Greenville softball coaches didn't recognize some of Texas High's players Friday at Lady Tiger Field.
One of those players was pitcher Megan Hillis, who only recently gained elgibility to play for the Tigers after transferring from Atlanta. Hillis scattered four hits-none after the fourh inning-walked two and struck out five in pitching THS past Greenville, 5-3.
Texas High's first two batters were also unfamiliar to the Greenville folks. Freshmen Jalissa Trotter and Channel Hayes combined for five hits, four runs scored and two RBIs.
"This was only Hillis' second game this season," veteran Tiger coach Robbie Hatfield said. "She's only going to get better with more time under her belt, and she's not just a good pitcher, she's a good hitter, too.
"If Jalissa puts the ball in play I don't think they can throw her out. Channel is a line drive hitter, but she's got a lot of power. It's really going to be something watching those two bat in front of Michaela (Johnson)."
Greenville, which slipped to 1-3 in District 13-4A with the loss, scored two unearned runs in the first off Hillis.
Allison Trimble singled to center, and was sacraficed to second by Brianna Fauley, who was safe on a throwing error. Both runners moved up on a passed ball, Trimble scoring later on another passed ball. Fauley trotted home on Cydney Tippet's sacrifice fly to center.
The Lady Lions' lead was short-lived.
Trotter's bunt barely got off the plate, but she was safe, the first of her three hits in the game. She moved up on an illegal pitch, and third on a wild pitch. Hayes then lined a shot to right-center. She was credited with a triple, but she never broke stride in scoring when the outfielder made a wild throw.
Hayes scored one out later when Hillis reached on an infield error. Courtesy runner Marissa Johnston moved up on a passed ball and scored on Alexis Burns' single to center.
Another bunt hit from Trotter in the second led to another Tiger run. She raced from first to third on Hayes' grounder to third, and scored on a wild pitch.
Hillis was also the recipient of some outstanding defense. Burns had the game's defensive gem with a diving catch in right field. Second baseman Erin Woods also made an over-the-shoulder catch in the same inning (second).
"Those were big plays, big league catches," Hatfield said. "We weren't perfect, but we played excellent defense. We fell behind early and battled back. That's what I love about this young group. We're mentally tough and that's what it takes."
Greenville's final run was also unearned.
Hillis struck out the first two batters she faced in the third, but then issued her first free pass to Rachel Cook. Tippet then lined a single to center that skipped past the outfielder for a two-base error, scoring Cook. The next batter lined out to second.
Texas High (12-7, 3-1) scored its final run in the fourth after losing pitcher Cook had retired the first two Tigers. Trotter blooped a single down the left field line and continued to second when the outfielder couldn't field the ball cleanly. She scored on Hayes' long double to the fence in left.
The Tigers will be hoping to claim a share of first place today at Sherman.
Greenville 201 000 0 - 3 4 4
Texas High 310 100 x - 5 9 2
Rachel Cook and Katie Trimble; Megan Hillis and Mikaela Blase. WP-Hillis; LP-Cook.