STRATFORD JV DEFEATS JERSEY VILLAGE 9-1

Spartans Win Contest of Pitchers vs. Wind

No one thought to do a wellness check in the Jersey Village press box, but there was plenty of concern as numbers crawled incoherently across the scoreboard all afternoon. Despite the chaotic display, Stratford took a comfortable early lead and cruised to a 9-1 victory.

It was a windy day with sustained straight-line gusts blowing from first base to third. From the moment the pitchers stepped into the circle they struggled against the winds. As a result, pitches drifted into the batter’s box all day long. Nine Spartans walked, and 5 were hit by a pitch.

The Spartan pitchers contended better against the atmospherics, limiting the walks and hit batters to 3 of each. Brynn Teixeira was impressive to start the game, allowing 1 run over 2 innings and registering 3 strikeouts. Jackie Gronauer contributed solid relief, hurling a scoreless third to wrap up the win.

When the Falcons’ pitcher managed to get a ball over the plate, it was unfortunately (for her) thrown to Anna Burgman, who rewarded her by lashing a single to left for the Spartans’ only hit. Kenna Wong, who had been occupying second after diving head-first into an unoccupied base for the sheer joy of a face full of Cypress sand (i.e. recycled, pelletized rubber), scored with ease.

Wong (twice), Bella Sulma, Kellyn Schchardt, Burgman, Azalea Moreno, Keely Meeks, and Mac York tallied runs for the Spartans.

The game ended on a defensive play of the young season, when Emily Garza, manning shortstop, speared a line-drive and fired to first to complete a double play.

SPARTANS HUMBLED IN WEEKDAY TOURNEY

Stratford goes 0-2 in Thursday Morning Joust

The Stratford HS administration looked the other way as the Spartans took a Thursday morning off from the pedestrian pursuit of mathematics and literature to travel to Humble for a day of softball. The Reporter’s employer was not as accommodating, however secondhand sources permit us to summarize the following:

Game 1: Humble 2 – Stratford 1. The Spartans produced a single run on two hits, by Olivia Hatler and Leila Vazquez. Keely Meeks and Emerson Hiler allowed 2 runs on 3 hits.

Game 2: Atascocita 7 – Stratford 5. The Spartans came up short in a slugfest, with Azalea Moreno and Bella Sulma leading the way with two hits each. Kellyn Schuchardt, Anna Burgman, Mac York, and Jackie Gronauer each had a hit. Brynn Teixeira and Gronauer allowed 7 runs on 7 hits.

STRATFORD DEFEATS CY-FAIR 6-2

Bobcats no Match for Visiting Spartans

Last Friday afternoon the Stratford offense established beyond all doubt that there is no treasure hidden in the Cy Fair outfield, by forcing the Bobcat outfielders to explore every inch of it. Kenna Wong, Kellyn Schuchardt (twice), Anna Burgman, Azalea Moreno, Keely Meeks, Leila Vazquez, and Nikki Hodge banged it around the yard, chasing the outfielders hither and yon and producing 6 runs on 9 hits.

Meeks kept the Bobcats from mounting a response, pitching 2 shutout innings before allowing 2 runs to start the 3rd. One of the few Bobcat batters to reach first base was summarily picked off by catcher Wong, who fired a throw to first, where Bella Sulma expertly swiped the tag. With a little trouble brewing in the third, Brynn Teixeira entered the circle in relief and slammed the door by striking out the final two hitters.