Offense has been a crucial part to the Odessa High softball team’s success this season.
On Tuesday night at The Corral, the offense continued to deliver for the Lady Bronchos.
Odessa High tallied 14 hits in a 14-4 defeat of the Midland Lee Lady Rebels.
In District 2-6A, any rough outing can come back to haunt a team. The Lady Bronchos (17-2-1 overall, 2-0 District 2-6A) had just one bad inning, but they remained focused to come out on top.
“I thought it was a great win against a good opponent,” Odessa High head coach Rachel Pena said. “They’re tough. I think they’re a tough lineup and we let some pitches get away from us, and they made us pay for it.
“That’s what people in our district are gonna do. (I’m) pretty proud of our girls playing all seven focused, having good at bats. It was a good win.”
After an error by the Odessa High right fielder in the top of the first inning, Midland Lee (10-11-2, 0-2) wasn’t able to push across a run with a runner at third.
Skylar Herrera hit a leadoff single in the bottom of the first. Alyssa Deanda hit a routine ground ball to the pitcher, who made an easy out at first. Herrera scored all the way from second on the play.
Odessa High pitcher Sierra Camacho did not allow a hit in the top of the second. Midland Lee left one runner stranded in the frame.
Herrera came into the clutch as she ripped a two RBI double down the left field line in the bottom of the second. The Lady Bronchos scored four runs in the inning to extend their lead to 5-0.
The Lady Rebels threatened in the top of the third as they loaded the bases. Jasmine Gonzales drove in a run on an RBI groundout to first base. Kirklynd Newsom then made it a one-run ballgame with a three-run home run.
After a quiet bottom of the third for Odessa High, Herrera turned a double play for the Lady Bronchos in the top of the fourth to keep the game close.
Camacho crushed a three-run home run to spark a six-run bottom of the fourth for Odessa High to increase their lead to 11-4.
In the final three innings, Midland Lee was held to two hits.
Odessa High pushed across another run in the bottom of the fifth on a throwing error by the catcher.
Noeli Suarez ended the game with a two-run home run in the bottom of the sixth.
Herrera finished 3 for 4 with a single, two doubles and four RBIs, while Camacho went 2 for 4 with a double, homer and three RBIs.
Kaylean Ayala went 2 for 3 with two singles and an RBI. Suarez finished 2 for 4 with a single, homer and two RBIs.
Mykah High finished 2 for 2 with two singles, a walk and three runs scored.
Camacho threw a five-hitter with one strikeout. She allowed four earned runs in six innings pitched.
Every aspect — offense, defense and pitching — has to be clicking in the game of softball. So far, everything has been on point for the Lady Bronchos.
“It felt good being able to compete with these other good teams,” Deanda said. “(The offense) is picking up our defense since we haven’t been making all our plays. So, they’re just picking us up and keeping us on top.
“We’re getting every day. We’re just making it work. As a team we’ve gotten better, we’ve gotten stronger.”
One thing that Odessa High has been working on every day is battling at the plate and coming into the clutch. The hard work has been paying off.
“That’s something that we work on every day. So, it’s good to see the girls execute a game plan when they step into the box,” Pena said. “Everyone has their own game plan. It’s good to see them execute it.
“We’ve got Tascosa next, Frenship next week. We’re gonna have a few good days of practice, take a few days off and then we’ll get back at it. I’m excited.”
The Lady Bronchos host Lubbock Cooper at 7 p.m. Friday.
>>> Follow Peter Dindinger on Twitter @OA_PDindinger.
