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Above: Cordell’s Makenzie Hougland steals home, sliding in just ahead of the throw. Bob Henline | The Cordell Beacon -
Bottom left: Kenlee Dodd makes a running catch on a short fly ball. -
Bottom right: Evan Anderson makes a running ‘basket catch’ on a fly ball to left.
The Lady Blue Devils’ softball season is drawing to a close with a just one more week on the schedule. Last week Cordell’s girls played six games with three different opponents, fighting their way to a 1-5 record for the week.
The ladies opened the week with a double-header at home against the Oilerettes of Merritt. Cordell’s girls found their bats in the first game, scoring six runs, but ended up falling short, 14-6. Andrea Palmer recorded two strike-outs and smacked three singles in the outing. Lead-off hitter Paige Canterberry contributed another single and a three-run triple. Head coach Bobby Blackburn also highlighted the defensive play of left fielder Evan Anderson and short stop Makenzie Hougland.
The second game saw a tired Lady Devils team fall 13-0 to Merritt. Palmer added two more strikeouts in the effort.
“We just seem to run out of gas in the second game of a double-header,” Blackburn said. “We’ve addressed it but just can’t seem to get any momentum going. Andrea struck out two and Evan continued to make plays in left field. Kamdyn Davis had a double.”
Tuesday’s scheduled high school game against Mountain View-Gotebo was canceled due to a lack of available players, so the junior high team traveled to Mountain View while Mangum’s high school team came to Cordell for another double-header to make up for the Aug. 27 rained out game. The Lady Devils ended up on the short side of 14-0 scoreboards in both games.
“Mangum is one of the better teams in our area,” Blackburn commented. “They just out-played us with size and strength. Andrea struck out two and Paige continued to work hard behind the plate. She is playing with a fractured finger on her throwing hand. She has become a leader by example. Makenzie added a nice slap single in this one.”
The Lady Devils’ week ended on Thursday, with a noon-time double-header against the Lady Bulldogs of Hooker. Cordell’s girls opened the first game with impressive hitting and the defense held tight, propelling the Lady Devils to a 14-9 victory.
“We came out like gang busters,” Blackburn said. “Everyone contributed in some way. Andrea struck out three and Kamdyn and Kenlee Dodd made some nice plays at third base and second base. Paige singled, Makenzie had two singles, Kamdyn had two singles, Kara Dowell singled, Evan singled, Kenlee had two singles, Renee Javorsky singled, and Abby Browley singled.”
Cordell’s girls continued to hit the ball well in the second game, but Hooker rebounded from their game one loss and fielded the ball without mistakes. On the offense, the Lady Bulldog hitters were finding the gaps and, despite solid play by the Lady Devils, were able to take home a 12-3 win.
“We continued with the hot bats, but we hit it right at them and they made the plays,” Blackburn said. “Their bats got hot in this one and they seemed to find the gaps.”
Palmer recorded three strike-outs, with Anderson, Hougland, and Dodd continuing to make solid defensive plays. Canterberry, Davis, and Dowell each singled and Hougland added a double.