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Lady Cat bats are firing on all cylinders
BY ANDREW MAY, amay@acnpapers.com
Celina’s bats were smoldering toward the end of non-district play. It’s apparent they have since gone up in flames.
The Lady Cats have caught fire at the plate and are leaving a trail of ash and soot on every 9-3A field they step on. You know you’re laying the lumber to opposing pitchers when eight runs is the lowest offensive output of the district campaign, as was the case Tuesday in a shutout of Argyle.
Sophomore Katelyn Drummond continued to light it up in the circle, striking out 11 and yielding just three hits in her third league shutout. As good as she was yet again – Drummond has allowed the transition from a departed star to an emerging one go ever so smoothly – the real story of late has been the production in the box.
They have eviscerated all five district opponents and head into the second half as the only remaining unbeaten team. Since opening conference play March 15, Celina (15-6, 4-0) has outscored the opposition, 63-6. The state’s 12th-ranked 3A squad has pitched three shutouts and two run-rules in that span.
Good luck finding another team that is averaging 12.6 runs per game in district. Head coach Billy Coleman credits a non-district slate that was as tough as alligator skin. The Lady Cats faced some of the state’s best teams, mostly at the 4A and 5A levels. It affected Celina’s record and state ranking, but forced the squad to come out swinging.
“We’ve faced some good pitching, as good as anything we’ll see in district, as good as anything we’ll see in the playoffs,” Coleman said at the time.
The Lady Cats adjusted so well to the high level of pitching they actually had to dumb down their bats when they faced Gainesville’s Sarah Gerken because of her unhurried delivery and lack of ball speed. Same case Friday against Whitesboro and hurler Amelia Grimes. Safe to say they figured it out.
Sophomore Lindsie Knowles ripped three hits and recorded four RBIs in the 18-3 five-inning drubbing, while Drummond drove in four and struck out nine in the three-hitter.
As has been the case all season, everyone got into the act. Sophomore Taylor Norris chipped in with three hits and two RBIs, senior Jasmine San Miguel added two hits and a run, Shelby Carter tripled with an RBI and Ashley Garcia doubled and plated two more runs.
Whitesboro didn’t do itself any favors with four errors in the field, but playing perfect defense against a lineup that is yanking line drives all over the diamond is easier said than done.
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