Sandiettes Plagued by Errors in Loss

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

CENTERVILLE – The Grapeland Sandiettes traveled to Centerville on Friday afternoon to open the second half of district play. The Sandiettes quickly found out the second half wasn’t going to be as easy as the first half of the district season as they fell behind by a score of 5-1 in the first inning to the Lady Tigers and simply could not overcome the deficit as they lost by a final score of 7-6.

The Sandiettes took an early 1-0 lead as Taylar Mullen reached first on a bunt single and came around to score on a Hailee Sheridan double.

The Lady Tigers came roaring back in the bottom half of the inning as the normally reliable Sandiette defense committed three errors which led to five runs for Centerville.

After a quiet second inning, the Sandiettes began to chip away at the Lady Tigers’ lead. Mullen was hit by a pitch and moved to second on a walk to Diamond Maines-Dunn. After a double steal, Sheridan drew a walk to load the bases for Grapeland.

Cadie Belle Currie hit into a fielder’s choice and on the play Mullen was able to scamper home to cut the lead to 5-2. The Sandiettes had runners at second and third with only one out but couldn’t capitalize as Hannah Chipman struck out and Madison Holbrook popped up to end the inning.

The fourth inning was also quiet for both Centerville and Grapeland but in the top of the fifth, the Sandiettes crept a little closer. Maines-Dunn led off with a bunt down the third base line and came around to score on a double from Currie to make the score 5-3.

In the top of the sixth inning, the Sandiettes cut the lead to one. KeKe Harris led off the inning and reached base on an error by the Lady Tigers’ defense. She took second on the error and came around to score when Mullen doubled into the gap in left centerfield.

When Mullen crossed the plate, the Sandiettes had closed the gap to a single run and only trailed 5-4. Unfortunately, that was as close as the Sandiettes would get.

The sixth and seventh errors on the Grapeland defense allowed the Lady Tigers to push their lead out to 7-4 in the bottom of the sixth inning.

In the top of the seventh, the Sandiettes managed to score two runs to bring the score to 7-6 but they couldn’t get over the hump and fell by a final score of 7-6.

Currie went the distance for the Sandiettes in the loss as she gave up six hits and seven runs. None of the seven runs were earned, however, as the Grapeland defense committed eight errors in the game. The Sandiettes also left seven runners on base throughout the game.

The loss drops Grapeland into a tie with the Slocum Lady Mustangs for first place in District 21-2A. Grapeland and Slocum were scheduled to play on Tuesday, April 4 but as of press time the score was unavailable.

Will Johnson may be contacted via e-mail at [email protected].