Longhorns keep battling back, down Palo Verde in 13 innings

Legacy’s softball team has had a difficult time earning respect in the Northwest League.

Even after a 21-3 start this season, the Longhorns still heard the occasional whisper or snicker behind their backs.

It’ll be a lot tougher not to respect Legacy now.

The Longhorns battled back from three deficits at home Friday to knock off league-leading Palo Verde 5-4 in 13 innings and tie the Panthers for the top spot in the Northwest. Both teams are 11-2 with three league games remaining.

“I’ve told the girls that this year we’ve done things we haven’t done since the school has been opened,” Legacy coach Dan Casel said. “We’re not going to get any respect until we beat the established teams, the good teams. And now they believe in themselves.”

Sierra Pico’s one-out single to right field in the 13th plated Hannah Weld with the game-ending run, capping a marathon that looked several times as though it would end with Palo Verde celebrating an almost-certain league title.

“I knew I had to come through,” said Pico, whose team lost 8-2 at Palo Verde on April 9.

The Panthers (21-6) led 2-0 on Erika Stratton’s two-run single in the third, but Legacy (22-3) rallied to tie the game on freshman Danielle Pick’s two-out, two-run triple in the sixth.

Melissa McCormick singled with two outs in the top of the eighth, plating Angel Council to put the Panthers up 3-2, but Pick came up big again, chasing home Kayla Murray with a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth.

The Panthers went ahead again in the 12th when McCormick scored on a two-out throwing error. And again, Legacy answered, with Murray singling home Pico, who began the inning with a triple.

Pico and McCormick pitched masterfully. Pico didn’t allow an earned run, surrendering 12 hits and striking out 11 with one walk. She threw 117 of her 158 pitches for strikes.

McCormick threw 133 of 178 pitches for strikes, allowing 14 hits and two walks and fanning 16.

“This game doesn’t mean anything if we go out and lay an egg next week,” Casel said. “We have to go out and play our game.”