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| 4/8/2009 12:27:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article |
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JERRY SAULMAN for Leader
Westwood’s Haylee Staton pitched a no-hitter against Round Rock Tuesday in a 3-0 win over the Dragons. |
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Staton no-hitter earns landmark 200th win for Gates
By CLIFF COATS
Special to the Leader
The last few weeks have been tough for the Westwood Warriors. They sit 4.5 games back with a 3-6 record in District 16-5A play. Having lost their last four games coach Tiffany Gates knew her girls had to earn a win with Round Rock coming across town to challenge them at home Tuesday.
"We have been struggling", Gates said. "But we've never lost focus as far as our ultimate goal and that is to make the playoffs".
The last time Round Rock and Westwood faced off, Coach Jennifer Painter's Lady Dragons came out on top in a close 1-0 ball game. This time around Westwood got to taste some revenge.
Warriors' ace pitcher Haylee Staton earned a hard fought, no-hitter, 3-0 victory with nine strikeouts on the evening.
Staton and the Warriors started the game with an aggressive first inning. Two Lady Dragon batters popped out down the left foul line, trying to get ahead of Staton's pitches. Drew Davis was hit by a pitch and took first for Round Rock but Staton then struck out Brianna Hope to wrap up the side before the runner could move into a threatening position.
Staton kept the pressure turned all the way up by smacking a hard shot into left field and legging it into a double to lead-off the bottom of the frame. Emily Prehoda grounded out to move Staton to third. As Round Rock's pitcher Sarah Rabey returned to the rubber Staton streaked down the base path from third and stole home to make the score 1-0.
In the bottom of the fifth inning Westwood's Nicole DeLisle singled on a line drive into left field. Megan Stockberger moved DeLisle over to second on a bunt. Then junior catcher Daniele "Squeaky" Durham knocked in a RBI double to makethe score 2-0.
In the bottom of the sixth center fielder and homecoming queen Megan Stockberger cranked a stand up double of her own into left field. After being moved over to third by Durham, Stockberger was knocked home on an RBI single into left field by Jordan Poole to make the score 3-0.
When asked about earning the no-hitter Staton said, "It was awesome, I'm just excited to help this team turn things around for the season and hopefully get back on a winning streak."
"Haylee pitched her tail off tonight," said Coach Gates. "She did a great job, had great movement and was very smart with the batters she faced."
The game was a landmark victory in Coach Gates' career, it was her 200th.
She started coaching in 2002 at Baytown Sterling High School in the Houston area and has been the head coach at Westwood since 2006. In just her seventh year of coaching, her overall record sits at 200-73-1 which puts her soundly in the top 30 of the UIL softball coach career victories list.
After the game Megan Stockberger had this to say about her coach's achievement, "We are all so proud of her. She deserves it, she is a great coach."
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