The threegame District 26 skid for the Dripping Springs High School varsity softball team began March 11 in a 3-2 loss on the road to Westlake, then on March 12 in an at-home 6-3 loss to Lake Travis and, what one might say was an unexpected 2-0 shutout on March 19 at Del Valle. The Lady Tigers had obviously put the losses in the rearview mirror when they hosted Anderson and won on a run-rule 13-0 shutout on March 22.
DRIPPING SPRINGS — The three-game District 26 skid for the Dripping Springs High School varsity softball team began March 11 in a 3-2 loss on the road to Westlake, then on March 12 in an at-home 6-3 loss to Lake Travis and, what one might say was an unexpected 2-0 shutout on March 19 at Del Valle. The Lady Tigers had obviously put the losses in the rearview mirror when they hosted Anderson and won on a run-rule 13-0 shutout on March 22.
Dripping Springs is now on a seven-game win streak in 6A District 26 with its latest conquest being back-to-back victories. The Lady Tigers overcame a 2-1 deficit on Friday, April 12 when they hosted Westlake by scoring seven runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, matching Westlake’s three runs in the fifth inning and holding the Chaps to two runs in the sixth inning for an 11-7 win.
Dripping Springs’ pitching duo of senior starter Haiden Anderson (five innings) and junior Jai-Lynn Flores (two innings) combined to give up seven hits, while striking out eight Westlake batters. Dripping Springs had 12 hits in the game. Tatum Green was 2 for 4 at the plate with a double and a triple and Lillian Wearden, 3 for 3, hit a double.
“We don’t know who will start tomorrow and it doesn’t matter,” Anderson said after getting the win, and Flores agreed. “We’re both capable of getting the job done and that’s what we’ll do.”
The excitement of the win and euphoria of success carried over in the morning on Saturday, April 13 as the Lady Tigers boarded the bus to Lake Travis High School for a 12:30 p.m. game against another district rival. Lake Travis freshman starting pitcher Julianna Rodriguez pitched a complete game and struck out 11 Lady Tiger batters, giving up only four hits. One of those hits gave the Lady Tigers a 1-0 lead and the other proved to be the game winner. Both hits were off the bat of Dripping Springs starting pitcher Haiden Anderson.
Dripping Springs freshman Lillian Wearden reached base on a hit in the top of the fourth inning and stole second base. Anderson hit a double scoring Wearden to give the Lady Tigers a 1-0 lead. Lake Travis junior Madison Pinzon drove in the tying run in the bottom of the sixth inning. In the top of the seventh inning Anderson (.427 batting average) hit a home run, her eleventh of the season, to give the Lady Tigers a 2-1 lead. Anderson, who didn’t give up an extra base hit, ended the game in the bottom of the seventh inning with a strike out for a 2-1 win. Dripping Springs freshman Tatum Green got the other hit. Anderson (15-6 and 1.71 ERA), gave up five hits and struck out three.
The Lady Tigers are 22-11 (11-3) and at press time on Tuesday, April 16, they will host Del Valle and finish the regular season on the road at Anderson on Friday, April 19. Bi-District playoffs begin April 26. The State Tournament Semifinal for 6A is May 31 with the final on June 1. All games are at McCombs Field on the University of Texas campus.
