The Lady Farmers’ softball opened the regular season with three wins in a difficult Celina tournament as the team prepared for the long season ahead. 

Farmersville (3-2) began the regular season with a 5-2 victory over Valleyview on Feb. 12. 

Morgan Erwin led the way in a game that lasted just four innings, connecting on two hits, and driving in four runs during the contest. 

Despite the Lady Farmers getting just four hits in the game, the defense and pitching kept them in the win column. 

Jamie Varga picked up her first win of the season, striking out seven batters over three innings of work. 

Farmersville traveled to Celina for the weekend tournament following the season-opening win, going 2-2 overall. Farmersville opened the tournament with a tough 8-3 loss to Denton Ryan before bouncing back with two straight wins. 

The first came Thursday afternoon, where they defeated S&S Consolidated 10-1. For time restrictions, the Lady Farmers had nine hits to plate the 10 runs in a game that lasted just two innings. 

Carleigh Deeds led the way for Farmersville, collecting two hits and driving in four runs in the process. Kaylie Casados and Jensen McTee both pitched for the Lady Farmers, combining to give up one run and four hits in the game. 

The victory put Farmersville in the gold bracket of the tournament, needing two wins to reach the championship game. Farmersville opened bracket play Friday morning with a 3-1 victory over Frisco Centennial in just four innings of work. 

Farmersville fell behind 1-0 in the first inning of the game after two passed balls drove home the first run of the game. From there, Varga shut down the Titans lineup, pitching three straight shutout innings. Head coach Paula Wilfong was impressed with her work in the circle.

“She did well in the game,” Wilfong said. “She’s a pretty mentally tough player and has the experience to get through just about anything. She’s not going to strike out 10 batters in a game, so we have to play defense behind her and she keeps her composure.” 

After Varga went 1-2-3 in the second inning, Farmersville gained some confidence and tied things up. After walking with one out, Casados stole second and third base, then Erin Blackburn’s blooper to center field dropped for a base hit to drive her home. 

The response was exactly what the Lady Farmers needed and they capitalized on momentum.

To read the full story, see next week’s issue of The Farmersville Times. Support your community newspaper for less than $40 a year.

By Kyle Grondin • [email protected]