Softball: Langkamp perfect in 14-5A opener

THE WOODLANDS, Texas – The weather wasn’t perfect, but fortunately for The Woodlands High School softball team, pitcher Abby Langkamp was.

The senior left-hander tossed a five-inning perfect game on Tuesday as the Lady Highlanders opened District 14-5A play with a 12-0 win over visiting Conroe.

Rain fell just prior to the district curtain-raiser and lightning forced both teams off the field in the third inning. But that was long after the Lady Highlanders put the game out of reach with a 9-run first inning.

Neither Mother Nature nor Tigerettes bats could keep The Woodlands’ hard-throwing lanky lefty from perfection. Langkamp struck out 11 of the 15 batters she faced.

Freshman Kelcy Leach hit her first home run as a Lady Highlander and older sister, junior shortstop Aubrey Leach, contributed three hits and two RBIs to pace the attack.

The elder Leach helped preserve Langkamp’s gem by ranging far to her left to snag what looked like a sure line drive hit. But Leach was able to remain on her feet and make a perfect throw to first baseman Shelby Dublin for the out.

Amy Cimera and freshman Emily Langkamp each added two hits while Dublin and Kaitlyn Stavinoha drove in two runs apiece.

The Lady Highlanders (10-2, 1-0) will be in Missouri City, Thursday and Saturday, to play in the HSSL Tournament.