Amarillo High’s Taylyn Shuffield drives a ball to right field during a District 3-5A clash against Bell Street rival Randall at the Randall Softball Complex on Friday afternoon. [Ben Jenkins/ Press Pass Sports]
Softball is heating up as district play is getting into full swing for teams across the Texas Panhandle on Thursday and Friday.
Amarillo High opened District 3-5A action with an 11-0 thumping of Plainview at home Thursday, followed by a big 10-5 win at rival Randall on Friday. Pitcher Bethany Noble threw 4 2/3 scoreless innings allowing only one hit for the victory against the Lady Bulldogs. Noble (6-5) turned around and threw a complete game allowing two earned runs with four strikeouts to beat the Lady Raiders.
Danae Lopez had a huge two games. Lopez went a combined 5-for-7 at the plate with a homer, two doubles and drove in four combined RBIs. Amarillo High is 14-11-1 overall and 2-0 in district. Randall falls to 13-10-1, 1-1.
Caprock is also off to a 2-0 start to 3-5A. The Lady Longhorns (12-12 overall) blistered Tascosa 13-2 on Thursday, followed by 18-0 run-rule of Palo Duro on Friday.
Senior leader Jaelin Ornelas went 4-for-6 at the dish with a combined eight RBIs in the pair of wins. Tascosa also fell to Plainview (18-8, 1-1) on Friday, as the Lady Rebels fall to 10-13, 0-2.
District 4-4A
Canyon and Pampa are undefeated through the first two games of District 4-4A play.
Canyon earned a pair of run-rule wins, downing Hereford 15-3 on Wednesday. The Lady Eagles then blanked Perryton on the road, 25-0, Friday evening. Berkley Bradley had a career effort against the Lady Whitefaces as the Lady Eagles third baseman drove in nine RBIs on a 3-for-3 outing at the plate. Bradley had a grand slam, another home run, and a double. During Friday’s win at Perryton, it was catcher Maison Guerrero leading the way going 2-for-5 with five RBIs thanks to base clearing double.
The Lady Eagles are 14-9 overall, and 2-0 in district play.
Not to be outdone, Pampa (17-4-1 overall, 2-0 in district) impressed with a 13-5 win over Dumas on Thursday, and an 11-1 victory against rival Borger on Friday. Against the Lady Bulldogs, Pampa starting pitcher Kynleigh Kirby racked up 13 strikeouts in a complete game effort. Dumas falls to 19-7, 1-1. Borger is 8-5, 1-1.
District 1-3A
The Bushland Lady Falcons have established dominance on District 1-3A with a pair of blowout wins to open league play.
The No. 11-ranked Lady Falcons used strong pitching and big bats to blank River Road and Canadian by a combined 50-0 on Thursday and Saturday.
During Thursday’s win against River Road, Bushland sophomore Brylee Adams threw a no-hitter over five innings racking up 10 strikeouts. Adams was also 3-for-4 at the dish with four RBIs and was one of five Lady Falcon players to homer.
On Saturday, Bushland (19-7, 2-0) went on the road and blanked Canadian 26-0. Adams was 3-for-4 once again with five RBIs and two more home runs. The Lady Falcons have hit 37 homers as a team this season. Jillian Howell tossed five shutout innings to beat Canadian, allowing two hits with eight K’s.
River Road bounced back on Saturday to earn an 18-0 win at Dalhart. The Lady Wildcats (14-9-1, 1-1). Slugger Shiyan Lozano 3-for-6 including a 3-run home run, a double, finishing with six RBIs. Carolyn Koval tossed a complete game with 11 strikeouts to get the win.
Dalhart falls to 4-12, 1-1.