Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Kerens’ Ella Engel gets the sign before stepping back into the batter’s box versus Hawkins.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Jaidin Rickard of Kerens scurries toward first base after making contact against Hawkins.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Lady ‘Cat Kayla Gonzales scores Kerens’ third run in the third inning of the April 26 game.

Monitor Photo/Russell Slaton
Kerens pitcher Rylee Spivey strikes out 16 Hawkins batters while throwing a no-hitter April 26.

ATHENS–The Kerens Lady ‘Cats softball team beat the Hawkins Lady Hawks at Athens High School April 26 in a winner-take-all Bi-District game to open the playoffs.
During the game, Kerens pitcher Rylee Spivey threw a no-hitter, striking out 16 Lady Hawks batters. The Lady ‘Cats moved to the Area round, where they faced the McLeod Lady Longhorns (located between Marshall and Texarkana) in a one-game playoff scheduled May 2 at Lindale.
Kerens struck first in their first half-inning, starting when Kayla Gonzales reached on an infield single, Blair Blue walked and then both moved into scoring position on a double steal. Brooke Sikes singled up the middle, scoring Gonzales and Blue and giving the Lady ‘Cats a 2-0 lead.
In the third, Gonzales led off with a single and scored Kerens’ third run on Spivey’s triple. Olivia Holt next drilled a 2-out double to score Spivey and increasing the Lady ‘Cat lead to 4-0. During the fourth, Sarah Massey hit a 2-out single to bring home Abby Combs (who was running for Ella Engel, who had singled earlier), building Kerens’ advantage to 5-0.