by JASON GORDON
Hays second baseman MaryAnn Rizo (above) and the Lady Rebel softball team stunned No. 4 Elgin by handing the Lady Wildcats only their third loss of the season Monday night. Hays’ next game will be in the first round of the playoffs in early May. (Photo by Tony Smith)
About the only people in the softball world giving Hays much of a shot before Monday night’s game at Elgin were the Lady Rebels themselves.
Elgin, the No. 4 ranked team in state with a flame-throwing pitcher and a dugout full of intimidating power hitters, blanked Hays 10-0 at Lady Rebel Field last month.
This time around, however, it was a completely different story, as the Lady Rebels went into Elgin and took it to the Lady Wildcats, coming away with a 2-0 victory in the final game of the regular season.
Pitcher Amanda Ruiz had perhaps the most impressive game of her four-year varsity career, limiting Elgin to three hits while striking out 12 batters.
It was only the third loss of the season for Elgin.
“It was incredible to end the season with a win against Elgin,” Ruiz said. “Everyone doubted us, but we proved everyone wrong.”
The win cemented Hays’ spot as the third-place finisher in District 17-4A. The Lady Rebels will likely open the postseason with a first-round matchup against either Willis or Montgomery at a site to be determined May 3 or 4.
The Lady Rebs got off to a quick start against Elgin pitcher Sarah Johnson, who had only given up one earned run all season. Emily Opheim doubled and then was knocked in by a Gabi Albarez bloop-single in the top of the first inning to stake Hays to a 1-0 lead.
That’s all the run support Ruiz needed, but the Lady Rebels added some insurance for good measure in the top of the fifth when Dani Alvarado scored from second base on an Elgin error.
From there, Ruiz riddled the Elgin lineup, which has seven batters hitting over .400, with her breaking pitches. The Lady Wildcats had only three hits on the night, and hit only two balls out of the infield.
“Amanda was totally on tonight,” Hays head coach Jo Farr said. “She was on fire. I’ve seen her throw harder, but never better.”
Hays will now try and use its momentum to break a near decade-long slump in the playoffs. Although the Lady Rebels have been a team that’s consistently qualified for the postseason, they haven’t won a first-round matchup in seven years.
“This win was definitely a big motivation for the playoffs,” Ruiz said. “We have complete confidence going into and getting past the first round.”
Farr said she thinks this is the team that could help Hays break its negative streak in the postseason.
“If we play like we did tonight, there’s no reason we can’t have success in the playoffs,” Farr said. “A win in the playoffs would be huge for our program. Ruiz and the rest of the seniors have been here four years and haven’t tasted playoff success. It would be awesome to see them go out with a good run.”
