Bearettes open 2008 softball season with five consecutive victories
By Chad Wilson Editor

Chad Wilson Photo Entering her second season as the Bearettes' ace Krystin Groothuis continues to dominate the circle.

Rain, rain go away it is time for softball season!

Mother Nature in all likelihood kept the Brownsboro Bearettes from winning their first softball tournament of the year.

Playing last weekend in Palestine the Bearettes breezed through pool play and the semifinal round earning a spot in the championship game against Palestine.

Due to heavy rains moving into the area the championship game was decided by a coin flip, a flip the Bearettes lost.

Bearette players however see the tournament as a win since they defeated Palestine earlier last week (Monday) in the season opener in Brownsboro.

A three run fifth inning propelled the Bearettes to a 4-2 victory over the visiting Wildcats on Monday, February 11 in Brownsboro.

Krystin Groothuis pitched seven solid innings striking out four batters, walking three and surrendering two runs on five hits. "KG" was perfect at the plate as she got a hit in all three plate appearances and drove in two runs.

Other Bearettes recording hits in the season opener was Lacey Pettit, Chelsea Holcomb, Randi Smith and LeCandace Bell. Pettit and Bell both had two stolen bases in the game.

Playing on Thursday in the Ladycat Classic Palestine Tournament the girls from Brownsboro faced off against next season's District 20-3A opponent Crockett in pool play. Palestine will also be in Brownsboro's district next season.

Crockett was no match for the Bearettes as Brownsboro coasted to a 11-2 victory.

Chelsea Holcomb picked up her first win on the varsity level in just three innings of work.

Brownsboro scored six runs in the first inning, two in the second and three in the third. Lacey Pettit (3-3), Lindsey Wood (2-2) and Carley Smith (2-2) were all perfect from the plate as they recorded hits in every at bat. Smith, Stefani Vause and Holcomb all had two runs batted in during the game.

With "KG" on the mound in round two of pool play against Jacksonville on Friday the Bearettes won 6-0.

Lindsey Wood recorded two runs batted in as part of the Bearettes five run second inning.

Groothuis drove in Holcomb on a double in the first inning as the Bearettes improved to 3- 0 on the season.

In their final pool game on Friday the Bearettes defeated Kemp by the score of 10-0.

Holcomb allowed just one hit in three innings and struck out three to improve to 2-0 in the tournament.

Brownsboro scored three runs in the first inning, five runs in the third and two runs in the fourth. "KG" doubled in two runs in the first inning while Selina Wallace singled in two runs in the third inning.

Following the game against Kemp the Bearettes opened bracket play in the semifinals against Crockett.

Crockett put up more of a fight in the second game but in the end it was the Bearettes who would come out on top, winning the game 7-1.

Groothuis picked up her third win of the season as she pitched seven innings allowing just one run on four hits. She struck out seven batters while surrendering no walks.

In the second inning the Bearettes led off with a double to left centerfield by Groothuis. Selina Wallace was brought in to run for Groothuis and scored on a single by Danielle Bynum.

Malea Sims drew a walk before Randi Smith singled in Bynum for a 2-0 Bearette lead.

With runners on first and second and one out, LeCandace Bell reached safely on a bunt to load the bases.

Sims took advantage of a wild pitch to score the Bearettes third run of the inning.

Brownsboro tacked on one run in both the third and fourth inning before adding two runs in the top of the fifth to seal the deal.

Bell, Groothuis and Randi Smith all had two hits in the game.

On Monday the Bearettes dropped their first game of the season as they lost in Malakoff by the score of 4-3. The game was played on Monday so that it would not conflict with playoff basketball schedules.

The Bearettes took an early lead in the game, scoring in the top of the first inning as Carley Smith drove in Randi Smith. Malakoff tied the game in the third.

Brownsboro scored in the top of the fifth on a single by Petitt before Malakoff answered right back in the bottom half of the inning.

Trailing 4-2 entering the seventh inning the Bearettes scored on a pass ball but could not find a way to tie the game.

Randi Smith, Groothuis and Holcomb each had two hits in the game. Candace Bell and Carley Smith each doubled. As a team the Bearettes totaled 10 hits.

"KG" took the loss for the Bearettes, surrendering 10 hits and three earned runs. She struck out four batters.

Brownsboro (5-1) is scheduled play at home on Friday against Robert E. Lee. The game might be rescheduled if there are basketball playoffs. Game time is set for 6:00pm.

Next Thursday, February 28 the Bearettes will play in the Tyler Umpire Chapter's Tournament against White House at 4:00pm on Field 4 at Lindsey Park. They will play Grand Saline at 6pm on the same field.