Cypress Woods at Cypress Creek softball

By HEATHER BURR
The Athlete's Connection

It was a roller coaster ride for the Cypress Woods and Cypress Creek softball teams Thursday night as they battled for the top spot in District 15-5A.

With highs and lows for both teams and even a weather delay that might have had some bearing on the outcome, Cypress Woods came out with a 5-3 win.

Trailing 3-2 in the top of the seventh, the Wildcats’ final at-bat was put on hold for about 45 minutes because of lightning. It was just enough time for the players to take off their shoes and get cozy in their cars.

But what would the delay mean for the Cougars, who had the momentum, and the Wildcats, who were battling for their lives?

“I wasn’t sure if we were going to respond or not after the break,” Woods coach Cliff Bond said. “Taking a break that long doesn’t really affect a batter as much as I think it does a pitcher.”

Cypress Creek had trailed 2-0 after the third then tied the Wildcats in the fourth with a base hit from Tori Sheppard and an RBI from Kayla Irvin. The Cougars then took the lead in the sixth when Sheppard reached base again and Jackie Heffernan had an RBI double.

“I think it helped us because we got to take a break and sit down and think,” Bond said.

They must have thought about big hits and scoring runs because that’s what the Wildcats did in their last at-bat.

With one out, Kristina Cordova reached base for the fourth time. Alexandria Dawson had a base hit, moving Cordova to third. Then Jettie Thompson came up with the winning triple and on an error reached home for three RBIs and a two-run lead.

“Kristina Cordova is probably the ultimate competitor on our team,” Bond said. “She’s always going to give everything she’s got. And for Jettie Thompson, I’ve never seen her nervous at any at bat. This is probably the second game she’s won for us. She’s a real clutch hitter for us this year.”

Pitcher Katherine Moreno struck out her fourth batter to start the bottom of the inning. An error allowed Brandi Virgil to reach first then she took second on a base hit from Erin Duhon. Two fielding plays ended the Cougars’ at-bat and the game.

“Cy Creek is a tough team,” Bond said. “They hit the ball extremely well and that’s what we were really worried about coming into this game.”

“Everybody just stayed calm and we came out and played our best,” Cordova said. “There’s nothing more we can ask of our team than to come out and play hard.”

Woods will face Cypress Springs on Tuesday, the same day Creek plays Cy-Fair.
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Heather Burr can be reached at (713) 339-4400 or info@athletesconnection.com.