Marble Falls softball loses to Burnet
CAPTION: Senior first baseman Sophia Biagini catches the foul ball for the out early in the contest against Burnet. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
The Marble Falls High School softball team lost to Burnet 8-1 April 11 in District 24-4A play.
The Lady Dawgs scored a run in the third inning thanks to a fielding error and RBI by senior pitcher Presley Crawford.
Burnet added to the lead in the fifth inning on a RBI single by junior shortstop Journey Denton. After junior Carlee Williams drew a walk, junior Halle Maxwell hit a 2 RBI single for the 4-0 advantage.
The Lady Dawgs increased the advantage in the sixth inning by plating three runs.
Marble Falls senior second baseman Kylie Roberts started the sixth inning with a single and went home on a RBI double by freshman Callie Phillips.
In her final regular season home at-bat, senior first baseman Sophia Biagini hit a triple in the seventh inning.
“Sophia has embraced her senior year in the fact that she’s put in extra work,” head coach Alex Lozoya said. “She sought extra help outside of practice and you can see it pay off in the at-bats. Sophia has had a good approach.”
Crawford allowed 1 earned run off 3 hits and a walk and struck out 14.
Marble Falls freshman pitcher Brooklynn Damico allowed 3 earned runs off 7 hits and 3 walks with a strikeout in 5 1/3 innings.
In other district games, Taylor (6-13, 2-7) run-ruled Jarrell (6-17-2, 3-6) 11-1 and Georgetown Gateway (19-1-2, 9-1) run-ruled Lampasas (11-14, 3-8) 10-0.
Jarrell’s loss means the Lady Cougars and Lampasas each have three district wins, while Marble Falls and Taylor have two apiece.
But the Lady Mustangs travel to Jarrell for a 7 p.m. contest Tuesday, April 15. A Marble Falls victory increases the possibility of forcing a play-in game for the final postseason berth.
Lampasas and Taylor, however, have two games left. The Lady Badgers are at Georgetown Gateway April 15 and at home against Burnet Thursday, April 17, while the Lady Ducks travel to Burnet April 15 and welcome Gateway April 17. Marble Falls ends its regular season at Jarrell.
If the Lady Badgers win both games, they will take the final playoff spot because no one else can get to a total of five wins. If Jarrell, Lampasas and Taylor each have four district wins, Marble Falls’ season ends.
But if all four teams each have 3-9 records, coaches will have to decide how that final playoff berth will be decided. Typically, coaches want to play for it instead of using season stats or luck by flipping coins.
But none of that matters without Marble Falls traveling to Jarrell and coming home with a victory.
“What we worked for is going to come down to Tuesday,” Lozoya said. “Let’s make the last game of the year matter. And it does. It’s going to matter to us. I don’t think this program has been there in awhile – to have a game that matters after spring break. I’m excited for them. I’m excited for them to feel what is going to be a playoff atmosphere in general. We got nothing at this point. And the comment we made to the group was ‘you are in a situation where we’ve been working and we haven’t been able to connect it and put it together and we’re still looking over our shoulder on who can help us who can help us.’ Come Tuesday, there is no help. Let’s be honest – we have to find a way to get it done to reward the effort.”
Before the game against Burnet, the program honored its seniors and their parents.
“I’m very appreciative of the senior class,” Lozoya said. “I am very thankful that in their time as a Mustang softball players, this group can say ‘we got a shot.'”
CAPTION: Marble Falls senior second baseman Kylie Roberts secures the ground ball and looks to first base before throwing for the out. Staff photo by Jennifer Fierro
