Marble Falls softball gets two more wins at own tourney

CAPTION: Marble Falls junior Emma Cayce slides safely into home plate to the score the run thanks to a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Mackenzie Grider. Photo by Jennifer Fierro/TexasChalkTalk.com

The Marble Falls High School softball team went 2-1 on the final day of its Mustang Round-up March 2.

The Lady Mustangs (9-8-2) beat San Antonio St. Mary’s 3-0 and Universal City Randolph 23-0 and lost to Bastrop Cedar Creek 12-2.

The nightcap against St. Mary’s may have foreshadowed how the Lady Mustangs will find success in District 24-4A play.

“I’m very proud of our kids on how we played small ball and generated runs,” head coach Alex Lozoya said.

Marble Falls took a 1-0 lead in the first inning thanks to a RBI single by sophomore Cheyenne Thompson, who brought home sophomore Marisol Ramos, who reached base on a walk.

In the second inning, the Lady Mustangs got a sacrifice bunt by sophomore Mackenzie Grider to score junior Emma Cayce for a 2-0 lead.

Marble Falls added another run in the third inning. Junior Kylie Roberts hit a single down the third-base line and went to second and third on pass balls. Freshman Jocelyn Suarez hit a RBI triple down the third-base line to score Roberts.

Defensively the Lady Mustangs were stingy.

In the second inning, right fielder Blair caught a ball hit deep to right field as she fell backward for the catch that got her teammates cheering. Lozoya noted the outfielders did their jobs well.

“For the most part, our outfield looked really good,” he said.

Roberts caught a line drive for an out in the fourth inning and shortstop Suarez started a double play by catching a grounder hit to her to tag the runner going to third and then threw to first for the 6-3 out to end the inning.

Lozoya said he remembers seeing Suarez in eighth period athletics as an eight-grader last year and thought she was a fireball.

“She has an awareness for the game and a passion for the game,” he said.

In the fifth inning, the Lady Mustangs got a double play started by center fielder Ramos to Roberts to junior first baseman Sophia Biagini when the runner, who walked, didn’t tag before leaving the base.

“They had this heads-up double play,” the coach said.

Junior pitcher Camille Catalfamo ended the inning with a strikeout.

“She understood what part of the line-up she needed to attack,” Lozoya said. “Going into district play, we understand they’re going to put the ball in play, and we need to play defense.”

The day began with the loss to Cedar Creek.

“Cedar Creek showed up and swung it well,” Lozoya said.

Lozoya said he and his staff were encouraged by what they saw from the players, who looked sharper on making defensive plays and didn’t press as much when throwing to a base for the out. He noted his players have come a long way from where they began a year ago.

“Last year was to understand what play needed to be made,” he said. “This year it’s being there. It’s no longer ‘OK, that’s the play that needs to be made.'”

Marble Falls welcomes Manor New Tech at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 5, to Scearce Softball Field on the high school campus.

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