Lady Bobcats edge out LC-M for playoff berth

Published 8:31 pm Tuesday, April 26, 2016

LITTLE CYPRESS — Riding the bat of Kinley McFarlin and a strong complete game on the mound by Kaylee Ancelot, the Orangefield Lady Bobcats earned the fourth-place playoff berth out of District 24-4A by defeating the Little Cypress-Mauriceville Lady Bears 3-2 Tuesday night at Lady Bear Field.

Both teams finished the regular district season at 6-6 to force the fourth-place play-in game.

Trailing 2-0 in the top of the fourth, it was McFarlin’s three-run double to right-centerfield that made the difference in the game.

Ancelot went the distance on the hill, allowing just three hits while striking out seven and walked five.

The Lady Bobcats will face 23-4A champion Liberty in the 4A bidistrict playoffs Friday at 7 p.m. at Baytown Lee High School.

Breanna Frenzel and Jenna James both pitched well for the Lady Bears.

Frenzel started and worked four innings, allowing three hits while striking out five and walking two. James tossed the final three frames, allowing a hit while fanning four.

The Lady Bears snagged a run in the bottom of the first.

Renna Toomey stroked a double down the third-base line and went to third on a groundout by Ally White.

With two outs, Toomey raced in to score on an error by Lady Bobcat catcher Autumn Frost.

LC-M scratched in a run in the bottom of the third.

Toomey led off again, reaching on a bunt single and White drew a walk.

With one out, Kayla Manuel hit a roller to Lady Bobcat shortstop Karlye Bramblett. Bramblett made a nice play to force out White at second but an errant throw to first base allowed Toomey to scoot home again.

Ancelot got al the support she needed in the top of the fourth.

With one out, Haley Fontenot hit a bloop single over first base off Frenzel. Ancelot and Maleah Sauceda followed with back-to-back walks.

McFarlin sealed hit by taking a Frenzel offering deep to right-centerfield and off the wall as all three runners came in to score.

Frost had a double to center for Orangefield in the third inning and Fontenot added a single to shallow left in the sixth.

Joanna Henry had an infield single for the Lady Bears in the fourth.