The San Saba High School varsity softball and varsity baseball teams were in action the past week as both the Lady Dillos and Dillos continued their 2021 seasons.
Following a tough 12-4 loss on March 9 to Johnson City High School, the Lady Dillos responded by picking up their first two wins of the season against Junction High School on March 12 and Center Point High School on March 13.
Lady Dillos 12, Junction Lady Eagles 11
In a thrilling game that came down to the wire, the Lady Dillos did just enough and were able to hold on for an impressive 12-11 victory at home against Junction.
With a 5-2 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning, Macy Sebastain hit a solo home run to extend the Lady Dillo lead to 6-2. However, in the next two innings for the visiting Lady Eagles, the bats came alive late as Junction soared ahead to take a 10-6 lead heading into the bottom of the sixth inning.
Despite the deficit, San Saba responded in a huge way with an RBI double by Natalie Smith and an RBI single by Karlee Reed to cut the Junction lead down to just 10-8. After a bases-loaded walk made it 10-9, San Saba tied up the game at 10-10 when Kim Butler smacked a double to left field.
With two outs and in need of a big hit, it was Sebastain again as she drove in two runs via a double to put the Lady Dillos back in front at 12-10. Sebastian would finish 4-for-5 at the plate with four RBIs and two runs scored on the day.
On the mound, Butler started the game and struck out a whopping 12 Junction batters in 5.1 innings of work. Abigail Jimenez came on and pitched 1.2 innings in relief and struck out the final batter of the game to record the save. Jimenez was also 2-for-5 at the plate with two runs scored on offense, while Landri Glover had three runs batted in on two hits.
Lady Dillos 8, Center Point Lady Pirates 6
The Lady Dillos’ second win in two days was another close one in which they were able to squeeze out an 8-6 victory at home vs. Center Point.
San Saba, who surrendered an early 3-0 lead and trailed Center Point 5-3 in the top of the fifth inning, got a big offensive surge in the bottom of the fifth inning to take an 8-5 lead that would hold the rest of the way.
Jimenez hit a solo home run in the fifth inning to tie the game up, while an RBI single by Smith put the Lady Dillos up 6-5.
Despite allowing six runs on six hits, Lady Dillos’ starting pitcher Kim Butler pitched an outstanding game and recorded each of her 21 outs on the night via strikeout.
Up next, after the Lady Dillos travel to take on Harper High School on March 16, San Saba will return home at 6:30 p.m. on March 23 to host district rival Mason High School.
Dillos Varsity Baseball
Although the Dillos varsity baseball team has yet to win a game in 2021, the team continues to show improvement every week.
The Dillos, who recently took part over the weekend at a tournament hosted by Thrall High School, traveled to Brock High School on Monday night for a doubleheader and lost both games: 6-3 and 9-2 to the host Eagles.
Up next, following a home game at 10 a.m. on March 18 against Burnet High School’s junior varsity squad, the Dillos will begin District 29-2A play. San Saba will have two district games the following week: 5 p.m. on March 23 on the road at Center Point High School and 5 p.m. at home on March 26 vs. Johnson City High School.
Be sure to check out next week’s edition of the San Saba News & Star for more updates on Lady Dillos and Dillos varsity athletics.
Sports editor Andrew Salmi can be contacted via email at salmi.courier@gmail.com or by cell phone at (818) 645-1115.