Freshman throws no-hitter with 19 strikeouts

February 12, 2013, 9:30 pm by Mark Goodson

Staff Photo By Mark Goodson Freshman Makenzie Carpenter delivers a pitch Tuesday night in the softball season opener for the Lady Mustangs. The 15-year-old Carpenter struck out 19 and allowed no hits in the seven-inning game. Carpenter and the Lady Mustangs will host their tournament Thursday through Saturday at Marble Falls High School.

By Mark Goodson

Highlander Sports Editor

Marble Falls freshman Makenzie Carpenter opened her career in style Tuesday night.

Carpenter struck out 19 and threw a no-hitter to notch a 7-0 victory over the Wimberley Texans in the softball season opener for the Lady Mustangs.

"I didn’t get tired,’’ said Carpenter. "I was glad for Tyler (Oppenheim) to get that ball. I wanted the no-hitter.’’

Shortstop Oppenheim made fielding plays in the fourth and sixth innings to nullify any chances of the Texans getting baserunners.

Carpenter, who has been clocked throwing in the mid-60s, had a steady dose of first-pitch strikes for the game.

Only three batters failed to strike out against Carpenter.

Wimberley right fielder Tori Bloom hit a grounder to first baseman Amanda Thomas that Thomas made the relay to second baseman Skylar Riley for the game’s second out before Carpenter started piling up the strikeouts.

In the second inning, Carpenter fanned four when Katrina Spangenberg got on base after a strikeout and passed ball.

Carpenter said she felt comfortable all game and credited Thomas with helping settle her down in her first varsity softball game.

Marble Falls defense was excellent with the Carpenter firing in fastballs on the cold night to start the season. Nothing got out of the infield.

Marble Falls offense produced 13 hits with five coming in the final inning off Wimberley senior Mallory Henry. The Lady Mustangs Thomas came through with a 3-run homer in the sixth to tack on the final three runs in game.

Marble Falls scored solo runs in the first four innings.

Marble Falls left nine runners on base.

Thomas was 2-for-3 with four runs driven in. Hailey Wooten, Abby Henry and Carpenter all had 2-hit games, too. Henry, Hayley Fishbeck and Carpenter drove in solo runs.

Henry drove in Thomas in the first inning then Fishbeck doubled in Naomi Macias on a two-out double in the second inning.

Wooten led off the third with a single but was retired on the bases leading up to Carpenter’s double to score Riley, who got on base with two outs after getting hit by a pitch.

Marble Falls’ Oppenheim utilized her speed to get on base twice in the late innings and scored twice. Oppenheim got an infield hit and advanced to third on a chopper by Fishbeck before scoring the game’s fourth run on a 2-0 count single by Thomas.

In the sixth, Oppenheim and Fishbeck led off with infield singles before Thomas smashed a 0-1 pitch over the left field fence.

Wimberley had five seniors in its starting lineup and was a playoff team in Class 3A last season. The Texans lost in the first round of the playoffs last year.

Marble Falls will host its tournament this weekend.