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A pair of 14-run performances, 16 hits in four innings, a red-hot freshman and sophomore, a contest played in just-above freezing weather, six games on the road, and a bus ride before the dawn of the morning were all part of the Llano Lady Jackets’ 3-3 start in a nine-day span in February.

Llano 14, Ingram 4

Katie Yeager, throwing the first of her final pitches in a Llano uniform, struck out five in six innings, February 19, and was supported by multi-hit games from everyone but Cierra Thompson. The “new” Cierra, freshman Cierra Jordan, was three-for-five with two runs batted in. Teri Bedard, Victoria Calzoncit, Brittany Williams, and Kelsie Simpson had two hits each.

“This was a good win, considering we hadn’t played in a month,” head coach Brian Cottle said. “Rain and no scrimmages had forced us indoors. Katie did well—she was throwing strikes.”

Blanco 4, Llano 3

“The kids were freezing,” Cottle noted with a shiver. “It was 36 degrees.” Does throwing the ball in the cold hurt a softball pitcher like it does a baseball pitcher? “Not the arm,” the coach advised, “but it’s tough on the fingers trying to hold on to the big ball.

“This was a disappointing loss; we wasted opportunities. We were down 4-0 in the sixth, got to within one, and had girls at second and third in the seventh, but couldn’t get them home.”

Bedard, off to a fine start in her sophomore campaign, had a triple and RBI, while Janey Meitzen had a double and two ribbies. Calzoncit, who will pitch often this season, took the loss.

Caldwell 4, Llano 2

This one on February 26 opened the Austin ISD tournament at the Krieg Complex. The first pitch was at 8:30 a.m., and this was the fray which demanded, “All aboard at 6!”

Jordan got the Jackets’ only hit against Hornets’ pitcher Hollie Chennault, who fired the ball close to 60 miles an hour. Try taking on that challenge from about 40 feet. Borrow someone’s helmet.

“A couple of errors hurt us,” Cottle lamented. “I chalk it up to early-in-the-year jitters.”

Llano 14, McCallum 1

Calzoncit got the win, allowing just one hit, and she fanned six in four innings of work. It must have been a nice way for the Black and Orange to rebound after the loss to Caldwell earlier in the day.

Simpson and Bedard had three hits each, while Yeager, Jordan, and Williams had two of the team’s 16 safeties; Chelsie Stefan collected a pair of doubles and a run batted in, and Rachel Brooks had a double and two RBIs.

“Everything snowballed,” said Cottle not long after the closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics. “We ran the bases well and did everything well. We pounded the ball, and I was real impressed with Vic.”

Did he know last year Jordan would hit so well—off to an 8-for-14 start? “I’ve known since the fifth grade. She’s played right field and third base for us and would play any other position where she’s needed.”

Kyle Lehman 11, Llano 2

This was a nasty way to begin a Saturday. “They had unbelievable speed on the bases,” coach C explained concerning the Class 4A Lobos. “They’d get a dinky hit, and the batter would wind up on second before we touched the ball. I was surprised at how well they hit, fielded, and pitched.”

Llano 7, Junction 5

Bedard was three-for-three, hitting for the “small” cycle—single, double, and triple. What is she batting? About .680? Meitzen chased in two with a double, a Jordan single plated two, and Williams had two hits. Calzoncit got the victory.

“We did everything well,” Cottle pointed out. “We had a good, solid defensive game, with no mistakes, no errors.”

Coach’s Final Words

“I’m fairly pleased. I see things we can correct, but if the girls do what I tell them to do, they’ll fix them.

“There are a lot of positive aspects, and we’ve had to replace three-quarters of our infield from last year’s lineup.

“The main goal for me—the hardest part of the job—is to put the players in the right position. We need to have a set team; we don’t have that yet.”