1...2...3...You’re Out

North Blasts Boyd, 18-0, In Three-Inning Softball Game

This is a tale of two softball programs at different stages of their existence, passing in the night.

Or late afternoon, actually.

McKinney North, coming off a trip to the regional finals in 2006, traveled Wednesday to play McKinney Boyd, a first-year team made up of freshmen and sophomores.

North won, 18-0 in a contest shortened to three innings due to the run rule. It lasted barely an hour.

And the scene afterward told the story:

Members of Class 4A’s No. 2-ranked Lady Bulldogs (17-2-1, 4-0 in District 9-4A) were making plans to attend the North-McKinney baseball game.

Members of the Lady Broncos (2-14, 0-4) were doing lunges on the outfield grass, preparing for an abruptly called practice session by coach Stephanie Freeman.

“We’re going to do lunges for every error [committed during the game],” Freeman said. “And my pitcher is going to throw to some batters. And we’re going to do infield until we’re blue in the face.”

North pitcher Kristen Adkins, a University of Florida signee, had just mowed down all nine Boyd batters she faced for a perfect game – seven by strikeout and two groundouts to the pitcher.

“It wasn’t my best game out here,” Adkins said. “But not every game is going to be your best. You just hope games that aren’t are against teams that are younger.”

North’s batters, meanwhile, collected 15 hits while Boyd helped with six errors in the field.

Kelsey Schendt had three hits for the Lady Bulldogs, including a bases-clearing double in the second inning. Meghan Knowles added two hits and three runs batted in, Kathy Shelton had two hits and two RBIs and Hannah Moseley and Amanda Parsonage had two hits and an RBI apiece.

The Lady Bulldogs scored six runs in the first, nine in the second and three in the third.

North coach Debbie Evans talked about feeling for Freeman, whom she’s known since Freeman was Frisco Centennial’s head coach. Evans can relate to starting up a program and dealing with the growing pains that accompany it. That’s part of the reason she did what she could not to run up the score Wednesday.

“You’re going to do the things you have to do,” Evans said. “We’re still going to run bases, we’re still going to run out all our hits, but we’re going to try to avoid it getting ugly.”

It didn’t help Boyd that its No. 1 pitcher, Steff Palmisano, was not cleared by doctors in time to pitch. She was diagnosed with bursitis in her right shoulder and missed last Friday’s 17-0 home loss to Lake Dallas, too. Palmisano is scheduled to be evaluated again before Friday.

“We’ve been there – I know what it’s like to start a program and have young kids and just try to get experience,” Evans said. “You just throw them to the wolves, so to speak. But you do have compassion for them and you know they’re going to get better. My philosophy is, you play better teams, you play better.”

Game notes: The crosstown rematch is April 5 at North…Wednesday’s game was originally scheduled for Tuesday but postponed due to rain. As a result, no JV contest was held…North football player Brett Davis was recognized on the public address system for purchasing nine hotdogs during 50-cent hotdog night at the concession stand…North has won 13 consecutive games…North next plays host to Lake Dallas on Friday night, as Boyd travels to Frisco the same evening.