BHS Lady Dogs open district play with win

By Dylan Stone, BHS

Last week, the Bandera High School Lady Bulldog softball team opened district play with a convincing 8-3 win over perennial rival Wimberley.

Sophomore pitcher Amber Neal struck out 12, went three for four at the plate and scored three runs to lead the team.
Currently, the team is 15-6 overall, with a 1-0 district record.
Over spring break, the team took second place at the Fredericksburg tournament, dropping Saturday’s championship game 4-2 to tournament winner Blanco. Still, head coach Roy Klein noted, “We beat Pearsall 3-1 and they’d previously dealt us two losses,” on the way to a 3-1 tournament record.

In the Wimberley game, the team took a first inning lead 2-1 and increased to 3-1 in the second, led by freshman Madelynn Kinsel’s four for five effort at the plate.

Kinsel had four RBIs in the win.
In the fourth inning, the Bulldogs scored two more runs, widening their lead to 5-2. Neal pitched the entire game, giving up only two earned runs. For the season, Neal has a 1.25 ERA and is among the Greater San Antonio area leaders.

“We came out hitting and played solid defense throughout,” said Klein. He also credited junior Ivonne Barreto’s play, noting that she went one for three, scored a run and stole a base. Junior Brandi Donovan, freshman Ellen Hevenor and sophomore Paige Duggan are also maintaining strong batting averages.

The Lady Bulldogs face a tough week this week, playing both Ingram and Boerne High School on the road as their home field is not ready for competition play yet. Still, Klein looks toward the second round when the team will play all of their games at home.