By Jerry Michalsky
The Port Arthur News
May 09, 2008 11:59 pm
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New Caney -- Nederland Pitcher Caitlin Austin is on a roll right now and doesn't look to be slowing down at all.
After pitching a one hit shutout against Richmond Foster on Thursday night, Austin was at it again Friday night. The senior was about as dominating as you could be on this night, pitching another one-hitter in leading her team to a 4-0 victory over Foster in a Region III 4-A third round game and a series sweep at New Caney junior high.
With the win, the Bulldogs will advance to face Huntsville next week. The Lady Hornets upset perennial power Brenham Thursday night in a one game winner take all.
"This was sweet to get to face Foster again after they ended our season last year", said Austin. "When we defeated Brazosport last week, I was ready to get some revenge this year."
In 39 innings in the playoffs the last two weeks, Austin has allowed only one earned run while striking out a whopping 57. Maybe the most impressive number of them all is the fact that the Falcons came into this series with a 26-2 record. But on this night they never had a chance against Austin, getting only a bloop hit by Tiffany Rodriguez in the fifth inning.
Rodriguez never made it to second base as Austin retired the next two hitters to end the inning. That was the last baserunner Foster would have.
When she enters against Huntsville next week, Austin will bring in with her a scoreless streak of 36-innings.
"Wow, I did not even know it was that many innings", Austin said.
The right-hander finished the night with five strikeouts.
"I don't care if I get 15 strikeouts or five", added Austin. "I have a very good defense behind me and I know they will come up big for me and tonight they did."
Bulldog head coach Sissy Yeaman was also in agreements about the defense. "We played very good fundamental baseball tonight", said Yeaman. "And, of course, Caitlin was her usual dominating self", added Yeaman.
Nederland (25-8-1) did not waste much time jumping on the Falcons early on. After retiring the first two Bulldog hitters to start the game, Foster pitcher
Keely Shuler then ran into a buzz saw.
Lindsey Rossi got things started with a single up the middle. Austin also singled to put runners on first and second. Shuler then hit Jordan Bodin with a pitch to load the bases. Jordan Hightower then hit a grounder to shortstop Emily Bledsoe that she fielded cleanly but threw wildly to first that allowed Rossi and Austin to score to give the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead.
Tayler Trojcak then ripped a triple to the wall to score both Bodin and Hightower for a four run Nederland lead.
"We have been talking all season about jumping on teams early," added Yeaman.
"That made things a lot easier to take the mound with the lead", said Austin. "I was able to just go out there and throw strikes".
For the game, the Bulldogs finished with five hits. Rossi lead Nederland at the plate with two hits and was robbed of a third by a sensational play by Falcon center fielder Haley Starkey in the fifth inning. Rossi ripped a Shuler pitch to dead center field that Starkey went back and made an over the shoulder catch to keep Rossi off the bases.
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