Lampasas juniors Marisa Bogart, left, and Kat Strickland delivered home runs in consecutive at bats during the Lady Badgers’ win at home Tuesday. In just two district games this season, the team already has recorded more home runs than during the entire 2009 season. Lady Badger Field is quickly becoming Lampasas’ launching pad.

After recording just two home runs during the entire 2009 season -- both by then-sophomore Madison Morris -- three different Lady Badgers have sent six balls out of the park in 2010.

On its new diamond alone, Lampasas has three home runs in its first two district games, including consecutive blasts during Tuesday’s 12-0 shutout win over Hendrickson.

First-inning home runs by juniors Marisa Bogart and Kat Strickland helped catapult the Lady Badgers to a 10-0 advantage by the end of the opening frame, allowing the team to coast to victory.

PHOTOS BY RICHARD AKRIDGE When asked about the drastic increase in home run production, Lampasas head coach Chris Munoz made certain the credit went to his players and not the new field.

“It is just [due to] them working hard in practice,” the coach said. “They are taking it serious in the [batting] cages and on the field hitting live.

“They are being more disciplined, waiting on the pitches, and [in games] they are just hitting the ball really well.”

The Lady Badgers jumped all over Hendrickson pitcher Kristen Warner early Tuesday evening, picking up eight hits after sending 14 batters to the plate in the first inning.

Delivering a relentless initial onslaught is a philosophy Munoz intends to continue throughout the remainder of the season.

“That is something we need to do in every game we play,” the coach said of his squad’s aggressive start. “We did it tonight, and it was great to see.”

Lady Badgers pitcher Taylor Holloman allowed just three hits and struck out five Hendrickson batters. Lampasas (13-8, 2-0 District 25- 4A) posted 15 hits against the Lady Hawks, bringing their two-game district total to 31 after hanging 16 hits, including sophomore Hadley Brown’s grand slam, on Hutto in the district-opening home win last Friday.

But Lampasas is not just getting players on base; the team is sending them all the way around.

Every batter in the Lady Badgers’ starting lineup rounded the bases against Hendrickson (7-14, 1-1).

Substitute rightfielder Shelly Holcomb, who was inserted for Kallen Vann in the third inning, was the only player who did not reach home plate during the game. Holcomb hit a single in her only at bat and was left stranded on third base when the fourth inning came to a close.

Of their seven stranded runners in the contest, the Lady Badgers left two on third base, but it had little impact after Lampasas left a Grand Canyon-sized gap between the teams following the first inning.

After making short work of Hendrickson’s first set of batters, Lampasas sophomore leadoff hitter Tealey Farquhar connected on a single to start an avalanche of hits for the home team.

Two batters later, Brown hit a double that sent Farquhar home. Strickland then posted two more runs onto the scoreboard off her home run before Bogart followed with a home run of her own to put Lampasas up 4-0.

Morris’ out to left field was all that separated the Lady Badgers from scoring their next six consecutive batters to put a stranglehold on the game.

Farquhar was the team’s top offensive performer, going four for four with four singles, three runs and an RBI. Brown added two hits -- a single and a double -- while Jennifer Herron was two for three at the plate with a pair of singles and an RBI.

Defensively, pitcher Taylor Holloman picked up the fiveinning shutout victory. The junior southpaw allowed just three hits and struck out five Lady Hawks.

“We played good team defense tonight. Everybody did a great job,” Munoz said. “The infield did really well. [The Lady Hawks] got on base a couple of times and, when they did, the outfield was there to back up the infield.”

After picking up a pair of victories and scoring 23 runs at home, it is time for the Lady Badgers to take their high-octane show on the road.

The Lady Badgers get their first taste of district action away from Lampasas tonight when they travel to Lake Travis (2-0 district) for a 7 p.m. start.

Despite his team’s current hot streak, Munoz refuses to take any opponent lightly.

“I’m expecting a [competitive] game in every district game we play,” first-year coach Munoz said. “Being new to the softball scene this year, I’ve got to take everybody as a challenge.”

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The junior varsity Lady Badgers fell to 1-1 in district competition after Hendrickson picked up an 11- 1 victory in Lampasas.

LADY BADGER HOME RUN COUNT