Ladycats out after McKinney sweep

Shortstop Chelsey Boulware makes an out at third in the Ladycats' Area loss to McKinney North. Whitehouse advanced past bi-district the first time in school history.

After making school history with a bi-district win over Lindale, Whitehouse lost a competitive best-ofthree series with McKinney North, 2-0.

The Ladycats certainly had their chances in the Area match-up, as a couple of errors led to McKinney scores in the first game of the series, and their opponents rallied from a 4-1 deficit in game two.

"They have accomplished so much this year; I hate that their season ended on a sour note, but they have nothing to regret and should hold their heads high," said Ladycat head coach Alicia Crawford. "They represented our school, our community and our district well all year."

Whitehouse traveled to McKinney last Friday for game one of the series. After a scoreless first inning, McKinney's lead-off batter in the bottom of the second slapped a double to left field and then advanced to third on an error by Haylee Aldredge.

Boulware scoops up a grounder while Haylee Aldredge watches from the outfield. At right, courtesy runner Shan Butler looks to steal a base.

Two batters later, the baserunner scored on a fielder's choice to Whitehouse shortstop Chelsey Boulware.

One inning later, McKinney earned the evening's last score after a lead-off single and sacrifice bunt put a runner on second. She advanced to third on a fielder's choice and then scored on a error by Ladycat third baseman Taylor Russell.

Emily Costlow pitched all six innings and recorded the 2-0 loss. She allowed five hits and two walks and struck out five. She had zero earned runs.

Despite the loss, Ladycat catcher Megan Brady had a big game, preventing three of four stolen base attempts.

Whitehouse was led at the plate by Jordan Knight and Jesse Allen, who both went 2-for-3.

The series moved to Whitehouse on Saturday for game two and the Ladycats wasted little time getting on the scoreboard.

Erica Fuller singled in the bottom of the first and then moved to third after a sacrifice bunt by Boulware and a passed ball.

Photos/Jim Jackson

Russell hit a ground bound that the McKinney third baseman couldn't handle, scoring Fuller and giving Whitehouse a base runner on second.

Russell later came home on a sacrifice fly to right field by Knight.

McKinney scored on its next at bat after two Whitehouse errors on one play.

With the Ladycats up 2-1 in the bottom of the third, Fuller again led off with a single and moved to second when Brady walked. Fuller and courtesy runner Shan Butler scored on a Knight double to right center, extending the Whitehouse lead to 4-1.

That score held until the top of the fifth, when McKinney broke the game open. After loading the bases with no outs against pitcher Cagen Medlock, McKinney managed seven runs before the Ladycats could end the inning.

Costlow replaced Medlock with one out and did not allow any more runs. She finished with one strikeout, two walks and two hits. Medlock pitched 5 1/3 innings, allowing 10 hits, four walks and six earned runs. She struck out three and had one balk and one wild pitch.

Knight had another 2-for-3 performance, with three RBIs. Fuller finished 3-for-4, scoring two runs.

Brady walked three times and reached based on her fourth attempt after being hit by the ball.

Whitehouse earned its first trip to area competition with a 5-1 win over the Lady Eagles, avenging an early-season loss to Lindale.

The Ladycats finished 18-8 and lose six seniors: Fuller, Russell, Knight, Brady, Butler and Cecily Petree.

"I can't say enough about these seniors and the type of leadership that they provided this year," said Crawford. "They are a special group of young ladies on and off the field."