Offense took center stage in a South Central Association conference high school softball game Monday at Salem, as Houston outscored the host squad 26-21.
The visiting Lady Tigers (No. 8 in the latest Class 2 state rankings) banged 5 home runs and 20 hits in the contest, while the host Lady Tigers had 1 homer and 14 hits.
The victory avenged a loss in a 4-inning contest against the Lady Tigers’ namesakes from Dent County in the second annual SCA Tournament March 29 at Mountain Grove.
“We hit it well,” said HHS head coach Jim Moore, “but we’ve got some issues for sure.”
Houston led 11-2 early and was still on top 13-9 through 4 innings, but Salem added 6 runs in the bottom of the fifth frame to go ahead 15-13. The visiting Lady Tigers then exploded for 12 runs in the top of the sixth and coasted home to the victory.
Senior Makinley Aaron and junior Katy Evans each smashed 2 round-trippers, had 3 hits and drove in 5 runs for Houston in the game, while junior Ashley Gilbert went 3-for-6 with a grand slam homer, a double and a career-high 6 RBIs. Senior Lacey Cavaness went 4-for-5 at the plate with a double, a walk, 3 RBIs and 4 runs scored, while junior Lilly Kincaid went 3-for-5 with 2 doubles, 3 RBIs and 4 runs.
Houston had 10 hits in the decisive sixth inning rally, including 3 dingers (a 2-run shot by Evans, Gilbert’s slam and a 2-run blast by Aaron).
“It was pretty fun,” Moore said. “And it wasn’t a short field; it was a legit field.”
Kincaid, Aaron and freshman Ava Koch shared pitching duties for Houston and combined for 9 strikeouts, but also totaled 8 walks and 6 hit batters. Meanwhile, freshman Alaina Norris went the distance for Salem, throwing a whopping 184 pitches (102 for strikes) while fanning 5 and walking 7.
Norris had more or less shut down Houston in the previous meeting.
“We did swing it pretty well against a pretty good pitcher that dominated us before,” Moore said. “It was good to bounce back and have an offensive game like that.”
Moore figures for the Lady Tigers to reach their lofty goals, the pitching must improve.
“We just can’t give up so many free bases,” Moore said. “We know that, and we also know we’ve got some tweaking to do in the field as well, as far as making sure we’re in the right spots to hit the cuts and a couple of other minor things that are fixable. We’ve got some work to do – which is OK because it’s still early.
“It’s just a matter of going to work and trying to get better every day.”
The visiting Lady Tigers stole 12 bases in the contest (with junior Gracyn McNiell swiping a career-high 5), while the host Lady Tigers stole 4 bags. Houston’s defense didn’t commit an error while Salem amassed 12 miscues.
The 47 runs in the game was the highest combined total in HHS softball history and 26 tied the program record for the most runs scored by a Houston team (set in the 2015 season).
Houston (8-2) was scheduled to play last Thursday at Willow Springs and host Summersville Friday at the refurbished Carter Field, but both games were rained out and will be played at later dates.
This week, the Lady Tigers’ schedule includes SCA home games Tuesday against Thayer and Thursday against Mountain Grove. Houston will then hit the road for a game Friday at second-ranked Mount Vernon and will take on both top-ranked Diamond and No. 7 Warsaw Saturday at Mount Vernon.
To say the least, the trip presents a tough test for the Lady Tigers.
“If you’re going to be the best, you have to play the best, right?” Moore said. “I’m looking forward to it and the girls are looking forward to it. We’re going to see some of the best pitching in the state, and we’re excited about the challenge and the opportunity.”