Cassidy McLellan – Mustangs Ahead
(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – The LRHS back-to-back state championship softball team had their first two games of the season this week.
The first game of the year was on Wednesday.
The Mustangs played Palmetto High School and they won 6-2.
Junior Ella Dodge got the first win of the season pitching six innings with one earned run, seven strikeouts, one walk, and only allowing four hits.
The team had 11 hits combined.
Sophomore Olivia Shephard in her varsity debut went 2-for-3 with two Runners Batted In (RBIs) and a home run.
Shephard said, “Starting in my first varsity game was the best feeling, especially hitting my first high school homerun. We played with so much confidence as a team and it showed in the end.”
On Thursday, the girls played Fort Meyers High School and the team won 5-3.
The Mustangs trailed 2-1 in the bottom of the fifth inning when junior Grace Shaw-Rockey singled, scoring two runs.
Shaw-Rockey said, “For it only being our second game, it was very exciting to see the competitiveness kick in and battle back from being behind. It was a great team win.”
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Dodge was the winning pitcher for the Mustangs. She lasted six innings, allowing four hits and three runs while striking out eight.
Freshman Olivia Carr threw an inning in relief out of the bullpen.
The teams next game is at 11 a.m. Saturday at home against Tampa Catholic.
MUSTANGS AHEAD 