STRATFORD JV LEAVES BELLAIRE IN NOXIOUS CLOUD

Tuesday’s preseason scrimmage at home against Bellaire was scheduled for a late 5:00 pm start to give the Cardinal ample time to deal with the Houston street traffic. As for the traffic on the Spartan basepaths, no solution was proffered to them.

Jacquelyne Gronauer started the game and pitched two innings for the Spartans. After walking the first two batters, who eventually scored the first runs that Stratford would allow this preseason, she found her location and settled in. Infield pop-outs corralled by Keely Meeks and Anna Burgman and Mac York’s ridiculous diving catch in centerfield ended the inning and brought the Spartans to the plate down 2-0.

Kellyn Schuchardt drew a walk and was driven home by Burgman, who lasered a triple to center, reinforcing her diplomatic policy of formally declining to acknowledge the existence of first and second base.

That’s when Moreno, batting cleanup, cleaned up. She smashed a high-drive down the left-field line that cleared the 200-foot sign in left field and gave the Spartans a lead that they would never relinquish. As Moreno trotted around third, the Spartan bench streamed forth from the dugout to form a jubilant phalanx at home plate, into which Moreno was assimilated.

Gronauer pitched a strong second inning, striking out two and not allowing a run. Early in the inning, with a runner on first, Emerson Hiler flashed leather at third base by spearing a line-drive and firing to first in an effort to complete the double-play, which was inexplicably denied by the umpire.

Stratford struck again in the bottom of the inning, with walks by Laura de la Rosa and York. Leila Vazquez’s hit-by-pitch loaded the bases for Gronauer, who ripped a grounder over the third base bag, driving in two. Kenna Wong and Schuchardt reloaded the bases with walks before the inning ended with a final run by Vazquez, who scampered home on a passed ball.

In the final innings, the Spartans piled on. Allie Richardson walked and was driven in by Bella Sulma’s double driven deep into the left-center field gap. Sophia Lozada fired an RBI-single up the middle, scoring Sulma. Finally, Emily Garza walked, worked her way to third, and scored on a ball tipped off the bat of Hiler that was fumbled by the third baseman.

Meeks pitched the final two innings, striking out three and allowing two runs. Isla Hildebrand and Hiler contributed to the finish with great defensive plays in the infield.

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STRATFORD SCORES SIX RUNS ON SEVEN LAKES

In the first of two Friday night contests, the Stratford Spartans beat the Seven Lakes Spartans on the strength of dominating pitching and relentless hitting.

Keely Meeks started the game in the circle. She walked the first batter, who eventually came around to score Seven Lakes’ first and only run on a botched pick-off play. Over her two innings, Meeks struck out four and was helped by good infield play on ground balls by Anna Burgman and Olivia Hatler, who both then connected with Bella Sulma at first.

The first two Stratford innings generated five runs, paced by a triple and 2-RBI double by Burgman, a triple by Leila Vasquez off the left-field wall, a double by Meeks in the gap in left, and a single by Kenna Wong. Kellyn Schuchardt and Mac York drew walks in front of the hits and scored key runs.

Emerson Hiler’s job was to keep the game right where it was, and she succeeded, pitching a scoreless final inning with one strikeout. York contributed by hustling to cut off a ball hit into the left-center field gap and firing it back into the infield, preventing the batter from advancing beyond second base.

Hiler shone at the plate as well, driving a dipping liner into left for a double and scoring on a shot from Laura de la Rosa.

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STRATFORD FALLS TO NEEDVILLE 8-1

Stratford suffered its first loss in the final game of the preseason in a decisive 8-1 contest against the Needville Blue Jays.

Brynn Teixiera started the nightcap in the circle, pitching two hitless innings but requiring half an inning to find her location while Needville scored five runs without a hit. However, her determination never wavered, and by the second inning she was dialed-in and mowed down the Lady Jays, striking out all three batters. Jacquelyne Gronauer pitched the final inning.

Meanwhile, the offense provided little support. In the first inning, Isla Hildebrand, Sophia Lozada, Emily Garza, and Teixiera walked, forcing in the only run the Spartans would score. In fact, as Mac York dug in as the last batter of the game, Stratford was hitless. York wrecked the no-hitter dramatically by sending a liner into the left-center field gap, and continued her campaign to devastate the York family laundry budget by diving head-first into third base to safely secure the triple.

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Thus ends the Stratford JV preseason, in which the Spartans went 4-1. Next week is a week of rest and practice before the regular season opener against Cy Creek on Tuesday, February 18th.