Softball: Lady Roos lose to Mansfield on their way to playoffs

The Weatherford Lady Roos softball team already had a playoff appearance locked, but unfortunately extended its losing streak to four with close defeats against Mansfield on April 17 and Lovejoy on April 20.

The Lady Tigers won 4-1 to end district play and the Lady Leopards won 5-1 in a playoff warm-up game.

Weatherford was coming off two ugly defeats at the hands of the top two teams in the district and was hoping it could get back on track. Mansfield was out of the playoff hunt and the Lady Roos had beaten the Lady Tigers 4-0 the first time the two teams played.

Unfortunately, Weatherford bats could not get anything going. Mansfield took the lead in the third inning with a two out rally, scoring on an RBI single and a steal of home to go up 2-0.

The Lady Roos cut the lead in half in the sixth inning. Joey Fross hit an RBI single to make the score 2-1.

The Lady Tigers fired back in the same inning. With two outs, a Mansfield players bunt was good enough she was able to be safe at first, allowing one run to score. Later, an attempt to throw a runner out at second base resulted in an error allowing another run to score. Mansfield led 4-1.

Despite a one out single, the Lady Roos were not able to rally in the final inning as they lost.

Weatherford struggled to get people on base, finishing with three hits, getting hit by two pitches and drawing one walk despite putting most balls into play.

Mickenna Adkins pitched all six innings and allowed four runs, three earned runs, on six hits while striking out 10 batters.

Despite splitting the season series with Mansfield, the Lady Roos finished two games ahead of the team to finish in fourth place with a 6-6 record.

With the playoffs starting Friday, Weatherford had a warm-up game against Lovejoy.

It was a scoreless game through three innings before the Lady Roos got on the board first in the fourth inning. Cassara Perdue hit an RBI double with two outs to put Weatherford up 1-0.

The Lady Leopards answered in the same inning, tying the score with a solo home run to make it 1-1. In the fifth inning, Lovejoy added two more home runs, one a two-run shot over center field and the other a solo shot over the left field wall. The Lady Leopards led 4-1.

In the sixth inning, Lovejoy got one more run with an RBI single to make the final score 5-1.

Again, Weatherford struggled to get base runners, finishing with three hits while drawing one walk.

While it was a tough two games for the Lady Roos, it can hopefully rally them heading into a playoff series against state-ranked Byron Nelson in the bi-district round.

All games will be played at Chisholm Trail High School. Game one is scheduled for 6 p.m. on April 24. Game two is scheduled for noon on April 25. Game three will follow game two if it is needed.

Weatherford pitching: Mickenna Adkins (L) six innings, six hits, four runs, three earned runs, 10 strikeouts, two walks.

Weatherford offense: Cassara Perdue one hit, one double, one RBI; Jada Martin one hit, one run; Katie Chappell one hit, one steal; Joey Fross one walk.

Weatherford pitching: Kyndall Jones (L) 4.2 innings, five hits, four runs, one earned run, two strikeouts; Mickenna Adkins 1.1 innings, two hits, one run, two walks.