GAMES
RANKINGS
VYPE U: Episcopal Places Second in Schulenberg
After going 2-4 in the annual Clear Creek ISD tournament, the Episcopal Knights were hungry for some wins the following week. Due to a rainout, their game against the defending 4A State Champions, Huffman Hargraves, was canceled.
Later in the week, the Knights took their talent to Schulenberg to compete in another public-school competition tournament. In years past the Knights have been quite successful and have won the tournament the past two years it's been held.
On Friday, March 5th, the girls faced off against Karnes City. The Knights were the visiting team which gave them the advantage to get runs on the board. By the end of the first inning, Episcopal had already collected runs in the double digits. The final score would be 24-2 as the Knights defeated Karnes City by a three-inning run rule. Their next game would be another win against Goliad as senior pitcher, LeAnn Dromgoole didn't allow any runs, while only allowing Goliad two hits. The final score would be 9-0 with seven of these runs coming from just the sixth inning.
Heading into the gold bracket on Saturday, March 6th, Episcopal would run rule another team once again. Junior pitcher, Reese Barrett only gave up one hit and allowed zero runs against Flatonia. Townsen Thomas, LeAnn Dromgoole, and Natalie Toups all went 2-for-2 in the game. They collectively had nine hits and seven RBI's. Securing this win put the Knights into the championship versus Smithville. Ironically this would be a repeat of last year's championship and the last time the Knights would step on a softball field for the 2020 season.
Reese Barrett would be put in once again as the starting pitcher and Smithville was ready to come back for vengeance. Smithville came in hot with their bats as they took the lead early in the first inning. Barrett hung in there for the Knights, but gave up eight hits and allowed five runs to come in. This would bring in LeAnn Dromgoole to come in for relief. There were sparks of hope for Episcopal as some rallies had been started and the team came back from a four-run deficit. In the bottom of the third, a fielder's choice put Courtney Davis on base and a single by Emma Poirot ignited the fire for the Knights.
By the bottom of the fourth inning, Becca Windle came off the bench as the designated hitter and ripped a hit to right field to start the rally. The energy felt unstoppable as Tinley Kane slapped the ball right down the 5-6 hole, which brought Episcopal back to the top of the lineup with two runners on. Townsen Thomas proceeded to hit for a single and brought Courtney Davis back up with bases loaded. Sadly, Smithville got the force out at home and a double play to end the Knights rally. Going into the fifth inning LeAnn Dromgoole positioned her pitches for Townsen Thomas and Emma Poirot to catch foul balls to end Smithville's at-bat. Being down by just one run the Knights had one last opportunity to score. However, this game ended too soon as Smithville went three up, three down to finish the game. Smithville took the big win this time around, as the final score in the Championship Game was 6-5.
photo taken during VYPE spring baseball/softball photo shoot
VYPE U: Episcopal Softball Preview
With last year's cancellation of SPC spring sports, the Episcopal softball program is hungrier than ever. The team has a perfect balance of returners and new faces that are bound to make an impact. Key factors that will determine the Knight's success this season will be the pitching dynamic and the versatile batting lineup the Knights have over other SPC teams.
The number one and number two pitchers, All-SPC LeAnn Dromgoole and Reese Barrett, create the perfect combination of speed and movement to throw off each and every batter. Though only Freshmen, Allie Williams and Townsen Thomas will be a driving force for this team, and are going to be players to keep an eye out for. Williams and Thomas are going to take over the outfield and the bases. Thomas being a triple-threat left-handed batter and Williams bringing the power from the right side, should make an unstoppable duo.
The Knights took on Second Baptist for their first scrimmage of the year on February 4th and Oak Ridge on the 11th. Due to the snowstorm in mid-February, the team's first tournament in Lexington was canceled. Regardless, It's all about getting ahead of the competition for this team as they participated in Clear Creek ISD's tournament from the 25th through the 27th, facing off against some of the city's best public school competition. The chase to a four-peat has officially begun.