The Dripping Springs Tiger softball team took care of the Harlandale Indians in the first round of the playoff by sweeping the Indians in two games.
With the win, the Tigers, currently the 3rd ranked team in Class 5A, advance to play the San Antonio Southwest Dragons in a one-game, winner-take-all area round matchup 7 p.m. Thursday at Texas State’s Bobcat Stadium.
After winning the first game of the bi-district series 7-0 on the road, the Tigers returned to Dripping Springs vying to complete the sweep over the Indians. Harlandale, however, did not make it easy.
The Indians put pressure on Tiger starting pitcher Kyndall Womack right out of the gate, working the bases loaded in the first inning. An infield single and a sacrifice fly later, and the visiting Indians held an early 2-0 advantage.
The Tiger lineup continued to struggle the first time through but managed to scratch across a run in the second frame off a Jayna Reid single to left that scored Jessica Gonzales. It was only a matter of time, however, before Tiger bats got to Harlandale’s starting pitcher.
Womack settled in and recorded back-to-back scoreless innings for the Tigers; Dripping Springs’ offense backed her up. Back-to-back run-scoring singles from Ryann Campbell and Bailey Hudgeons got the ball rolling offensively. Gonzales took that momentum and ran with it and laced a two-run double to extend the Tiger lead to 6-2 through three innings of play.
Dripping Springs stayed hot in the fourth frame. Senior Camille Corona came in to score on Womack’s squeeze bunt. Reid brought in Womack and one other when she tripled down the right field line. Tiger Mackenzie Pirepoint scored Reid on an RBI sacrifice fly.
Putting the cherry on the top of the big inning for the Tigers was Izzy Bermudez, who launched a solo homerun to left centerfield. When it was all said and done, the Tigers had scored ten runs in two innings. Those runs provided a cushion for Womack and pitcher Logan Hulon, who teamed up to keep the Indians scoreless the rest of the way. Dripping Springs won 12-2 and swept the series.
Dripping Springs head coach Wade Womack’s squad is riding high, having advanced to the next round. Womack said he feels they have the tools to be a real threat as they continue to battle through the playoffs.
“Offensively, we have hit the ball well, really well, with power all year long,” Womack said. “Logan’s been solid all year long, Kyndall’s been solid all year long. We are going to need them both as we continue in the playoffs.”
The Tigers will face the Southwest Dragons in the area round. The Dragons finished second in District 28 and have an overall record of 32-6-1. They come in having swept Alamo Heights in their first playoff series.
