Lady Apaches open district with 15-run win

Haley Garza blasted a shot to the outfield, scoring the game-winning run in the bottom of the fourth with an in-the-park homerun. Garza finished the day going 3-for-3 with five RBIs.

Jaycie Burton took to the mound, taking the win after pitching for three innings and striking out six batters. The Lady Apaches shut out Austin Eastside Memorial 15-0.

Lady Apaches infield

Teagan Thwing at 3rd

Sophomore pitcher

Dugout

Posted Tuesday, March 21, 2017 5:31 am

By José Torres sports@gonzalesinquirer.com

GONZALES — Spring Break may be vacation for some but for the Gonzales Lady Apaches it meant the start of District 27-4A season. Friday afternoon, the Lady Apaches spent it beating the Austin Eastside Memorial Lady Panthers 15-0 in four innings.

“These girls are good about their commitment,” Gonzales head coach Sam White said of the win. “I’m proud of them in that way.”

Taking the win on the mound was Jaycie Burton who pitched three innings, striking out six, walking three and hitting one batter by a pitch.

“Jaycie did a great job on the mound,” White noted.

The head coach decided to give some work to a pair of sophomores, making switches on the mound and behind home plate in the top of the fourth inning to see what he had with his youngsters.

“It was a pretty good opportunity to see a little work during Spring Break,” White said. “It was good to get a pitcher in [from] next year, Kayle Martinez. She had three strikeouts thrown in the inning. [Alyssa] DeLuna got some work too [at catcher].”

At the plate, the Lady Apaches took advantage of the on-the-field mistakes by Eastside Memorial. Gonzales plated eight runners in the first, four in the second, two in the third and a game-winning, in-park homerun by Haley Garza in the fourth.

White praised Garza’s at-bats, saying she had a big game Friday. The junior went 3-for-3 with five RBIs, a double and that home run.

White did warn that the tough part of the schedule comes this week. Although that win was an important one on Friday, in order to compete for top spots in district, the Lady Apaches need to knock off their district mates in Geronimo Navarro or at home this Friday against state-ranked La Vernia.

“Got a tough schedule come in,” White noted. “It’s good to get our district win, but it really starts Tuesday.”

Gonzales is on the road today as they take on Navarro at 7 p.m. Their game against La Vernia on Friday is at home at 7 p.m.