Districts couldn’t have started much poorer for the Houston softball team. But it only took one time through the lineup to correct it.

After a sloppy top of the first inning put the Lady Tigers behind 4-0 Monday, they responded by scoring 10 times in the bottom half of the inning. They cruised from there and beat Summersville 19-8 in five innings in the opening round of District 7.

Houston, which is hosting the tournament, advanced to Tuesday’s semifinals. The No. 3 Lady Tigers will play No. 2 Koshkonong at 6 p.m.

“We came out tight for some reason. I couldn’t convince them it was just another ballgame,” HHS coach Jim Moore said. “But we were able to overcome some adversity, which is good.”

Houston continued to use the same formula as part of the winningest season in program history: lots of offense and aggressive baserunning. 

HHS (15-6) had 11 hits and scored double-digit runs for the 12th time in 21 games. Senior Madison Curtis led the effort with a pair of doubles and seven RBIs. Jaden Stell and Shelby Ozier scored four times apiece.

{{tncms-inline alignment=”center” content=”<p><strong>Monday’s first round</strong></p> <p>Houston 19, Summersville 8</p> <p>Cabool 10, Thayer 0</p> <p>Koshkonong 8, Liberty 1</p> <p>Plato 15, Licking 0</p> <p><strong>Tuesday’s semifinals</strong></p> <p>Plato vs. Cabool, 4 p.m.</p> <p>Koshkonong vs. Houston, 6 p.m.</p> <p><strong>Thursday’s championship</strong></p> <p>Semifinal winners, 6 p.m.</p>” id=”0b1d2211-ea6c-4717-bc1c-557c18ac8c7b” style-type=”bio” title=”DISTRICT 7″ type=”relcontent” width=”half”}}

The team’s 19 runs were the second-most of the season – only behind the 20 the Lady Tigers scored the first time they played Summersville on March 29. 

Houston stole 12 bases and continually pressed the issue by taking extra bases. 

“Our philosophy is to cause as much havoc on the basepaths as we can, and we’ve got some speed to do it,” Moore said. 

Districts didn’t start well for the Lady Tigers. Walks, errors and wild pitches allowed No. 6 Summersville to score four times in the first inning – matching the total from the first time the teams played.

HHS answered with 10 runs, highlighted by Curtis’ two-run double, in the bottom of the first and scored five more times in the second to begin pulling away.

“Madi’s blast to right-center field really helped us,” Moore said. “You could feel us relax and just play. “

Senior Emily Roberts went the distance for her 15th win. She gave up nine hits while striking out four and walking six. 

The victory was the first spring postseason win for Houston, which is playing competitively in the season for the first time. The program won its only district championship in 2012.

Houston’s 15 wins are two more than the program’s previous best of 13 set in 2014. That team was the district runners-up. 

BOX SCORE

HOUSTON (ab-r-h-bi) – Kameron Hall rf 2-3-1-1. Jaden Stell ss 2-4-2-2. Shelby Ozier cf 1-4-1-1. Madison Curtis 3b 4-1-3-7. MacKenzie Holder dh 3-1-0-1. Hannah Dzurick 2b 3-3-2-3. Jaida Lassiter c 2-0-2-0. Emily Roberts p 3-0-0-1. Riley Scheets 1b 1-2-0-0. Toals 21-19-11-16.

2B: Curtis 2, Hall, Lassister. 3B: Stell. SB: Stell 3, Ozier 3, Hall 2, Dzurick 2, Curtis, Scheets.

IMAGES FROM THE GAME

Monday’s first round

Houston 19, Summersville 8

Cabool 10, Thayer 0

Koshkonong 8, Liberty 1

Plato 15, Licking 0

Tuesday’s semifinals

Plato vs. Cabool, 4 p.m.

Koshkonong vs. Houston, 6 p.m.

Thursday’s championship

Semifinal winners, 6 p.m.