Oak Ridge makes short work of Spring

OAK RIDGE NORTH, Texas - Three homers and a host of unearned runs allowed the Oak Ridge High School softball team to knock off an inning early on Thursday.

The Lady War Eagles rolled to a 14-4 win at home, in a game shortened to six innings via the run rule, over the Spring Lady Lions in the first of a best-of-three bi-district playoff series.

District 14-5A runner-up Oak Ridge (23-7), ranked No. 26 in the state, goes for the series sweep at 7 p.m. Friday when the two teams tangle at Spring High School. A third game, if necessary is scheduled for 6 p.m. Saturday at Oak Ridge High School.

Amanda Cunniff, winning pitcher Jessica Rodriguez, and Ronnie Villafranco all belted home runs as Oak Ridge erupted for its biggest showing offensively since a 15-0 win at Conroe on April 9. The Lady War Eagles showed similar prowess at the plate in a 16-2 win over Chavez at the Pearland Tournament on Feb. 23, and during an 18-0 blanking of Westside on Valentine's Day.

But to roll up such a number to begin the postseason is most impressive.

It didn't take long for the Lady War Eagles to open the floodgates. Cunniff, who collected three hits and drove in four runs, got things started with a two-run homer in the first inning. Oak Ridge blew the game wide open with a five-run second inning, scoring three times on Spring errors. Rodriguez homered to spark the rally.

Ania Williams tightened things up momentarily for District 13-5A third-place representative Spring (18-12) with a three-run homer, to cut Oak Ridge's advantage to 7-4.

But the Lady War Eagles went back to work. Villafranco slugged a two-run homer while in the circle Rodriguez shut down the Lady Lions, striking out five while scattering eight hits in going the distance. At the plate, Rodriguez also had three of Oak Ridge's 12 hits.