No one would be surprised to see Belton at the top with a 7-0 record with College Station A&M Consolidated one game behind.
It’s an improvement but not a stunner that Temple is in a solid third position at 5-2. Seeing Bryan in fourth at 4-3 might cause one to pause, but there is time for a rebound.
For several years the district leadership has been dictated by the comings and goings of Belton, A&M Consolidated and Bryan. Temple usually fell somewhere between the elite three and the second division.
Though the movement among the top tier is a mild ripple from the established norm, some of the results have been a curiosity.
Belton, for instance, run-ruled Consol in the opener, rang up 10 runs apiece against Temple and Bryan, had pedestrian wins over Killeen Ellison, Copperas Cove and Killeen Shoemaker, then had to go extra innings to outlast winless Harker Heights.
Temple’s offensive production is occasionally explosive and is showing punch throughout the lineup. The Tem-Cats have shown they can win tight games and even cruise to an easy one now and then.
It is with that backdrop that the second half of district play begins with a pair of pivotal games tonight that could dictate how the final three weeks shake out before the playoffs. Temple hosts dangerous Shoemaker, while Belton travels to College Station to meet Consol in a game that could all but secure the championship for Belton.
“I love being 7-0,” Belton coach Matt Blackburn said. “But what that does is put a big, old target on your back when you’re in first place. We just have to play like it.”
At this point, the Lady Tigers’ potent offense is back in gear led by shortstop Amber Peters, third baseman Brianna Bozon and left fielder Victoria Alcozer in the leadoff spot. Belton’s pitching depth is prevalent between Brynne Steger, Jenna Roach and Allison Boston.
Temple’s clutch 3-2 road victory over Shoemaker in last month’s district opener set the tone for the Tem-Cats, who had to face three of their first four games away from home against the top half of the district. The Tem-Cats came out of that with a split and now carry a five-game winning streak into the rematch against the Lady Grey Wolves and a home-heavy schedule.
Sophomore pitcher Elisa Espinoza (14-9) continues to get stronger, coming off a one-hit shutout of Ellison. Sophomore Jenna Bane and seniors Emily Vickery and Kacie Easley have provided ample offense of late.
Shoemaker, at 3-4, hasn’t broken through against the top four teams but remains a scary opponent for all those jockeying for the four playoff berths. Pitcher Sami Berg is considered among the best in the district. She struck out 14 Tem-Cats in the first meeting.
Said Temple coach Steve Prentiss: “There’s not as big a difference between the top half and the bottom half of the district as there used to be.”
