Photo by Rafael Marquez
by RAFAEL MARQUEZ
The rain last week played havoc on the location of the game. The original location was supposed to be at Elgin High for a three-game playoff. Due to the weather, the location was changed to a single game playoff that, then, was to be played at Weimar High School. Once again, the rain forced one last change to Kerrville’s idyllic Schreiner University campus.
A loud and boisterous crowd turned up to the oft delayed game and watched the Hays High Lady Rebels pounce and defeat the Leander Lady Lions 4-3.
The Lady Rebels will play Aledo at noon Friday at the Red McComb stadium at the University of Texas in Austin.
The Lady Rebels victory on Satruday over Leander did not come easy. The Lions scored on their first at-bat on an RBI triple by Hailey MacKay. The Rebels answered during their turn at bat, as Maddy Shannon scored on an RBI double by Clarissa Gonzalez, bringing the score to 1-1 at the bottom of the first inning.
The next few innings were quick in and out affairs. Both teams played outstanding defense and managed to keep the opposing teams from scoring any additional runs.
Hays High softball head coach Aaron Fuller took a few moments to fire up the team by telling them that they needed to compete and battle it out every time they were at bat. The team took that advice to heart.
At the bottom of the fifth inning, Karina Rocha hit a line drive that went over the Leander second baseman’s head and landed in no-man’s land in front of the right fielder. Rocha was safe at first base. Traci Green went in as designated runner for Rocha. Maddy Shannon hit a bunt and got on first base. A squeeze play followed with a bunt from Addie Vayas. Vayas was thrown out at first, but both Green and Shannon advanced into scoring positions.
Clarissa Gonzalez came up to bat for Hays and was walked. With the bases loaded, Haleigh Madden came to bat, but did not make contact. The Rebels left the bases loaded and missed the opportunity to score.
At the top of the sixth inning, Leander’s Shelby Irlbeck got on base with a double. She later scored Leander’s second run of the game, driven in on a double hit by Hailey MacKay, which brought the score to Hays 1, Leander 2.
At Hays’ turn at bat, Brayden Pinckard got on base, followed by a Sarah Leal single as she took first. Pinckard next stole third base and Leander’s throw to third was bad, advancing Leal to second base. At bat next was Rocha, who hit a textbook squeeze bunt. Leander seemed confused by the play. In the confusion, Pinckard ran in and scored as did Leal, who dove head first into home. At the end of the sixth inning, the score was Hays 3, Leander 2.
Leander responded with a triple by Lakin Carpenter. She later scored on a sacrifice fly and tied the game at 3. The Lady Rebels kicked up their defense and held Leander to the single run.
At the bottom of the seventh, with two outs on the board, Haleigh Madden hit a single that went just over the Leander second baseman’s head. Desiree Wainright came in as designated runner for Madden. Pinckard came to bat, hitting a double. With runners on second and third, Gabi Albarez hit a single, with Wainright scoring on the hit to give the Lady Rebels the lead in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The final score of the game was Hays 4, Leander 3. The road to the playoffs had been long, driving crazily through Texas in search of a dry field, but the Lady Rebels pulled out the win to head to the state tournament.
Fuller, speaking to the Lady Rebels after the game, said, “As long as we still have outs, we’re good... never give up... I cannot tell you how proud I am of you!”
