Lady Eagles eye district softball season

The Fairfield high school Lady Eagles softball team wraps up its preseason this week and starts District 20-AAA competiton Tuesday when they host the Palestine Westwood Lady Panthers.

With a pair of tournaments and three other games under their belts, the Lady Eagles are posting a 5-8 record.

The Lady Eagles were co-champions in district last season and won the bidistrict playoff game, but lost about half the team to graduation.

Chief among the losses was pitcher Courtney Nelson, the district defensive MVP three years and Newcomer of the Year as a freshman. Miss Nelson is now playing softball at Lubbock Christian College.

Taking her turn on the mound this season is Kayse Kirgan, moving from infielder positions where she is a repeat All- District player.

“Kayse is doing a real good job. She came in this year and didn’t plan on pitching,” head coach Kerry Hand says.

“Because of ineligible players, she has had to step up and take over pitching duties,” the coach adds.

Seniors on the team, and all 4-year lettermen, are Miss Kirgan, catcher Becca Lyles, shortstop/outfielder Jessica Gallegos, outfielder Mia Mayo, and first baseman Riley Jo Davidson.

The junior class is represented by pitcher Erica Flori and outfielder Felicia Lopez-Simmons.

The lone sophomore on the varsity squad is Lyndsey Ranson at second base, who played in Wortham last year.

Freshmen players are second baseman Cassie Floyd, infielder Amanda Drake, third basemen Katie Gardner and Sarah Sloat, and outfielder Katie Berger.

Making up the junior varsity team are Amanda Missildine, Courtney Davidson, Natalie Neill, Ashley Johnson, Jillian Peterson, Jermaca Brown and Amy Lansford.

The Lady Eagles started the season with a 6-0 loss to Slocum, then played the Elkhart Tournament, losing in pool play to Slocum 7-1 and Tyler Lee 8-0, and in bracket play to Brownsboro 8-4 and Elkhart 7-3.

In the Brownsboro tourney, the FHS team beat Elkhart 5-3, beat Tylker Lee 5-1 and lost to Van 9-1 in pool play.

Moving into the bracket portion of the tourney, the Lady Eagles beat Frankston 15-0 and Marlin 10-0, to face Jacksonville for the championship, losing that matchup 9-2 to place second.

The Lady Eagles also fell to Mexia in a close game 4-3.

Their last outing, against Bosqueville, turned into a close contest in which Fairfield hung on for a 4=3 win.

In the first inning, Misses Kirgan and Lyles each reached first on a dropped third strike and were scored with a single by Miss Gallegos.

Miss Mayo led off the third inning by reaching first on a dropped third strike and scored on an error. Miss Davidson singled and worked her way around the bases before being thrown out at home.

The final score came in the eighth inning when Miss Davidson doubled, moved to third on a bunt by Miss Gallegos and scored on a force play to first.

Miss Kirgan struck out 12 batters, walked two and allowed two hits.

The Lady Eagles were scheduled to play West early this week, compete in the Bi-Stone Tournament on Thursday and Saturday, then start district Tuesday.