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Lady Jaguars survive late scare to beat Marcus in softball
BY RICKY MOORE, Staff Writer
When Flower Mound senior pitcher Dana Nathanson came out of the game in the fifth inning, her coach Wendy Massey reminded her she might be needed later.
Considering the Jaguars held a 9-2 lead at the time, that didn’t seem very plausible.
But, when Flower Mound takes on Marcus in any sport, strange things can happen.
After allowing a run on an error and a ground out, Nathanson induced a liner to second by Marcus’ Maureen Chunta for a 9-8 District 6-5A win with runners at second and third.
“You never know what might happen,” Massey said. “We tell all three of our pitchers to be ready at any point in time.”
Massey said she opted on Nathanson relieving Ashley Rother, instead of Lauren Kennewell, because Nathanson had already been in the game pitching.
“Her mindset was there,” Massey said. “She is really good under pressure. She handles that well. We weren’t worried about bringing her in.”
The victory improved Flower Mound (9-5) to 3-0 in district play. Friday, the Lady Jags host Carrollton R.L. Turner. Marcus (8-7, 1-1) lost its first district game since 2006. The Lady Marauders had won 15 consecutive district games. Marcus host Creekview tonight and Lewisville on Friday.
Flower Mound jumped out to a 6-0 lead in the first inning off Marcus freshman starter Devon Wallace. The big blow of the inning was Taylor Hoagland’s three-run opposite field home run off the right field foul pole. Rachel Archer also had a two-run single in the inning.
The Lady Jaguars threatened to put the game away in the fourth scoring, three more runs for a 9-0 lead. Kayleigh Walts, Megan Brigance and Ali Burkhardt all drove in runs. But, Flower Mound left a pair of runners stranded.
“We got off to a great, start and then, we couldn’t capitalize later,” Massey said. “A Flower Mound and Marcus game is always going to be tight. A couple of things here or there could change the momentum of the game.”
Heather Foust, who relieved Wallace in the first inning, kept the Lady Marauders in the game by silencing Flower Mound’s bats in each inning except the fourth.
Just when it seemed Marcus might get run-ruled, the Lady Marauders fought back with four runs in the fourth. Marcus was able to cut the lead to 9-4 on a pair of hits and three Flower Mound errors.
“I think that just shows you the heart we have,” said Marcus coach Christie Tumilty. “These kids play hard. They aren’t going to give up and roll over.”
In the seventh, Marcus’ first two batters reached on a single and an error. Wallace followed with a double down the left-field line that sliced the lead to 9-6. After Nathanson entered the game, Torrie Bass reached on an error and Wallace scored on another error.
With one out and the bases loaded, Nathanson forced a run-scoring ground out from Foust. Nathanson then got Chunta to line out.
“I’m proud we came through with the win,” Massey said. “We didn’t fold.”
Tumilty was also proud of her team’s never-say-die attitude.
“We came up short,” she said. “But, there is nothing wrong at all with the way that game went down. We get to play them again. It’s the first-round of district. There is a lot that can still happen. And, hopefully a lot that can happen after district.”
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