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Words of Wisdom: Haley's defense helps pace East past Haltom, 5-0
BY Kevin Hageland, khageland@starlocalnews.com
COPPELL -- Prior to the start of the season, Plano East sophomore Haley Wisdom wrote down a dream play in which she made an outfield catch and then fired a runner out at home plate.
Dream became reality Friday night in a one-game area playoff contest against Haltom.
In the top of the first with one out and the bases loaded, Wisdom caught a ball in left field and then fired home to get Hayle Hawkins out at the plate and end one of the few threats the Lady Buffs had in an eventual 5-0 East victory.
Wisdom's highlight night wasn't over as she also made a sliding catch in the fifth inning.
"Haley played amazing tonight," said Karen Kalhoefer, East head coach.
She wasn't the only one that felt that way.
"I thanked [Wisdom] and [junior third baseman Jacque Anthony]," said Holly Kern, East senior pitcher. "They both made some nice plays."
Getting out of the first inning helped the Lady Panthers right the ship after a shaky start that included two plays in which seemingly catchable balls got caught in the wind and resulted in baserunners.
"We don't really get to practice in that kind of wind," Kern said.
That might change.
"Yeah, it's hard to get practice in those kinds of conditions," Kalhoefer said. "But we'll fix this."
Wisdom's first catch kept zeros on the board early and Mother Nature prolonged that score further as the game was delayed 47 minutes prior to the bottom of the third inning due to lightening.
The Lady Panthers were low-key during the break.
"Some of us were off doing our own thing or on Twitter," Kern said. "Nothing real strategic."
This appeared a bit different than the Haltom philosophy.
"They were louder, but we were focused and in the zone," Anthony said. "I think we needed to take a step back and realize we are better than this."
That philosophy appeared to work.
"We came out really fired up after the delay," Kern said.
After going hitless in the first two frames against Haltom pitcher Carlie Caruthers, East put up runs in the third, fourth and fifth innings.
"By that point the girls had seen [Caruthers] and knew what she would be throwing," Kalhoefer said. "We told them to be patient and attack the good pitches. When we aren't over swinging and don't try so hard, our lineup is pretty tough."
The Lady Panthers got on the board in the third with an RBI single from senior Rachel Scott. East doubled that advantage up to 2-0 in the fourth following a double from Anthony and RBI single by junior Ashleigh Hinshaw. Anthony was a part of the fifth-inning offensive as well as her RBI double capped off a trio of running-scoring at-bats that included a sac fly by Kern and double from junior KK Stevens.
"I think we were frustrated with those first couple at-bats," Anthony said. "But it takes a couple at-bats to get the feel for a pitcher and we were able to do that tonight."
Anthony drew a throw to second base on her hit in the fifth. She was called out, but not before the diverted throw allowed the Lady Panthers to plate another run for a 5-0 lead.
"Every run, whether it is in fall ball, preseason or district, every run counts," Anthony said. "That's why we felt like even that fifth run was very important."
Kern didn't need the extra runs as she retired the final eight Haltom hitters of the game, including a throw out at the plate in the fifth, to complete her four-hit shutout and finish out the 5-0 victory.
"Holly struggled a bit Saturday (against Southlake Carroll) and the defense was there to pick her up," Kalhoefer said. "But tonight, it was Holly that stepped up.
"She pitched really well."
East now moves on to the regional quarterfinals for the first time since advancing to the Class 5A State Tournament in 2009. The Lady Panthers will next face district foe Flower Mound.
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