THRALL – Sometimes, one seemingly small mistake, can have big consequences.
Tuesday night, the Thorndale Lady Dogs committed just one error, but it proved very costly as the Thrall Tigerettes (12-13-2 overall, 6-6 District 27-2A) scored four runs on that one error and rallied past the Lady Dogs 8-6.
Thrall started the game strong, scoring three runs in the bottom of the first inning.
Mikayla Velesquez and Ashlyn Jarosek hit consecutive singles to get the inning started for the Tigerettes. A fielder’s choice by Neveah Irvin moved both runners into scoring position for Raelynn Johnson, who roped a double to left, scoring Velesquez. A sacrifice fly by Riley Luton pushed another run across, and Thrall added one additional run on Dezi Lopez’s single.
The score remained 3-0 until the top of the fourth inning, when the Lady Dog erupted for six runs and took the lead. Karis Ginn and Kassidy Eubanks led off the innings with back-to-back singles, and Bailee Baker walked to load the bases. Thorndale’s first run came in on Hadley Meadors’ infield single.
Another single made the score 3-2, and Garcia’s ground out pushed the tying run across. It looked like the Tigerettes would get out of the inning at that point, now with two outs, but Thorndale had other ideas. Allie Owen’s infield single gave the visitors their first lead of the game, and Raeghan Carlson’s single to center made it 5-3. The final run came on a Thrall error, that left the Tigerettes trailing 6-3 after four innings. Thorndale was able to maintain the three-run cushion until the bottom of the sixth. Johnson and Luton both walked to open the Thrall sixth, and both runners advanced on Lopez’s fielder’s choice. The bases went full as Autree Kelm was issued a walk, and Johnson came home to score on Brie Jarosek’s run-scoring single.
Even with the bases full of Tigerettes, the Lady Dogs appeared optimistic they could get out of the inning now, with two outs. Even after Velesquez’s double to center, it seemed like a routine play would get Thorndale out of the inning. But a misplayed ball on the throw in from center cleared the bases, including Velesquez, who came around to score, and suddenly, Thrall held an 8-6 advantage.
Thorndale managed a single in the top of the seventh but made no threat to regain the lead.
Thrall had a makeup game at Bremond on Thursday and traveled to Marlin to face Chilton Friday. They will close out the week at home against the Granger Lady Lions Saturday. The game versus Granger will likely determine the fourthplace team in the district.
