WEIMAR – Revenge was a dish served in two games for the Richmond Foster Falcons as they swept the Dripping Springs Tigers softball team from playoff contention.
The best-of-three series, played at Weimar High, was a rematch of the 2017 Region IV title game, which Dripping Springs won.
While Foster got the upper hand Thursday and Friday, head coach Wade Womack lauded the play of his upperclassmen.
“I just told them they had a great three year run, especially our seniors and our juniors,” Womack said. “You know regional semi-finals in 2016, state semi-finals last year, bi-district championship and area this year, against what I think in this area the two best teams in the area, it’s a shame we had to match up so early, a good team had to go home. It’s unfortunate it’s us.”
The pitching duel between Dripping Springs’ Logan Hulon and Foster’s Kacie Pryor lived up to the hype as both only allowed a few hits in each game played. For Dripping Springs the lack of offense is what ultimately ended its season, as it was shutout in both games.
In game one, Pryor struck out 14 Lady Tiger batters while walking one and only allowing two hits.
“We just didn’t make the necessary adjustments at the plate,” Womack said about Game 1 struggles. “We didn’t put enough balls in play and when you don’t do that you don’t give yourself a chance to produce some runs.”
Game two had a similar result as Dripping Springs’ offense struggled to get the ball into play in clutch situations. The Tigers only recorded three hits in the game, with the cleanest hit coming from junior second baseman Camille Corona as she doubled to right field in the top of the first inning.
“Today the girls made the adjustments they needed to,” said Womack. “We gave ourselves a chance, we just couldn’t push a run across.”
After being down 2-0 in the bottom of the sixth inning in Game 1, junior pinch hitter Izzy Bermudez gave the Tigers life after a line drive single to right field. Dripping Springs had a bases loaded opportunity later in the inning, but came away empty as Pryor kept them off balance at the plate.
Hulon got the starting pitch nod again for game two, and she recorded a stat line of nine strikeouts, three hits, and one walk while surrendering two runs.
Foster’s first run in Game 2 came in the top of the third inning after Dripping Springs committed three infield errors. The Falcons extended their lead to 2-0 in the fifth inning with a blooper to center field that was just out of reach of Corona’s outstretched glove.
“She (Hulon) pitched well,” Womack said. “You know we’ve had good pitching all year. Logan stepped up these two games and gave us a chance. It’s unfortunate that we just couldn’t produce some runs. We just couldn’t get the job done in clutch situations.”
Friday was the final game for Tiger seniors Riley Dunn, Emily Barefield, Paige Leschber, Shelbye Hartman and Danielle Northrup.
However, Womack was optimistic for next season, based on the number of juniors and sophomores expected to return.
“They are just a fun group,” Womack said about his senior class. “They are a good group. They are a talented group. They are an athletic group. They work hard. We’ve had a tremendous three years of offseason with that senior group. They have fun and enjoy each other’s company. So I will miss that with our seniors, but fortunately we have a good core of our juniors and sophomores coming back.
