Sophomore Hadley Brown momentarily holds her pose after delivering a grand slam home run in the second inning of the Lady Badgers’ district-opening victory over Hutto. The shortstop also knocked in the game-clinching run. PHOTOS BY RICHARD AKRIDGE Lampasas head coach Chris Munoz wanted to send a message to the district.

In the second inning, Hadley Brown delivered it.

The sophomore slugger blasted a grand slam home run to put the Lady Badgers up 6-0 in their District 25-4A opener against Hutto Friday night.

Three innings later, Brown clinched the 11-1 run-rule victory for Lampasas by driving home classmate Tealey Farquhar

“We’re ready for district,” Munoz said. “We’re ready for some tough competition, and we’re ready to let them know that we’re coming back.

“Right off the bat, we’re going to jump on them.”

LHS centerfielder Tealey Farquhar records an out. At the plate, the sophomore posted a pair of singles and a double. That strategy was evident against the Lady Hippos.

After posting two hits in the first inning, the Lady Badgers went through the entire lineup in the second inning and scored six runs on seven hits, including Brown’s missile over the center field wall.

“That is something she has been working on all season, working that outside pitch,” Munoz said of his shortstop. “She really connected tonight, and that was the spark, and that’s something we needed for district, as well.

“That lets everybody know that we’ve got some hitters, and we’re coming after you.”

Lampasas finished the game with 16 hits, while pitcher Taylor Holloman helped limit the opposition to just a pair of hits, matching her strikeout total.

The Lady Badgers suffered a brief lull on offense in the third inning, as Madison Morris reached first base on an error but the next three batters failed to advance her.

The squad quickly made up for the slump in the following inning by scoring four runs on five hits to go up 10-0.

With just three outs separating Lampasas from a victory, Hutto battled to stay alive. Kendall Lucas knocked home teammate Emily Perez to trim the Lady Badgers’ advantage to nine runs.

Needing one score to earn a runrule victory, leadoff hitter Farquhar got on base with a single before advancing to third off an error by the Lady Hippos’ first baseman during Kallen Vann’s at bat.

Then Brown sent the final message with her fifth RBI of the evening.

While the hot Lampasas bats were instrumental in the win, Munoz felt Holloman’s performance on the mound was equally important.

“She pitched very well from my standpoint,” the coach said. “The girls had her back, and that is something that is very vital.”

The Lady Badgers (12-8, 1-0 district) return to the diamond tonight when they host Hendrickson at 7 p.m.