Kaplan cruises past Lady Dogs

SULPHUR - If the Iota Lady Bulldogs never see Kaplan's Abby Trahan again, it'll be all too soon.
The junior hurler silenced a Lady Bulldogs lineup that had been lethal in the first two games of the state softball playoffs, surrendering just two hits while striking out eight in the Lady Pirates' 8-0 Class 3A quarterfinal victory Friday at Frasch Park.
"We just didn't do our job," said IHS coach Leah Andrus. "I don't think we played the same game that we have played all year long.
"But getting here (state tournament) is a step in the right direction for us. What we have talked about all year long is making progress and we have. If we make progress from here, we'll be another step ahead next year."  
The tournament appearance by the Lady Dogs was their first since 2012 and it showed.
  They committed three errors in the first inning and gave up a pair of runs on two hits to set the tone for the game.
"So far this year, we hadn't given up the big inning and that's what kept us in games and won us games," said Andrus. "I think the atmosphere here is a lot different, though. There's a lot of people here and it's a big park; it's a lot different.
"I think if we can overcome nerves, we'll be another game ahead. But we can't overcome nerves for them, we just have to get here (state tournament) often enough for it to be a natural feeling for us." 
Although nervousness played a part in the loss, the Lady Pirates' offense was the major factor.
The Lady Pirates banged out 13 hits in the victory and scored single runs in the second, third and fifth innings before exploding for three more in the sixth. 
"I think it's really hard for a pitcher to throw her game when you don't feel like you have somebody behind you," said Andrus. "When people are making errors, it's really hard to trust in yourself, you feel like you have to strike everyone out; and that's hard to do. 
"Not that our defense didn't make plays, because they definitely did. But they didn't make those crucial plays and I think that's a game-deciding thing." 
Offensively, Rhi Stephens was the only Lady Dog to figure out Trahan. She had both of the Lady Dogs' hits, a triple in the second inning and a single in the seventh.
"Rhi has really been working hard all week and she's a little fighter," said Andrus. "She doesn't like to lose and I kept telling her to not give in and that's what she did. That's what it takes from all nine."  
Although the loss was a tough pill to swallow, it takes nothing away from the season the Lady Dogs, champions of District 4-3A, had in 2014.
"We were consistent all season long, so I can't be mad," said Andrus. "Everybody hit the ball all season long and everybody did their job.  
"You come to a big place like this and everybody is going to have nerves. It's just something you have to get over and I think once we get over that, we'll be good to go."