburg at 6 p.m. Friday, March 10.

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