Who’s No. 1?

North Softball Beats No. 1-ranked Frisco, 1-0

Apparenty, the Lady Bulldogs don’t like playing second fiddle to anyone.

Kristen Adkins drove this point home as she homered in the third inning to send No. 2-ranked McKinney North to a 1-0 victory over No. 1-ranked Frisco on Wednesday.

Adkins’ blast over the left-centerfield wall proved the difference maker as the two best Class 4A teams in the state met in a key District 9-4A matchup. With the win, North (18-3-1, 5-1) moved into a first-place district tie with previously unbeaten Frisco (20-1, 5-1).

Adkins said the pressure was all on Frisco coming into the game.

"What did we have to lose? We lost on Friday night [a 4-2 loss to Lake Dallas]. The undefeated target was still on their backs," Adkins said.

"We had everything to gain."

That mindset was shared by the rest of the Lady Bulldogs as they made zero defensive errors and appeared relaxed and focused.

North head coach Debbie Evans noticed it, too.

"They were ready to play this game," she said. "They had invited everyone they knew, and [the girls] knew they had it in them."

A capacity crowd, complete with a raucous body-painted student section, made enough noise to give the home team a helping hand. Adkins’ two-out solo home run in the bottom of the third - a powerful blast that exploded off the bat in a straight line over the left-centerfield fence -  made the biggest statement, however.

Asked to describe the game-winning hit, Adkins could only shrug.

"I didn’t see it go over the fence until I was rounding first," she said. "As a hitter it’s reaction; you don’t think, something in your mind just clicks. I really don’t know what happened there, but it was good."

Adkins’ shot may have won the game, but it was a superb defensive effort that set the stage. Second baseman Lindsey Post set the tone by diving to snag a grounder and keep Frisco leadoff hitter Natalie Villarreal off the base path in the first inning. Shortstop Kathy Shelton had a pair of spectacular diving catches, while left fielder Hannah Moseley made a highlight-reel sliding catch in the sixth inning as Frisco was attempting to rally.

"My defense was spectacular, they really were," Adkins said.

Adkins was solid in the pitching circle, as well. She allowed three hits and walked one while striking out six. The only time she got into trouble was in the top of the sixth when she walked speedy Villarreal and allowed a single by the following batter. But she forced a popup to Moseley to get the second out and Post fielded a ground ball and made the throw to first to end the threat.

All wasn’t perfect for North, however.

"We didn’t have any defensive errors and we played great, but I’m disappointed with the strikeouts," Evans said. "I think they were just trying too hard at the plate."

Frisco pitcher Jammie Weidert struck out 16 and allowed three hits and one run.

Adkins and North got the last laugh, making up for a shocking loss to Lake Dallas five days prior and making a serious case for a new No. 1.

North plays at Little Elm at 7 p.m. on Friday.

North Notes: Kathy Shelton was moved to shortstop to replace Amy Kilpatrick, who is lost for the season due to injury...North and Frisco will meet again on April 13 in Frisco. Interestingly, the game is on Friday the 13th...North’s game with Frisco was moved to a Wednesday night due to a shortage of umpires in the area. With all the new school openings, the officiating base has been stretched thin. "I don’t know what to do," North head coach Debbie Evans said. "It’s hard to find people willing to do the work these days. Also, its takes several nights of working just to cover the expenses incurred in getting outfitted for the job (mask, shin guards, chest protector, and the clothing involved)." Evans said she would rather play a day later to get the best crew. The only other game currently effected is the game against McKinney High. Originally scheduled for Friday, it will be played on Saturday, March 31.

DISTRICT 9-4A SOFTBALL STANDINGS
School                   Dist.   Season
McKinney North    5-1     18-3-1
Frisco                     5-1     19-1
Lake Dallas          4-2     16-6
Frisco Cent.          4-2     9-7-2
Little Elm               2-3     11-8-1
The Colony           2-4      6-9
McKinney              1-5      7-14
McKinney Boyd     0-5     2-15