There was plenty of drama on the softball and baseball diamonds Friday night, including multiple one-run victories in critical district matchups.
Listed below are six of the Wichita Falls area’s top performances or storylines to develop.
Cannon Valenzuela, Jacksboro baseball
Valenzuela twirled a gem to keep Jacksboro undefeated in District 7-3A action Friday, giving up a single earned run on two hits and three walks in a 3-1 victory against Iowa Park (13-7, 5-3). Valenzuela struck out 12 batters in the Tigers’ (13-3, 6-0) win.
Valenzuela also scored the first earned run on Iowa Park ace AJ Ramirez this season. Ramirez pitched 36 innings before Valenzuela crossed on a two-out single by Hoytt Wesson in the first inning. All three of Jacksboro’s runs were earned. Ramirez pitched a complete game, striking out 12 Tigers.
Champ Wall, Memorial baseball
Wall threw a five-inning gem against Legacy on Friday, sweeping the season series from the Leopards with an 11-1 mercy-rule victory. Memorial (13-8, 6-2) remains a half-game behind Abilene High (15-5, 6-1) for first place in the District 4-5A standings.
Wall allowed one unearned run on two hits and a walk while striking out seven batters.
Callista Berrett, Iowa Park softball
Berrett hit a sacrifice fly with one out in the bottom of the eighth inning, allowing Rylan Raschke to score from third as the game-winning run in Iowa Park’s 4-3 victory against District 7-3A foe Jacksboro on Friday.
Berrett delivered herself the win in the circle where she pitched a complete eight innings, allowing three runs, one earned, on four hits and four walks with nine strikeouts.
Colton Barnett, City View baseball
Barnett scored the game-winning run courtesy of an error in City View’s 4-3 victory against Vernon in District 7-3A action Friday. Barnett crossed the plate with no outs in the bottom of the seventh.
Vernon had just tied the game in the top of the seventh with Jaxon Urquizo hit a two-run double then came around to score, capping the three-run rally.
KP Rutherford, Bowie softball
Rutherford hit a two-out, 3-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning, getting Bowie within a run of District 7-3A rival Henrietta on Friday. But the Lady Rabbits (5-18, 2-6) couldn’t pull even, allowing Henrietta (17-2, 8-0) to escape with a 9-8 victory and remain undefeated in 7-3A. Rutherford finished with five RBIs.
Brayden Loyd, Seymour baseball
Loyd dominated Electra’s lineup on Thursday, pitching seven shutout innings in a 7-0 victory for the Panthers in District 9-2A action. Loyd allowed two hits and three walks while recording 15 strikeouts.
The Panthers swept Electra in Thursday’s doubleheader, winning the second game 9-3. Seymour pitcher Avery Parrish also had a 15-strikeout performance.
Thursday’s Baseball Results
DISTRICT 9-2A
Seymour 7, Electra 0
Leading hitters: (S) Jaxon Carrington 2x3, run, RBI; Avery Parrish 1x3, 2 runs; (E) Brayden Huffstutler 2x3.
Top pitcher: (S) Brayden Loyd 7 IP, 2 hits, 3 BB, 0 runs, 15 Ks.
Seymour 9, Electra 3
Leading hitters: (S) Slade Tucker 1x2, 2 runs, RBI; Ryan Willden 1x3, 2 RBI; (E) Logan Davis 1x2, run, RBI; Brayden Huffstutler 1x3, run, RBI, 2B.
Top pitcher: (S) Avery Parrish 7 IP, 6 hits, BB, 3 ER, 15 Ks.
Records: Seymour 7-5, 2-2; Electra 3-9, 2-2.
