The Hays softball team has reeled off three straight district wins, outscoring its opponents 30-4, to clinch a playoff spot after a 2-4 start in District 27-4A play. (photo by Cyndy Slovak-Barton)
By JASON GORDON
After starting off the District 27-4A season looking like it might be an uphill battle to get into the playoffs, the Hays softball team has rallied in a big way.
The Lady Rebels won their third straight district matchup Thursday against Clemens by a score of 6-2 to clinch a potseason spot in the process.
Hays, which started the district season 2-4, has now won three straight 27-4A games, outscoring its opponents by a combined margin of 30-4.
“Clinching a playoff spot feels great,” Hays head coach Aaron Fuller said. “Especially in this tough district, but we’ve still got work to do. Making the playoffs was only one goal of ours. Now we want to finish district strong and then win a playoff series and see how far we can go.”
Thursday night against Clemens, Kelsea Sadler had three runs batted in, and Sarah Leal, Julia Montoya and Gabi Albarez all had an RBI apiece for the Lady Rebels.
McKinna Kinsey had a triple and two runs scored, and Leal, a sophomore, gave up no earned runs in the pitching circle, striking out 11 Clemens batters to earn a dominating victory.
“Sarah has done beyond what anyone expected of her and has really pulled through for us this year,” Sadler said. “She has been an essential part of every game for us this season, especially Clemens. I can only imagine what she’ll do for this team over the next couple of years.”
Two days before the Clemens win, Hays dismantled Alamo Heights 19-0, run-ruling the Mules in four innings.
“Against Alamo Heights, I saw the team I thought we could be all year,” Fuller said. “We were hitting the ball all over the place and our pitching was rock solid. We are getting hot at the right time, as the district season is winding down and the playoffs are getting close.”
Against the Mules, Maddy Shannon had four hits, three doubles and scored three runs for Hays, Kinsey also had four hits and scored four runs, Hannah Ramsey had a double, a triple and six runs batted in, Haleigh Madden and Clarissa Gonzalez both had three hits and three runs scored and Leal had two hits, including a triple, and scored two runs.
“We finally have everybody healthy and we came back fighting after a tough start to district,” Sadler said. “We had our eyes opened and realized it would take a lot more heart to clinch a playoff spot. We accepted the challenge and have been focusing on every game like the playoffs were on the line. We’ve finally started performing like we’re capable of and I’m extremely excited to see how the rest of the season and playoffs goes.”
Hays next plays at Lockhart Tuesday night. First pitch is scheduled for 7 p.m. Hays returns home to face Canyon April 17 before finishing the regular season at Smithson Valley April 20.
