Spring Klein Hawks Win 16U-A Houston ASA Metro Opening Game

by Duane  Treybig

In the first game, the Spring Klein Hawks played the Cy-Fair Storm in a 7:00 pm game. The game was knotted 0-0 until the 3rd inning. The Hawks were at bat. Crystal Saenz hit the ball over the left fielder and almost out of the park. Before the left fielder could get the ball in, Crystal was at 2nd base. Morgan Catrett put the ball in play in front of home. Storm's catcher Cerisse Cross pounced on the ball and threw to the 1st baseman to get the first out. Crystal advanced to 3rd base on the play. Brette Reagan then hit a grounder between the short stop and the 2nd base bag. Storm's short stop Shannon Crooks barely got to the ball and could only deflect it toward the 2nd baseman. Brette was safe on the play and Crystal scored to give the Hawks a 1-0 lead. Shannon Neal reached 1st base on a fielder's choice. Brette was safe at 2nd. Stephanie Estrada then hit a double in the gap between left and center field that scored Brett and Shannon. Brie Romere reached 1st base on a fielder's choice, but the next batter was called out when she fouled a pitch in a bunting attempt and the following batter grounded out to the short stop.

The Hawks added to their 3-0 lead in the 5th inning. Shannon Neal lead off with a single. Stephanie Estrada flied out to the left fielder for out No. 1. Brie Romere reached first when she was hit by a pitch. Core Race then hit a hard line drive towards the 2nd baseman. The Storm's 2nd baseman Robin Ramos jumped high and pull down what looked like a single for out No. 2 and alertly threw to first to get a double play. Brie barely beat the throw back to first. Emily Prather hit a line drive up the middle to load the bases. Stacey Sours then hit a line drive between the 2nd baseman and the 1st base bag which drove in 2 runs. Stacey reached 2nd base and then short stop Shannon Crooks tagged Stacey out for out No. 3 in a run down.

The Hawks were not through. In the 6th inning they added another run. Crystal Saenz reached 1st base on a single. Morgan Catrett moved Crystal to 2nd base with a perfectly executed drag bunt. Morgan was easily safe at 1st base. Brette Reagan walked. Shannon Neal and Stephanie Estrada both struck out. Brie Romere then hit the ball to the left side of the field and reached 1st base safely because Storm tried to get the 3rd out at the plate. They were unsuccessful as Crystal scored on the play. Core Race then grounded out to the 2nd baseman to end the inning.

Melanie Smith got the 6-0 shut-out for the Hawks. She lives in Angleton. Melanie pitched the whole game, striking out 10 Storm batters and walking two. She gave-up 4 hits.

Storm pitched by a committee. Robin Ramos started the game and was relieved in the middle of the 3rd inning by Tasha Steward. Paige Sandlin then pitched the 4th and 5th innings. Robin pitched the final inning. Robin got 4 strike-outs, walked a batter and hit a batter. Robin gave-up 6 hits. Tasha gave-up a double. Paige gave-up 2 hits and hit a batter.

The Hawks had a 9-hit attack. Crystal Saenz, Brette Reagan and Shannon Neal each collected two hits. Crystal had a double in the 3rd inning and a single in the 6th. Brette had two singles in the 1st and 3rd innings. Shannon Neal had singles in the 1st and 5th innings. Stephanie Estrada doubled in the 3rd inning, Emily Prather singled in the 5th inning and Stacey Sours singled in the 5th inning.

The Storm had a 4-hit attack. Amber Peard hit a single in the 2nd and 4th innings. Jace Holton (centerfielder) singled in the 6th inning. Jace hit 0.489 for Cy-Falls High School Junior Varsity this past spring.  She has a 0.360 batting average for Storm.   Lindsey Pope singled in the 7th inning.

The Hawks next game is against the Katy Cruisers at 7:00 pm Friday night in a winner's bracket game. The Storm will face the Spring Klein Sliders in an elimination game also at 7:00 pm Friday night.