So much for a coach’s sleepless nights worrying about such things.
For all the offensive ammunition in the Belton Lady Tigers’ arsenal that hadn’t yet been on full display, they unloaded both barrels at A&M Consolidated in Wednesday night’s District 12-5A opener.
Behind a 16-hit barrage, the Lady Tigers pummeled district favorite Consol 11-0 in a five-inning set that took just an hour and 15 minutes to complete.
Who knew?
“You go to bed dreaming about this game and you’re dreaming it’s going to be a 2-1 victory,” said Belton coach Matt Blackburn, whose team is now 9-5 overall. “I never imagined it would be anything like this.”
Almost lost in the seemingly endless chain of frozen ropes was a masterful two-hit pitching performance by Allison Boston, who struck out four and walked two to get the win.
But it was the Lady Tigers’ batting order from top to bottom that rocked Consol starter Summer Groholski and later reliever Sarah Halliwell. Eight of the nine Lady Tigers in the lineup posted at least one hit and they scored in every inning.
“I don’t know where the sticks have been to this point,” said Blackburn. “Our game plan on Monday was offense, offense, offense. We spent an hour on Monday and Tuesday just hitting. We were seeing it from the get go.”
Amber Peters doubled off the left-field wall to drive in Brianna Bozon with the first run of the game and the only run of the first inning.
The relentless hitting took root in the second when the Lady Tigers sent nine to the plate and scored five runs on six hits to go up 6-0. All of that coming with two outs.
Victoria Alcozer stroked one of her three hits to drive in Kristi Moose. Bozon ripped a bases-loaded grounder by diving Consol shortstop Sarah Allison to bring home Madi Moore and Alcozer.
Peters bounced a single through the middle to score Krystal Faber and Brynne Steger singled home Bozon as the Lady Tigers took a commanding lead.
They didn’t take their foot off the pedal, collecting three more runs in the third in sending eight batters to the plate.
Talya Bishoff opened the frame by hitting a bullet off third baseman Dayton Kunz’s knee. Moose followed by mashing a double to the left-center gap. Moore, Alcozer and Bozon all came through with run-scoring singles to put Belton up 9-0.
Belton picked up two more in the fourth to become eligible for an early finish on the 10-run mercy rule. Steger led off with a walk and scored when Bishoff plastered a double off the left-field wall. Bishoff scored later on Moore’s two-out single to right.
Boston retired the final seven Consol batters in order. She struck out Ashley Heritage, the only Consol (7-7) player to make three plate appearances, to finish the game.
“Coming in with a .253 (batting) average,” said Blackburn, “two days of hitting paid off.”
Belton hosts its own 14-team tournament beginning today through Saturday. The Lady Tigers take on Pasadena Memorial at 6 and Midland Lee at 8 today.
Blackburn said the tournament will serve as preparation for the Lady Tigers’ next district game at Temple on Tuesday while enjoying this first league win.
“We haven’t won like that (before),” said Blackburn. “Our tough schedule paid off. We couldn’t have scripted it any better.”
