Early morning start can't slow Houston RBI softball squad

VERO BEACH, Fla. -- The Houston Astros Nike RBI softball team played its second straight day with an early morning game Wednesday, but it got the real wake-up call where it needed it most -- at the plate.

In their 8 a.m. game in the Nike RBI World Series, the Astros took to the Teamwork Field’s artificial turf and crafted two massive innings, leading to an 11-1 run-rule victory over Gary (Ind.) Nike RBI in Watley Division pool play.

Playing in its 15th consecutive softball division berth -- the most by any city -- the Astros (4-0) are trying to repeat as champions and win their sixth softball title.

The two mammoth frames by the offense -- seven runs in the third, four in the fourth -- were much needed after two close wins over Roberto Clemente Nike RBI and Atlanta Braves Nike RBI.

Coach Megan Hays said she had been waiting for the bats to wake up and come to life.

“Our sticks hadn’t started rolling until up until this game,” said Hays, whose club plated 10 runs in the first two wins. “We’ve struggled sitting back and waiting on pitches, so that’s something we preached the whole game. And it finally worked.”

In the top of the third, Houston sent 11 batters to the plate, managing seven runs on six hits. Jada Cooper smoked a bases-loaded shot to third base that tipped the glove of Gary third baseman Savannah Roberts and scored two runs but was surprisingly deemed an error.

Catcher Karisma Garcia then drove in two with a double into the left field corner for a 5-1 lead, all but salting away a third straight win for the Space City club.

Admittedly suffering through a power outage over two games, Cooper provided a crushing blow in the next frame with a three-run homer to center, her first long ball of the tournament.

She was cheering while rounding the bases, but her teammates gave her the silent treatment as a joke when she came to the dugout. Later, she was given the hefty bright orange chain for her outstanding performance.

“There was pressure on me because I’ve been working behind this tournament,” said Cooper, who nearly had a five-RBI day and is headed to play at Grand Canyon State in Phoenix. “For me to come through for my team, it felt good ... even though they gave me the silent treatment. I could only hear myself scream while I was rounding the bases. That was probably Karisma Garcia who decided to do that.”

Added Hays: “The difference between yesterday and today is that our bats needed to get hot, but also we needed to tone down on the errors.”

Gary’s lone run came on Roberts’ second homer of the tourney, a blast to left center on a 1-2 offering from Houston starter Cassidy Cantera.

“That was honestly the first run we’ve given up that’s been earned. That was something we told them last night. We need to focus on the errors and stop throwing the ball around. Just make straight plays,” Hays added.

In her first-ever World Series appearance, Cantera (1-0) tossed all five innings and allowed just three hits. She fanned two and walked three in damp conditions, working the ball in and out on the Gary batters and producing soft contact most of the game.

“I think I was a little off, I know I could do better,” the right-hander said. “We still held them, and my team had my back, too. … Most of my games I try to let my defense do the work.”

The team also had fun during four very short rain delays starting at 9:00.

They blasted the song “Love” by Keyshia Cole, sang along and danced in front of the dugout. Assistant coach Mekele Brown showed his smooth moves as the players cheered him on.

“My girls like me to act a little foolish at times,” Brown said.

In its nightcap against No. 7-seed Atlanta in a double-elimination matchup, second-seeded Houston rallied for four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to win 6-2, taking advantage of a three-run throwing error by the Braves on Cooper’s grounder.

“It was a total team effort all around, especially at the plate,” said Hays, whose game ended with time expiring as the afternoon contests were backed up because all had to be played on Teamwork Field due to hard rain.