The Natalia Lady Mustangs (15-3-1) were able to win five of six games at the Seguin Tournament last weekend to win 2nd place in the small school division of the tournament. Natalia was able to outscore their first four opponents 52-4 before falling in their 5th game to a scrappy Karnes City Lady Badger squad 4-3. IN the tourney finale, Natalia did enough to work past another scrappy squad in 2A Harper, en route to their 15th victory of the season.
Natalia opened the tournament against the Medina Lady Cats on Thursday. Natalia out-hit Medina 7-0 and used an additional nine base on balls to make quick work past the Hill Country squad in a 15-0 victory.
Natalia’s Dani Garza picked up the win on the mound, as she pitched 3.0, allowed one hit and struck out three.
At bat: Taty Alvarado 1-1-2runs scored, Abi Woodson 0-1-2runs scored-1RBI, Garza 1-2-2runs scored-3RBIs, Bivi Figueroa 0-0, Mena Figueroa 1-2-1run scored-1RBI, Bryanna Perez 1-2-1run scored-1RBI, Gabby Munoz 1-1-2runs scored, Ally Chavana 0-0-2runs scored, Gabby Contreras 1-1-2runs scored-1RBI and KK Lara 1-1-1run scored-1RBI.
The Lady Stangs faced the 5A Dripping Springs Lady Tiger JV in their final game on Thursday in Seguin. Natalia allowed the bats to come alive, as they out-hit DS 16-0 and forced two additional errors on the defense en route to a 12-0 victory in just three innings played.
Abi Woodson pitched 3.0, allowed 0 hits and struck out six in the game.
At bat: Alvarado 2-3-1run scored-2RBIS, Woodson 0-1-2runs scored, Garza 2-2-3runs scored-1RBI, B. Figueroa 3-3-3RBIs, M. Figueroa 2-3-1run scored-2RBIs, Perez 2-2-1RBI, Munoz 1-2, Contreras 2-2-2runs scored, Lara 2-2-1run scored-1RBI, Trista Vera 0-0-2runs scored.
Friday morning Natalia took up where they left off. They were able to dominate another 5A JV in Seguin en route to a 15-0 four inning win. Natalia’s offense continued to hammer at the plate, as they belted out 19 hits.
NO pitching stats were available this game.
At bat: Alvarado 2-3-2runs scored-1RBI, Woodson 2-3-3runs scored-1RBI, Garza 4-4-3runs scored-2RBIs, B. Figueroa 3-4-2runs scored-4RBIs, M. Figueroa 1-3-1run scored-1RBI, Perez 1-3-1run scored-2RBIs, Vera 2-2-2runs scored, Munoz 3-3-3RBIs, Contreras 1-3-1run scored.
The final game for the girls in blue on Friday came against a traditionally tough Schertz John Paul II squad. Just a few years back, SJP won state and appeared at the tourney a few additional times. Since then their pitching has dropped off a bit, but they continued to be pretty salty at bat.
Natalia was able to jump on SJP in the second inning with a three run attack and never look back en route to a 10-4 four inning victory.
Woodson claimed the victory on the mound, as she pitched 4.0, allowed seven hits, four runs and struck out five.
At bat: Alvarado 2-3-2runs scored, Woodson 1-3-1RBI, Garza 2-3-1run scored, B. Figueroa 2-3-2runs scored-2RBIs, M. Figueroa 2-3-2runs scored, Perez 3-3-2runs scored, Vera 2-2-1run scored-1RBI, Munoz 1-2-1RBI and Contreras 1-2-1RBI.
Saturday the Lady Stangs returned and faced what was expected to be their toughest competition of the game in Karnes City. Natalia struggled a bit offensively and had one too many costly errors to overcome a tough challenge by the Lady Badgers.
Natalia did take an early 1-0 lead in the top of the 2nd, as they used a M. Figueroa walk, a stolen base, a fielder’s choice and a single by Vera to score the first run of the contest.
The Lady Stangs added to this in the top of the 3rd, as they used an Alvarado single, a stolen base and a single by Figueroa giving the girls in blue a 2-0 edge.
KC rallied to tie the game in the bottom of the 5th. The Lady Badgers used three singles and a huge triple to score two runs.
The Lady Stangs scored a final run in the 7th before KC added two of their own in the bottom of the 7th to upset #7 Natalia Softball 4-3.
Woodson took the loss on the mound, as she pitched 6-1, allowed eight hits, struck out eleven and gave up four earned runs.
At bat: Garza 0-3-1RBI, Vera 1-3-1RBI, Alvarado 3-4-1run-1RBI, Munoz 0-3, M. Figueroa 0-2-1run scored, Perez 0-2, Woodson 0-4, Dez Perez 0-0, B. Figueroa 2-3.
Defensive Put-Outs: B. Figueroa 12, Contreras 4, Alvarado 2, Perez 1. Assists: Woodson 1, Perez 1, M. Figueroa 1.
In the tournament finale, the Lady Stangs battled the Harper Lady Horns. Natalia used a three pitcher combination as the Lady Horns came out hitting early. Harper jumped on the girls in blue unexpectedly, as they scored three runs in the top of the 1st. They used three singles and two triples to get the job done before forcing a pitching change for Natalia.
The Lady Horns were not done, as they added two additional runs in the top of the 2nd, thanks to a few errors and a single to give the Lady Horns a shocking 5-0 lead over Natalia.
The Lady Stangs scored their first run in the bottom of the 3rd as they rallied with two outs. Natalia’s Alvarado singled to left, before scoring thanks to a Woodson double.
The girls in blue continued to battle, as they scored two additional runs in the bottom of the 5th. Natalia’s Perez got on thanks to an error before stealing 2nd and eventually scoring on a fielder’s choice by Gabi Santoya. Santoya later scored on an error put into play by Perez allowing Natalia to cut the deficit to 5-3.
Never say die, the Lady Mustangs finished off their come-back in the bottom of the 6th. Natalia used a Garza single, a double by M. Figueroa, a double by B. Perez and a single by Santoya to score three runs fueling Natalia to a 6-5 victory over the Hill Country squad.
Defensively, Natalia didn’t allow a hit past the third inning as Woodson pitched the final 4.0 innings. Woodson finished allowing 0 hits, striking out six. Perez allowed five hits in 1.0 innings with two Ks and allowed three runs. Garza pitched 1.0, allowed one hit, struck out one and allowed two runs, neither of which were earned.
Natalia finished with the 9-7 offensive advantage at the plate.
At bat: Garza 0-1, Alvarado 2-3-1RBI-1run scored, Contreras 0-2, M. Figueroa 2-3-1run scored, B. Perez 2-3-2RBIs-2runs scored, Z. Perez 1-2-1run scored, Woodson 1-3-1RBI, D. Perez 0-2, Santoya 1-3-2RBIs-1run scored and B. Figueroa 0-3.
All-Tournament
Alvarado, Perez and Garza were named to the All-Tournament team for their performance in Seguin.
Upcoming Games
Natalia was at home on press night against the Hondo Owls. This coming Friday, March 8th Natalia welcomes the Comfort Deer to town for a 6:00 p.m. varsity only battle.
This will lead up to what should be a GREAT road game on Wednesday, March 13th as Natalia travels to Boerne to battle the 4A Lady Hounds at 12:00 noon in a varsity only contest.
By Eric Smith