Wimberley High School softball (4-9 overall, 1-0 district) continued their district schedule last week heading to Bandera High School on Tuesday, March 21.
Since Head Coach Robert Klick took over the reins of Texan softball, the Bulldogs have not defeated the Texans. Klick has been clear — win the ones you should, sneak a couple you shouldn’t — and stay in the race for a playoff spot. History shows the Texans can take Bandera High School, even when visiting their place.
The Texans got off to a fast start after two outs on the first two batters. Juniper Daniel hit a hard ground ball to third that was unplayable to end up at second before Addison Kirbo brought Daniels around on a fly ball to left. Reese Adams came to plate next, taking the pitch to right for a double to plate Kircbo. Rhagen Masur singled on a line drive to second base, allowing Adams to score, then stole second before the third out to lead 3-0.
The lead remained the same until Bulldogs batters and base runners were able to score two in the bottom of the second, cutting the Texan lead to 3-2.
The visitors added another run in the top of the third. Daniel doubled to left with a fly ball and advanced to third when Kirbo grounded to the pitcher and was thrown out at first. With two outs, Masur again slapped a line drive — this time toward the shortstop — pushing Daniel across to make the score 4-2. The Bulldogs kept it close by scoring another run in the bottom of the inning.
With the score 4-3 in the top of the fourth inning, Bailey Wright got aboard by walking with one out then stole second. McKenzie Moore shot a hard grounder into left field, allowing Wright to add another run to the Wimberley lead at 5-3. The Texans gave up three in the bottom of the inning, handing the lead over to the Bulldogs 6-5. Unable to put runs on the board in the top of the fifth, the Texans went to work defensively to keep Bandera from capitalizing. Three batters later, the bases were loaded. A single scored two before the Wimberley defense could close out the inning with a double play leaving the score 8-5.
Wright hit a solo homer in the top of the sixth to narrow the margin to 8-6, but Bandera stretched the lead back out, adding four in the bottom of the sixth. The Texans needed six runs in the top of the seventh but mustered only one when Daniel led off the inning with a fly ball to center for a homer. Three batters later, the Bulldogs recorded the final out and a 12-7 win.
Coach Klick addressed some of the difficulties that gave Bandera advantages.
“We had a great start,” he said. “We were up 3-0, and Charlotte Woodward shut them down 1-2-3 to start the game. We were doing as we planned, then we had some trouble finding the strike zone. Our pitchers combined for nine walks, and I think we had six errors.”
“Aside from Juniper (Daniel) and Bailey (Wright) hitting home runs, we struggled,” he continued. “We hit right at their defense and struck out seven times against a pitcher we could have taken advantage of. We just couldn’t string anything together.”
Taking care of their business in Bandera would have set the Texans up in great position for their playoff run, according to Klick. What was already deemed a dogfight is now an allout war to the end of the season.
With that tension in place, the Texans hosted the Fredericksburg High School Billies on Friday, March 24 in need of a good showing. Once again, the Texans started the game strong. Kirbo got the start at pitcher, and her defense recorded three ground outs in the first inning, allowing only one baserunner. In the second, the Texans gave up a single run, but the three outs of the inning came from the defense, including a play at the plate from Adams at third to catcher Grace Owens for the tag out at home of an advancing runner. The third inning would prove to be the nemesis of the home team. With one on and two outs, the Texans gave up four consecutive doubles — including a bunt — that scored four runs for the visiting Billies.
Fredericksburg would manufacture three more runs in the fourth before the Texans could mount an offensive charge. Daniel was able to double into center field with Kirbo batting next. With a 1-2 count, Kirbo tripled past the right fielder, scoring Daniel from second base. The score would be the sole run for the Texans on a night that saw them strike out 20 times, garnering only two hits and drawing two walks for a total of five base runners. Owens reached base in the bottom of the sixth by scampering to first base safely after the Fredericksburg catcher dropped a third strike. The 1-9 final was reflective of the difficulties the Texans suffered with putting the ball in play.
“We made some silly mistakes and dug ourselves into a 5-0 hole built mostly on errors. That put us in the position where we’ve got to score some runs, but we strike out 20 times for the night,” Klick commented. “With 20 strikeouts — and one of those ending up with a player on first after a catcher error — they only made two outs defensively.”
“Kirbo and Woodward both pitched well, but we just didn’t do enough defensively to keep them in check. I thought we made some great plays, but it was a mixed bag tonight,” continued Klick. “We made some silly mistakes on one hand but then we made some great, solid plays on the other. It was definitely up and down for us in the field.”
The Texans draw to 1-2 in district with difficult matchups this week. Tuesday’s game in Davenport featured a much improved Wolves team that had the feel of a ‘must win’ to it for the Texans to draw even at 2-2 in district and hold out hope for a playoff bid. The Boerne Greyhounds come to the Wimberley Sports Complex on Friday, March 31 for a 7 p.m. first pitch to conclude the first half of district play. Starting the second half, Coach Klick’s team will travel the short ride to Canyon Lake High School on Tuesday, April 3 for their last regular season matchup with the Hawks. The junior varsity plays at 5 p.m. with the varsity set to begin at 7 p.m.
