Softball season begins with two lopsided wins

With new and familiar faces, the Lady Bison softball took to the diamond last week to open the 2010 season. Buffalo picked up easy wins over Dawson and Gary as the team showed a glimpse of good things ahead.

No stranger to Buffalo athletics, Coach Warren Ringland has stepped up to the plate as head softball coach. Amber Riddle joins Ringland on the staff and brings a strong softball background to the program.

A total of seventeen girls suited up for opening action. Senior Meredith Shaw returns for a fourth year as a Lady Bison. Seniors Courtney Cunningham and Heather Egan are also in uniform. Neither played last year, but both bring strong softball backgrounds to the lineup. Juniors Rachel Morris, Heather Sigert, Jordyn Briscoe, Jennifer Pate and Nikki Dorman return for another year of play. Briscoe was last year’s Defensive Player of the Year Morris, Sigert, Pate and Dorman were all first team selections. Sophomores Lindsey McGill and Haley Ellison are back for more action. Besides the familiar faces, several newcomers have joined the team. Sophomores Juana Vazquez, Samantha Atkinson, Perla Holquin, Goretti Rodriguez, Dulce Lopez, Amanda Gonzalez and Analy Ramirez are improving daily.

The Lady Bison took their show on the road this week, only three days after the basketball season wrapped up. Despite the abbreviated pre-season with all players, Buffalo recorded two lopsided wins over Dawson and Gary.

Buffalo claimed a 13-0 win over Dawson on Thursday. The Lady Bison scattered seven hits and earned seven walks in the outing. Pate, Briscoe and Dorman each stroked two singles. Morris added a single as well. MGill earned three free tickets, and Shaw advanced on balls twice. Rodriguez and Cunningham each walked once. Cunningham and Sigert reached on errors, and Sigert reached a second time when she was hit by a pitch. Morris picked up the win with five strike-outs and four walks.

After a two hour drive to Gary on Saturday, the contest was more like batting practice for the Lady Bison. Buffalo stayed alive for a solid hour at the top of the first and went through the line up 2-1/2 times before Gary managed the third out. At that point, the Lady Bison led 18-0. The home team, in its season opener, persevered through five innings with Buffalo claiming a 33-0 win.

Every player in the Buffalo dugout entered the game with the exception of Cunningham who is nursing an ankle injury sustained at the end of basketball. Leadoff batter Pate hit a double and reached on a bunt. She also advanced on three walks and was hit by a pitch. McGill stroked a single, walked twice and reached on an error. Dorman tattooed two doubles and also walked twice. Morris hit a double and a single. She also walked on one at-bat. Rodriguez scored three runs as courtesy runner, and also reached base on an error when she entered the batting line up. Briscoe walked, singled and doubled during the contest. Sigert walked, reached on an error and hit a double and a single in a strong performance. Shaw picked up two singles and walked twice. Vazquez nailed a double to centerfield before she was hit by a pitch. Egan singled once and walked twice. Ellison earned a walk.

Morris was once again the winner on the mound with eight strike outs and one walk. Buffalo’s defense was strong and error-free in the outing.

The Lady Bison are scheduled to play in Teague on Tuesday. The Leon Tournament starts Thursday. District play will begin the next week.