Six-run first inning propels Stamford to Region I-2A title series lead

Stamford took notice of the "WAC" sign on the outfield fence at Wells Field and did just that in the first inning.

Whack. Whack. Whack. Whack. Whack.

The Lady Bulldogs whacked five hits, including a two-run home run by Laylonna Applin and a grand slam by Maddi Woolf, the No. 8 hitter, for a 6-0 lead. Pitcher Emma Follis made that stand up in a 6-1 victory over Forsan to take the lead in their series that determines the Region I-2A team at the state tournament next week.

Game 2 is noon Saturday back at the ACU diamond, with Game 3 to follow.

"We came out swinging," Stamford coach Sean Slavin said. "We were ready, and we play good here."

The big inning began with a four-pitch walk to Emily Patterson. One out later, Applin launched a shot over the centerfield fence for a 2-0 lead. Follis, Jay'lynn Hatley and Cassidi Macias singled to load the bases. After a force at home, Woolf blasted a drive to left-center that made it 6-0.

It was her second homer of the season.

"It was in the box relaxed. I was a little nervous at first because I get nervous every game," Woolf said. "I just had to show for my team and be there for them.

"We just have to execute, and we did that in the first inning."

Forsan coach Shanna Taylor took some of the blame for the fatal start.

"I was trying to figure out their strike zones and, obviously, we threw right in their wheelhouse," Taylor said. "That was combined, me and (pitcher Maddi Roach) both. That's not knowing what they have."

Follis gave up 10 hits, several of those bloopers, but relied on her defense to make plays.

For example, the second inning. With runners in scoring position and one out, right-fielder Raylan Villanuevea caught a fly and zinged a throw home to get K'Dynce Speck tagging from third.

"Catch and fire. She doesn't hold onto that ball very long," Slavin said. "She's been doing that all year."

Plays like that took Forsan out of several scoring opportunites.

"That's what I like to pride us on is good defense. We made some great plays," he said. "They hit some dinky shots, which I can't stand, but that's part of the game. We were able to keep them off home plate for the most part.

"Defense, that's Stamford softball."

Meanwhile, Lady Buffs pitcher Roach settled in. She gave up four hits the rest of the game.

"She started working in and out instead of up and down," Slavin said, praising Roach for making the adjustment. "So, we have to be more disciplined and stay back on that outside pitch. We get to work on that and be ready to go."

Roach's only trouble came in the sixth, when Stamford got two-out singles by Woolf and Villanueva. Roach induced a groundout to keep it a five-run game.

Forsan's got its lone run in the fifth, with Speck leading off with an infield field to short, moving to second on a passed ball and scoring on a rolling single up the middle by Rodriquez. The Lady Buffs had two runners on but Roach, who struck out only three in the game, twice got called third strikes to get out of the jam.

Forsan made it interesting after Follis got two outs in the seventh. Emma Buske outbattled Emma Follis for a bloop hit and Lybertee Rodriquez followed with a single.

Follis, however, got K'Leigh Williams to bounce into a fielder's choice to end the game.

With his team a win away from a third-straight trip to the state tournament, Slavin said the Lady Bulldogs have to ready to play in Game 2.

"This team is not going to lay down," he said of Forsan.

"We're not out of it,," Taylor said. "We had more hits than they had. They just had all of theirs in the first inning. We spread ours out and couldn't get them in a row when we needed to.

"We can hit this pitcher. I'm hoping Saturday is a little different. I think it'll be a lot closer."

Forsan beat Sundown in a one-game series to open the playoffs, swept Clarendon and rallied by Ralls in three games before sweeping Bangs to get to the Region I final.

Stamford had a bye, then swept Miles, took two of three against Cisco and then ousted Colorado City. The Lady Wolves beat Forsan 7-4 twice to win its district.

This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: Six-run first inning propels Stamford to Region I-2A title series lead