Lady Yoe can’t finish off Jarrell at home

For a good portion of the 20-3A schedule, the Lady Yoe softball team has been in a majority of their games, but have not found a way to win them. On Tuesday night, it was defensive miscues that reared its ugly head in a 9-8 loss to the Lady Cougars of Jarrell.

Cameron nearly overcame errors with offensive production. In total, the ladies drew nine walks and hit two home runs. However, the five errors on defense was just too much to overcome on this night.

“A lot of if was inflicted to ourselves,” said Lady Yoe head coach Abe Vargas. “Yes, they put the ball in play, but we hurt ourselves defensively. We got behind and when you try to come back after being down like that, it’s tough. It doesn't matter who we’re playing.”

After Jarrell’s (4-6) Hope Arnold, who was also the starting pitcher, sent a 2-run homer over the left field fence in the top of the first, Yoe catcher Kenzie Wimmer cut the lead in half with a solo homer to right in the bottom half of the inning.

Wimmer was not the only batter to homer for Cameron (2-8), as leadoff hitter Karla Martinez also sent one over the right field fence in the fourth, scoring two and cutting the deficit to 8-6. Martinez also had the key hit in a three-run second, with a 3-RBI triple to left.

“At first we couldn't get the hang of it, but when we started relaxing in the box, we started driving the ball,” said Martinez.

Cameron scored two more runs via the wild pitch in the fourth and fifth to bring the game even at 8-8.

“The bats were there,” said Vargas. “We struggled a little at the bottom, but the effort was there. That is being discipline at the plate and that makes a big difference.”

In the top of the seventh, Kelli Pool singled to right with one out. She later stole second and scored on a single to center. Yoe starting pitcher Maddy Humble tried to lead her team back with a single off the center field wall in the bottom of the frame. However, Arnold shut the door with two strikeouts to end the game.

Humble was the hard-luck loser, going the distance with all seven innings pitched. Nine runs lit up on the scoreboard, but in total only one of those was earned.

In the final three innings Cameron did make improvements with no errors, which resulted in only one run crossing home plate.

“The good thing is we responded defensively and we started playing better by making plays and getting outs,” said Vargas. “We got some hits and scored some runs, so there was a positive to it. We have to carry that the rest of the way, and a lot of times that is the toughest part.”

Martinez also added after the game that defense is what will lead this team to victories in the final home stretch of the season.

“We are going to have to work defensively. Defense wins championships.”

Cameron is scheduled to play Franklin at home on Friday and will also host Lexington on Tuesday.