Nettes hold off Ralls, 11-9, to open district play

The Sudan Nettes’ varsity softball team opened district play on Tuesday with a home win over the Ralls Lady Rabbits, 11-9.

With the win, the Nettes improve to 1-0 in district play.

Desting Garza grounded out to Haylee Toscano at shortstop to open the game for Ralls, but Maria Zavala doubled up the middle on an error by Erica Herrera in center field and Gaby Martinez doubled to shallow center field ona throw in from Herrera. Blessy Montes got Alexis Trejo to pop up to her in front of the plate for out number two and she got Kylee Luna to pop up to Toscano at shortstop to retire the side.

Toscano and Montes drew backto- back walks to get the bottom half of the first inning under way, butAngie Thorn struck out swinging for out number one. The runners advanced to second and third on a past ball, before Laynee Jennings struck out looking for out number two.

Toscano scored on a past ball, as Montes advanced to third to put the Nettes in front, 1-0, before Daniella Ramirez dfrew a walk to put runners on the corners for Sudan. However, Lexi Jennings would strike out looking to end the inning, stranding two runners on base.

Montes and the Sudan defense kept the Lady Rabbits quiet in the second inning, as Mercedez Alcala singled to Toscano at shortstop. Montes got Savannah Martinez to strike out swinging for out number one and Amiah Vela hit a sacrifice grounder to Lexi Jennings at third, who threw to first for the out, as Mercedez Alcala advanced to second on the play. Adyson Bartlett hit a slow roller to Montes in the circle, who got the out at first to retire the side.

Lilly Sanchez got things going in the home-half of the second for Sudan with a single up the middle and Herrera drew a walk to put two runners on for the Nettes. Kalissa Harris hit into a fielder’s choice to Gaby Martinez in the circle, as she got Sanchez out at third for out number one.

Toscano drew a walk to load the bases and a few pitches later, Herrera scored, as the runners advanced on a past ball, stretching the lead to, 2-0, before Montes popped up to Gaby Martinez behind the circle for out number two. Thorn struck out swinging to end the inning for Sudan.

In the top of the third, Montes got Garza to pup up to Toscano behind third base for out number one, but Zavala drew a walk and Gaby Martinez followed it up with a two-run homerun to left field to tie the game, 2-2. Montes would respond in the circle, as she got Trejo to strike out looking for out number two. Luna singled over Herrera in center field and Mercedez Alcala singled to shallow center field putting runners on the corners for Ralls.

Luna scored on a past ball, as Mercedez Alcala took second on the play, giving Ralls their first lead of the game, 3-2. But, Montes got Savannah Martinez to pop up to Toscano in shallow left field to retire the side.

The Nettes would break it open in the bottom of the third inning, as Laynee Jennings doubled on error by the right fielder to give Sudan a base runner. Ramirez drew a walk and Lexi Jennings was hit by a pitch to load the bases, before Sanchez struck out swinging for out number one.

Laynee Jennings scored on a past ball, leaving runners on second and third with the score tied, 3-3. Herrera reached base on a fielder’s choice dropped third strike, as Luna tried to get the out at the plate, but the Nettes were safe everywhere as they regained the lead, 4-3. Harris hit an RBIsingle to second base on an error by Zavala, pushing their lead to, 5-3, and Toscano drew a walk to load the bases for the Nettes.

Montes kept it going with a two-RBI single up the middle to put runners on the corners for Sudan with the score, 7-3. She took second on a pitch, before Thorn reached base on a dropped third strike. The throw to first by Luna was off the mark, allowing Toscano to score and Montes to advance to third, making the score, 83.

Thorn took second on a pitch, but Montes was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a past ball, as Thorn advanced to third with two outs. Thorn would also be thrown out at the plate trying to score on a past ball to end the inning.

Montes made quick work of the Lady Rabbits in the top of the fourth inning, as she got Vela and Bartlett both to strike out looking for two outs. Garza and Zavala hit back-to-back singles to put runners on the corners for Ralls, but Gaby Martinez hit into a fielder’s choice to Ramriez at second base, who got the out at home to retire the side.

In the bottom half of the fourth inning, Laynee Jennings popped up to Mercedez Alcala at third base for out number one, but Ramirez singled on an error by Zavala at second base and advanced third on a throwing error to put a runner in scoring position for the Nettes. Lexi Jennings struck out looking for out number two, but Ramirez scored on a past ball to stretch the lead to, 9-3.

Sanchez singled on an error by CourtneyAlcala in right field, making it to third on the play, but Herrera struck out swinging to end the inning.

Ralls’ offense showed signs of life in the top of the fifth inning, as Trejo singled on an error by Herrera in center field and Luna drew a walk, before Savannah Martinez struck out swinging for out number one. Vela grounded out to Montes in the circle, as the runners advanced to second and third with two outs.

Bartlett singled on a grounder to Ramirez at second base, as a run scored trimming the lead to, 9-4, with runners on the corners. Garza doubled on a fly ball to center field for an RBI, moving Bartlett to third with the lead cut to, 9-5. Zavala, though, would ground out to Montes in the circle to retire the side.

In the bottom of the fifth, Harris grounded out to Gaby Martinez in the circle for out number one and Toscano popped up to Savannah Martinez in left field for out number two. Montes, thouh, would add some insurance, as she blasted a solo homerun to center field, pushing their lead to, 10-5.

Thorn drew a walk, but she was thrown out at second by Trejo to end the inning.

Gaby Martinez was intentionally walked to begin the sixth inning as she stole second on a pitch, before Trejo reached base on a dropped third strike wild pitch, allowing Gaby Martinez to score on the play, trimming the lead to, 10-6. Luna singled on a grounder to Lexi Jennings at third, but Mercedez Alcala popped up to Toscano at shortstop for out number one.

Savannah Martinez singled on a hard grounder to Ramirez at second base as Trejo scored and Luna advanced to third making the score, 107. Montes got Vela to pop out to Laynee Jennings at first base for out number two and she got Bartlett to strike out swinging to retire the side.

Laynee Jennings drew a lead-off walk to begin the bottom of the sixth for Sudan, but Ramirez struck out swinging for out number one. Laynee Jennings stole second on a pitch before Lexi Jennings struck out looking for out number two. Laynee Jennings stole third on a pitch and scored on a past ball to make the score, 11-7, before Sanchez struck out swinging to end the inning.

Ralls would add two runs in the top of the seventh, but it was not enough, as they fell short in the district-opener, 11-9.

Montes threw a complete game for the Nettes, giving up 15 hits, three walks and nine runs, six earned, while earning seven strikeouts.

The Nettes were at Ralls on Saturday for their second meeting of district play with the Lady Rabbits. Results were not available at press time. They will continue their season on Tuesday with a road game against Lockney.

First pitch is scheduled for 5 p.m.