Sulphur Springs Softball Run Rules Hallsville

SULPHUR SPRINGS -- So far, it's so good for Sulphur Springs.

David Carrillo's Wildcats club remained perfect early in District 16-5A play with a 14-0, run-rule victory at home Friday against a historically powerful Hallsville program.

"We've been getting beaten around by them for a long time," Carrillo said. "Last year, we kind of broke the ice with a big win in the second round of district. This one, they are a storied program, so it was a big win for us. There's no doubt about it. Our girls know that and are pretty excited."

Sulphur Springs (10-4-1, 2-0), hoping to push beyond its third round appearance in the Class 5A state playoffs last season, pounded three Hallsville pitchers for 13 runs on contact. Its three through seven-hole hitters recorded nine hits and four walks in 16 plate appearances while batting in nine runs.

Kristen Allen, Brinklee Driver and Sadie Stroud -- the third, fourth and fifth hitters in the order -- all batted 2-for-2. Each of the three also walked once.

Jaye Doughtie, the seventh hitter, recorded four RBIs as part of a 2-for-3 night.

Hallsville (10-8-1, 0-2), which reached the 5A state semifinals in 2015 and the third round of the state playoffs last season, was held to two hits and a walk by Sulphur Springs starting pitcher Bailey Haggerty toward an abridged complete game shutout on 59 throws.

A two-out rally in the first inning ultimately gave Sulphur Springs the run it needed to win.

Driver drew a walk on a 3-1 count and Allen advanced her to second base with a looper to shallow left field. Stroud got a ball to the center field wall three pitches later for the first run of the game and then got batted in, along with Allen, on Daughtie's liner over second base.

Hallsville managed to get out of the bottom of the second unscathed despite giving up a leadoff triple to designated hitter Alli Fite, but the team gave up four runs in the third inning and seven scores in the fourth frame.

Haggerty shut the door by retiring the fifth-inning side on four pitches for the mercy rule decision.

Hallsville will try to find its first district win of the season back home at 6 p.m. Tuesday against Mount Pleasant.

Up next for Sulphur Springs is a Tuesday road trip to Pine Tree at 6 p.m.

Pine Tree entered the week as the Texas Girls Coaches Association's 20th-ranked 5A team and is the only team from East Texas currently listed in the top 25.

"We're looking forward to the Pine Tree game because we know they have a great pitcher (Madalyn Alexander)," Carrillo said. "These girls play against everybody in summer and know about the pitcher over there. They're looking forward to the challenge because she's the real deal.

"We've started district off the way we wanted to up to this point. We've said we've needed our best games, and we've been playing well. We're really looking forward to playing Pine Tree."

Sulphur Springs 14, Hallsville 0

District 16-5A
At Sulphur Springs High School

Hallsville 000 00 -- 0 2 1
Sulphur Springs 304 7X -- 14 12 0

Pitchers and catchers

Hallsville: Jaydin Ainsworth, Breanna Pugh (3), Maddison McElroy (4), Ainsworth (4) and Taylor Freeman
Sulphur Springs: Bailey Haggerty and Maccee Hollins

WP -- Haggerty
LP -- Ainsworth