Lady Eagles Take Bi-District

The No. 2 ranked Como-Pickton Lady Eagles traveled to Paris Chisum Wednesday night, looking to face Simms Bowie in the Bi-District round of the playoffs. Looking to hopefully get the game in without weather pushing it back to another night, the Lady Eagles sat out to begin yet another postseason run. 

Como-Pickton was the road team in this one, giving themselves an opportunity to take an early lead. They did exactly that when Bella Romero and Gracie Thompson walked and doubled to open the game. 

Now with runners on second and third, Mattison Buster stepped to the plate for the first time. Buster hit a line drive to center, singling and driving in a pair of runs to take a quick 2-0 lead. 

Addi Monk followed with a single of her own, before Saylor Smith drove them each in with a double to left, extending the lead to 4-0, still with no outs in the frame. Simms Bowie responded by finally getting a pair of strikeouts, looking like they may be putting an end to the explosive first inning. 

Judah Van Rijn had other plans, however, singling to drive in the fifth run of the frame. Two batters later Romero would step in for the second time. The Lady Eagles leadoff batter reached on an error, adding another run to the tally. 

A Thompson walk would load the bases for Buster, forcing Simms Bowie to throw to her. Buster responded with a single to left, scoring another pair of runs and extending the lead to 8-0. 

The bats continued to stay red hot for Como-Pickton as Monk hit an RBI single, followed by doubles from Smith and Sarah Corley, plating an even dozen runs in the top of the first. Now with a huge lead, it was time for Buster to take the circle.

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Buster had a strong first inning, striking out the first batter she faced. She also got a ground out and another strike out, setting the tone. 

While Como-Pickton wouldn’t plate another run in the game, the 12-run lead was more than enough for their ace to work with. Buster didn’t allow her first hit until the bottom of the fourth, striking out four batters along the way. 

After finally allowing a one-out single, it looked like Simms Bowie may be heating up, following by having another batter reach on an error. With runners on first and second with one out, Buster got an infield fly and then they were able to pick a runner off, getting out of the jam without allowing a run. 

Now heading into the bottom of the fifth and still with a 12-run lead, the Lady Eagles needed just three more outs to claim yet another Bi-District title. Ahead in the count 1-2, Buster was able to get the leadoff batter to go down swinging. 

The second batter of the inning saw just two pitches, grounded out to Romero at short. Now needing just one more out, Buster quickly got ahead in the count 0-2 with a pair of foul balls. Down to her final strike, Buster was able to freeze the batter, getting her to go down looking, and wrapping up the 12-0 shutout.

The Lady Eagles ace opened postseason play on a strong note, allowing just one hit in her five-inning shutout. She also struck out seven without allowing a walk. 

Offensively, it was Smith who paced the way. Smith was 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, also driving in three runs and scoring a pair as well. Other multi-hit games for Como-Pickton included Thompson, Buster, Van Rijn and Maggie Brown. 

Now with the Bi-District round behind them, Como-Pickton awaits the winner of Cross-Roads and Overton in the Area round. Information on the next round will be provided when available.