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Ups and Downs follow each other through life, and right now they’re playing tag with the Llano softball team. There were a couple of wins in the Blanco tournament, soured a bit by the same number of losses. The record for the season is—what else—5-5.

Blanco 3, Llano 2

It was a cold and dreary Friday, March 5, and this game ended in similar fashion, which was too bad, because the Lady Jackets owned a 2-0 lead after five and a half innings.

“Katie Yeager did what she usually does,” head coach Brian Cottle said in praise of his senior right hander. “She had good control, allowed just four hits, and battled the chilly weather.”

Llano took a 1-0 lead on a single by Kelsie Simpson in the first inning. Teri Bedard, who had led off with a single, came in to score. Kaylee Morris, running for Cheslie Stefan, who got a base hit in the fourth, slid under a tag at home after a passed ball. The advantage was two.

In the bottom of the fourth, Blanco loaded the bases. A force out at the plate followed, and then Brittany Williams caught a fly ball in center field. She fired home to Stefan, who tagged out Lauren Winn for a most impressive double play. Yeager had gotten out of a huge jam unscathed.

“Brittany made several good plays,” Cottle declared, “and so did Bedard at short and Kelsie Simpson at second.”

The Panthers woke up to tie the game in the sixth and won it with an unearned run in the seventh.

“We played a great game despite the loss,” Cottle contended. “The girls can learn from their mistakes.”

Llano 12, San Saba 1

Yeager was back in the circle, and she struck out seven and walked nobody in the four-inning contest. “A better than admirable outing I would say,” and coach C did say it.

Batter Up! Bedard, Williams, Simpson, and Janey Meitzen had two hits each. Yeager, Stefan, Cierra Jordan, and Victoria Calzoncit had one apiece.

“We came on strong, never slowed down, and we ran the bases well,” Cottle praised.

Llano 4, East Central (SA) 1

This wrapped up a triple-header on March 5. Calzoncit was handed the ball, and she pitched a superb five innings to get the win. Vic yielded just one hit, struck out three, walked one, and hurled scoreless ball. Jaimie Ivey went the sixth and seventh to record a save.

“We made no mistakes, defensively,” Cottle advised. “It was good, solid softball, and Calzoncit did extremely well.”

Jordan, an eighth grader a year ago, collected three hits, while Stefan, Meitzen, and Williams had two each.

Lago Vista 11, Llano 5

“This was about as totally opposite from the day before as it could possibly get,” a disappointed coach revealed. “I think we made 10 errors; the fielding was atrocious.”

The Bright Side: Victoria, obviously not supported in a brilliant manor, fanned five and gave up three hits. Cottle: “She pitched a heck of a game.” Williams, Simpson, and Jordan did not make any fielding miscues. Bedard’s two hits included a triple.

“I have to vent sometime,” Cottle vented, “but that’s because I’m a competitor, and I want them to compete; I want to whip them into shape, because I love ‘em to death.”