Cats stay red hot

The Pilot Point Lady Cats took the chill out of the cool night air with the heat of their bats in a 15-0 district win over the visiting Pottsboro Lady Cardinals Monday night.

Pilot Point pounded out 11 hits and sent 24 batters to the plate in just two innings of play as the Lady Cats run-ruled Pottsboro in a three-inning game. UIL rules allow softball games to end after three innings in a district contest if a team is ahead by 15 runs and the district executive committee approves the stipulation.

With the win, the Lady Cats improve to 14-1-1 on the year and 3-0 in district play.

“It was just one of those nights where everything fell into place,” Pilot Point coach James Ramsey said. “The stars all lined up for us tonight, but we have to stay humble and stay hungry. I know they are a good team, and it will be a totally different game the next time we play them.”

The Lady Cats had four home runs in the game, and every batter in the lineup scored at least one run. However, it was not all about the offense.

Christine Billmeier pitched three perfect innings, and the defense was flawless behind her.

Billmeier recorded two strikeouts in the win, and did not allow a ball to leave the infield.

“Everything clicked for us tonight,” Ramsey said. “The kids were nice and relaxed from the start.”

After Billmeier sat the visitors down in order to start the game, the bats took over.

Kenedee Gist started the inning by getting hit by a pitch before the next two batters recorded outs.

Billmeier then doubled to drive home Gist. Brooke Lane singled to drive home Sullivan, who had reached on a fielder’s choice before Jordan David hit a two-run home run over the center field fence.

A pair of errors and a single by Payge Luneau brought home the final run of the inning.

Billmeier started the scoring in the second inning with a three-run home run that brought home Mercedez Lane, who had drawn a walk to start the inning, and Sullivan, who had singled.

Brooke Lane doubled to left-center, and then later scored on an error before Luneau curled a long fly that cleared the fence just inside the left-field foul pole.

A pair of walks and an infield single then set the table for Sullivan’s blast over the left field fence.

“We always like to celebrate wins,” Ramsey said. “We know we have a lot of work to do. We have to keep working hard to get better, because we know we have some tough games ahead.”