Sandiettes Get a Little Payback

Grapeland Avenges Lovelady Loss, 7-3

By Will Johnson
Messenger Reporter

LOVELADY – There was a playoff-like atmosphere in Lovelady as the Grapeland Sandiettes traveled to south Houston County to take on the Lady Lions.

Lovelady had defeated Grapeland by a score of 2-1 just a week earlier and the Sandiettes knew if they were to have any hope of defending their district championship they would have to defeat the Lady Lions on Tuesday, April 2.

Lovelady’s Mimi Sandoval had shut down the Grapeland offense the week before and she it looked like she was going to do it again until a six-run rally in the fourth inning pushed the Sandiettes past the Lady Lions by a final score of 7-3.

Sandoval was back in the circle to open the game for Lovelady and she continued her mastery of the Grapeland hitters. After issuing a lead-off walk to Kiera DeCluette, she struck out Diamond Dunn, got Cierra Simon to foul out and then coaxed Cadie Belle Currie to fly out to left.

When the Lady Lions came to bat, they needed all of two batters to score a run. Jacy Stubblefield reached on a come-backer and made it to third on an error.

Makayla White was up next and hit into a 5-3 sacrifice which allowed Stubblefield to cross the plate, giving Lovelady an early 1-0 lead.

Currie was in the circle for Grapeland and it seemed as if she was on a mission after the early Lovelady run. After White’s sacrifice, Currie forced Linda Martinez to foul out and caught Sandoval looking at strike three to end the inning.

After a three up, three down second inning for both teams, the Sandiettes evened the game at one in the third. While Sandoval retired the first two batters she faced – Jessi Cunningham and KeKe Harris – the right-hander gave up a bunt single to DeCluette.

With Dunn at the plate, DeCluette stole second on the first pitch and took third on the second pitch of her at-bat. On the play, an error in the field gave DeCluette the opportunity she needed to cross home plate and tie the game at one.

Following Sandoval’s strike out of Dunn, the Lady Lions came in from the field and quickly recaptured the lead. Sarah Thompson led off the bottom of the third with a groundout, but Bailee Albinus followed with a double to the left field gap.

The next batter was Stubblefield who moved Albinus to third when she hit into a 1-3 sacrifice. White followed in the batting order and slapped a hit into center, scoring Albinus. The ball was mishandled in the outfield which allowed White to trot into second.

That was as far as she would get, however. Currie nicked Martinez with a pitch to put runners at the corners, but the junior left-hander followed that by getting Sandoval to pop up to second for the third out.

As the top of the fourth got underway, Grapeland found itself down by a score of 2-1. By the end of the frame, however, the Sandiettes would take a 7-2 lead.

Simon led off with a bunt single and promptly stole second. Two pitches later, she swiped third. Currie was in the batter’s box and hit into a fielder’s choice. Simon was running on the pitch and beat the throw home while Currie made it safely to first.

With the score all tied at two, Jaycee Graham came in as a courtesy runner for Currie. Boyd was up next and popped to second for the first out. After that, Sandoval experienced some control issues as she walked Madi McCombs and Haylee Reed to load the bases.

With only one down, Cunningham settled into the batters’ box and on a 2-0 pitch, she slapped a little ducksnort over second base to drive in both Graham and McCombs, while Reed also advanced a base.

Sandoval regrouped long enough to strike out Harris, but DeCluette followed up with a double scoring both Reed and Cunningham. On the throw from the infield, DeCluette worked her way to third. Two pitches later, the All-State infielder scored on a wild pitch to give the Sandiettes a 7-2 lead they would not relinquish.

After the six-run outburst, Currie retired the Lady Lions in order in the bottom of the fourth and fifth innings. Sandoval matched Currie’s two innings of three up, three down pitching in both the top of the fifth and sixth innings.

In the bottom of the sixth, however, Lovelady got a run back. White led off with a single to left but Martinez struck out. Sandoval followed with a double which allowed White to sprint around the bases and score.

Sandoval made it to third but was stranded there after back-to-back groundouts from Erin Sample and Amber Mikes ended the Lovelady rally.

The Sandiettes went quietly in the seventh inning while Currie retired the Lady Lions in order to close out the game – giving Grapeland the 7-3 win.

Currie picked up the win in seven innings as she gave up three runs (two earned) on five hits. She also recoded five strikeouts and didn’t walk anyone.

Sandoval took the loss in seven innings of work. She gave up seven runs (five earned) on four hits. She also recorded 11 strikeouts and walked three batters.

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