Marble Falls grad’s Jonesboro softball team run rules Slocum, to play for state title
The Jonesboro High School softball team crushed Slocum 10-0 in six innings in the first contest of the Class 1A state tournament May 28.
The Lady Eagles (22-7, 9-1 District 12-1A runners-up), who are coached by 2014 Marble Falls High School graduate Amanda (Thomas) LeCroy. will face Neches in the state championship at 4 p.m. Wednesday, May 29, at Red and Charline McCombs Field on the University of Texas at Austin campus. Neches beat Hermleigh 7-2 in the second semifinal contest.
“I just thought they were excited and ready to compete and ready to be here,” LeCroy said of her players.
She pointed out a specific play — a diving effort to grab a well hit ball — that happened immediately that shouted plenty to attendees.
“We didn’t get it, but that set the tone,” the coach said. “I knew right away we showed we were ready to play.”
From there the Lady Eagles got the next three batters out in order to keep the game scoreless until their half of the first inning.
They struck immediately to take a 1-0 lead. Emily Turner, Kyleigh Walker and Ally Thorman all drew walks with Turner scoring on a wild pitch.
In the second inning, Ella Gustin led off with a single to center field then stole second, advanced to third on a throwing error, and scored on a fielding error. Adalyna Andrade picked up a RBI on a groundout to the pitcher. Turner hit a RBI single to right-center field for a 4-0 lead.
The Lady Eagles added more in the third inning. Leighla Hernandez led off with a double to center field and went to third on Gustin’s infield single. Lynlee Deats drew a walk for the RBI and Andrade hit a 2 RBI single to left field for an 8-0 advantage.
“That was when we felt that momentum shift,” LeCroy said. “We really do preach to our kids ‘one inning at a time. Go win the inning. Go take care of business and win the at-bat.’ I think that helped tremendously.”
In the fifth inning, Deats drew a walk and scored thanks to Turner’s RBI triple to right field for a 9-0 lead.
Hernandez hit a RBI single to score Thorman, who reached on an error in the sixth inning.
Andrade ended the contest with 3 RBI, while Turner, who had been batting .620 throughout the season, had 2 and Hernandez and Deats each had 1. Deats scored 3 runs, while Gustin and Gould each scored 2 and Hernandez, Thorman and Turner each scored 1.
Pitcher Thorman (9-5) allowed 3 hits, 2 walks and struck out 6.
“I thought she came pumped up and ready to go,” LeCroy said. “This is her best game she pitched all year, especially being a freshman. She had a great demeanor. We limited the walks and let the defense work behind her. I think they did a great job and backed her up and played as one today.”
LeCroy, a former catcher herself, was equally complimentary of catcher Turner.
“It’s probably the best she’s done at blocking (pitches) all year,” she said. “She takes care of business. No one wants to steal on her. She has a great arm. She calls the (defensive) game for us. I trust her to go do that. She trusts our pitchers and knows them well.”
The coach said that while she, her players and assistant coach Cody LeCroy, her husband, are excited, they realize there’s still one more game left.
“We’re taking it game by game,” she said. “We’re trying to prepare for the next game. We tell our players ‘go play your game and take care of what you need to do.'”
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