One day after her 18th birthday, Sadie Beck hurled seven innings and struck out nine batters as the Indians defeated the Dragons in a District 4-6A game 3-1 at home on Monday. Beck, who will continue to her softball career at Tarleton State, moved to 12-3 this year.
Keller, #10 in the latest Class 6A DFW area rankings, is 12-7-2 overall and 3-0 in district.
Carroll, #3 in the area rankings, fell to 17-5 and 1-1.
Going up against Carroll starting pitcher Aubree Shelton (7-2), both teams opened their respected first innings with lead off singles by Sammy Petkus and Mackenna Jackson, but couldn’t cross the plate. The Dragons ended the frame with a double play. A liner was caught by second baseman Ava Ordaz, who doubled up the runner at first.
Shelton and Beck went toe for toe through the second inning until Keller scored in the bottom of the third. Annsley Groce (Northwestern State commit) drew a walk, stole second and advanced to third. Jackson ripped a two-out single to right field and Groce scored to make it 1-0.
Carroll threatened in the fourth with a pair of hits.
Beck got out of the jam with two strikeouts – to go over 100 on the season.
Keller extended the lead to 2-0 on Carley Genzer’s fifth home run to deep left. Genzer, a junior, also hit a home run on Friday during the Indians win over Keller Central.
The Dragons D came through in the bottom of the fifth inning when they got a 9-5 double play following a pop fly to right and a throw to get the runner out at third. Then Emmy May made a diving snag in center to send the game to the sixth inning.
Carroll cut the lead in half in the top of the sixth on Scarlett Kuhn’s 26th RBI of the year with a hit to left. Keller got the run back and some insurance a half inning later before Carroll reliever Sinclaire Robinson punched out a batter to send it to the seventh.
The Dragons were able to get the tying run to the plate before Beck finished with a fly out to right. Beck dropped her ERA from 2.97 to 2.78. The reigning District Pitcher Of The Year starts district play with three wins and 38 strikeouts. Keller will play Byron Nelson on Wednesday while SLC faces Central.
Shelton allowed four hits and struck out two in four innings. Robinson allowed two hits in two innings.
