By TERRY COOKSTON
CNHI
WYLIE — WYLIE - Both Rockwall and Rockwall-Heath softball teams closed out the Wylie Invitational Tournament last weekend with losing records before kicking off District 10-4A play on Tuesday.
Rockwall opened the tournament with four losses before winning games against Class 5A powers Rowlett and North Mesquite.
The Lady Jackets lost to Birdville 5-4 after giving up all five runs in the final inning. Audrey Farfan led the RHS offense with two singles, while Cyndi Bertrand, Laycee Holcomb, Bailey Frierson, Ashton Atwell and Carlie Jenkins booked one each.
Rockwall then recorded a 10-4 loss to Wylie, an 8-1 loss to Mansfield Legacy and a 5-3 loss to Mesquite Horn. Taylor Lemons and Jamie Bain led the way against Legacy with three singles apiece, Amanda Harmon drilled one and Farfan blasted one.
Atwell hit two singles to pace RHS in its 5-3 loss to Horn.
Rockwall ace hurler Laycee Holcomb, who is just rounding into shape after an early-season injury, then put together two wins on the mound over North Mesquite (7-3) and Rowlett (4-2). Shelby Wood ripped a double to lead Rockwall at the plate against North Mesquite.
Rockwall lost its district opener at Royse City 5-4. The Lady Jackets led 4-3 after the second inning, but gave up one run in the third inning and one in the bottom of the seventh for the loss.
Pitcher Laycee Holcomb allowed seven hits, gave up two walks and struck out seven.
Royse City ace Alicia Pille had 17 strikeouts, two walks and gave up 11 hits in the win.
Rockwall committed four errors and had three runs score off those errors with two outs.
Rockwall-Heath lost its opening game at Wylie to Bishop Lynch 7-4, then defeated Azle 4-0, lost to North Mesquite 11-0, lost to Lovejoy and closed out the tournament with a loss to South Grand Prairie.
Heath then kicked off district play on Tuesday by routing Greeenville 10-0 behind a 1-hitter from standout pitcher Victoria Combs, who has been hampered with an injury for much of the early season.
The Lady Hawks broke open a 0-0 tie after three innings with four runs in the bottom of the fourth and added six in the bottom of the fifth to invoke the 10-run rule and open District 10-4A with a perfect 1-0 record.
Rockwall-Heath and Rockwall will square off tonight at Rockwall's Campbell Complex in the feature game in District 10-4A.
Wylie Tournament and District
10-4A Games
Bishop Lynch 7 13 2
Rockwall-Heath 4 8 0
WP: Madison Sowder LP: Sarah Deimling 2B - BL: Madison Sowder 1, Kelsey Vinson 1.
RHHS: Maddie Rice 1, Sarah Stewart 1.
Birdville 5 X X
Rockwall 4 X X
WP: X LP: Laycee Holcomb
1B - ROCK: Audrey Farfan 2, Cyndi Bertrand 1, Laycee Holcomb 1, Bailey Frierson 1, Ashton Atwell 1, Carlie Jenkins 1.
Rockwall-Heath 0 3 1
North Mesquite 11 13 1
WP: Melanie Ortega LP: Sarah Deimling
2B - RHHS: Dakota Whittern 1. NMES: Heather Duckworth 2, Paige Stevens 1, Brooke Clark 1, Brooke Witherspoon 1, Brooke Steele 1. 3B -
NMES: Heather Duckworth 1.
Rockwall 1 8 1
Mansfield Legacy 8 8 3
WP: X LP: Madeline Taylor
1B - ROCK: Taylor Lemons 3, Jamie Bain 3, Amanda Harmon 1, Audrey Farfan 1.
LEG: 3B: 1. 1B: 7.
North Mesquite 3 10 4
Rockwall 7 10 2
WP: Laycee Holcomb LP: Brooke Clark
2B - NMES: Brooke Witherspoon 1, Brooke Steele 1, Brooke Clark 1. ROCK: Shelby Wood 1.
Rockwall 3 6 4
Mesquite Horn 5 4 0
WP: X LP: Laycee Holcomb
1B - ROCK: Ashton Atwell 2, Jessica Hoffman 1, Laycee Holcomb 1, Audrey Farfan 1, Shelby Wood 1.
Greenville 0 1 1
Rockwall-Heath 10 6 0
WP: Victoria Combs LP: X
