Lady Indians get big district win

The Comanche softball team saw a five-run lead deteriorate late, but the Lady Indians held their resolve and defeated Kingston in a key district matchup, 7-6, in 10 innings, Monday, in their home opener.

Kamrey Rendon came through in the clutch for Comanche. With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th inning, Rendon singled to right field to drive home the winning run.

It was a big win for the Lady Indians who suffered two close losses to the Lady Redskins last season in district play.

The Lady Indians enjoyed a 5-0 lead after four innings. Ayli Minor had an RBI single to left field to give Comanche an early 1-0 lead in the second inning.

Kingston looked to get on the scoreboard in the third inning with the bases loaded and one out, but two solid back-to-back defensive efforts by Brighton O’Connor kept the Lady Redskins off the board.

In the bottom of the third, Gracee Miller extended the lead to 2-0 for Comanche with an RBI triple to right field. She was thrown out at the plate trying to stretch it to an inside-the-park home run.

The Lady Indians looked to take control in the bottom of the fourth with an RBI double by O’Connor that brought in three runs.

Kingston gained some life in the top of the fifth inning when two Comanche errors led to three runs that cut the Comanche lead to 5-3.

In the bottom of the sixth, the Lady Indians added an insurance run on an RBI bunt single by Mykayla Slovak that gave Comanche a three-run lead heading into the seventh inning.

Kingston had two batters reach base in the top of the seventh. Comanche’s pitcher was one strike away from ending the game, but her 2-2 offering was deposited over the left center field wall which tied the game.

Neither team would score again until the bottom of the 10th when O’Connor walked, Raylee Chaney got a bunt single and then with runners on second and third, Kingston walked Miller to load the bases with two outs.

That decision brought Rendon to the plate and the freshman delivered, driving a ball over the second baseman’s head and in front of the right fielder that scored O’Connor for the win.

Rendon pitched all 10 innings for the Lady Indians and picked up the win on the mound.

The win gives the Lady Indians (8-5) a perfect 3-0 record in District 3A-2 play, which puts them in first place.

The loss dropped Kingston (3-5) to 1-1 in district. The two teams would meet again on Tuesday, this time in Kingston.