TGCA Softball Poll May 17, 2011

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May 17, 2011

Class 3A

1. Paris North Lamar
2. Henderson
3. Columbia
4.. Celina
5. Lubbock Cooper
6. Robinson
7. Huntington
8. Lucas Lovejoy
9. La Grange
10t. Bandera
10t. Burkburnett

Comments: La Grange took down Bridge City 13-6 and 9-3 while the Lucas Lovejoy Lady Leopards (27-2) beat Pilot Point in Game 1 of the Regional Quarterfinals 1-0 with a solo home run by Brooke Puckett and Brittany Lewis pitching a one-hitter. The 2nd game on Friday, the Lady Leopards beat Pilot Point to win the Regional Quarterfinal 6-3 led by home runs by Sammi Curry and Amanda Gray. Huntington eliminated second ranked Rusk to move into the top ten; Huntington claimed the deciding game 8-5. Claudia Cantu had four RBI while Taylor Norris tripled and Shelby Carter doubled to each go 3-for-4 in Celina's 14-0 five-inning win over district-mate Anna. Lindsie Knowles and Katelyn Drummond had two RBI apiece for Celina (29-6-3), joining Cantu at 2-for-4 with a double. Drummond also allowed only one-hit and struck out five. Olivia Braddock and Paige Mongillo each added a double, Norris also drove in two and Carter had an RBI for Celina. Robinson ousted Groesbeck and plays Liberty who beat Sealy 5-3 in a one game playoff. North Lamar beat North Forney in three and Bandera edged La Vernia in three games.

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Class 5A

1. The Woodlands
2. Plano
3. Tomball
4. Houston Bellaire
5. Keller
6. El Paso Americas
7. Pearland
8. Katy Taylor
9. San Benito
10t. San Antonio O'Connor
10t. Belton

Comments: San Antonio O’Connor beat New Braunfels and Austin High out-scored Tomball 12-9 in game one but Tomball rallied to win the next two games. No drama for unbeaten Woodlands as they rolled on. In Houston Bellaire and Pearland both won to setup a series while Katy Taylor also advanced to the regional level. Up north, the top teams advanced to the Region Semi-finals. The big series was a repeat of last year’s Region 1 Finals between Plano (33-3) and last year’s Region 1 champion, Hebron (29-13-1). Last year it took all 21 innings to decide the winner. This year, it took 27 innings. In the first game, Hebron proved it’s hard to beat a good team three times in a row. Hebron jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the 2nd inning on two hits including a double by Hebron senior Kathryn Hollingsworth. The next inning, Plano almost tied the game, but Hebron’s defense got the close plays, scored again in the 6th, and recorded the 2-0 win. Their first loss in 20 games, Plano refused to go down. The second game lasted 3 1/2 hours and went 13 innings before Plano loaded the bases with the game tied 1-1. Plano junior Ashley McDowell took a 2-0 pitch deep to right center to score the walk-off RBI single as Plano rebounded 2-1 to tie the series at one game each. The third and deciding game moved into a scoreless second inning when Plano junior Jill Holub put a rise ball well past the left field fence. Hebron sophomore pitcher Chelsea Herndon replaced Hebron pitcher and Baylor pledge Stearns and held the game at 1-0 until the 5th inning. In that inning, Plano junior pitcher Kat Batey, who threw all 27 innings, hit a two-run homerun to put Plano up 3-0. Hebron added two in the 6th, but Plano held on for the 3-2 win to take the series. Plano junior pitcher Kat Batey now holds a career pitching record of 50-5. Across town, Keller (25-5-1) and Flower Mound Marcus (21-12-1) battled in a three-game series that saw Keller take the first game 2-1 on a late inning score. The second game went down to the last innings as well. Down 2-1 in the 6th, Flower Mound Marcus tied the game 2-2 on hits by seniors Devon Wallace and Danielle Blocker. In the 7th, Keller loaded the bases before Keller’s Bailee Kaderka drew a walk to score the go ahead run. Marcus put a runner on in the bottom of the 7th, but Keller’s defense helped senior pitcher Katie Ramsey close the game 3-2 on a double play. In West Texas, Weatherford (24-9) battled Odessa Permian (26-10) at ACU. The teams battled in a scoreless game as neither team made a threat thru the first five innings. In the 6th, Weatherford senior pitcher and Louisiana Lafayette pledge Jordon Wallace decided the game on one swing. After Odessa Permian walked Makayla Baeze, Weatherford batter Kelsey Horton beat out a bunt to put runners on 2nd and 3rd. An Odessa Permian miscue loaded the bases for Wallace who hit the grand slam home run for the games only scoring. Weatherford has won all three playoff rounds in single game format. In a rematch of last year’s Bi-District series, Americas (35-3) ranked 28th by ESPN Rise, played Midland (25-15) and swept the series. In the first game, pitcher Taylor Grohmann shut out Midland 2-0. Americas scored both runs in the top of the 1st off of a single by Jade Rodriguez. Rodriguez pitched the second game and held Odessa to 1 hit thru six innings. In the 4th, Americas loaded the bases on two hits and a walk before Maria Olivas scored two RBIs on a sacrifice to right field. Americas, with 9 hits, added another run in the 6th and won 3-1. In the Region 1 Semi-Finals, Plano draws Weatherford and Keller Draws Americas. In Region 2, Mesquite Horn took the first game in a three-game series against Belton 5-1. Belton responded by winning both games Friday 2-1 and 3-1 as Belton pitcher Allison Boston went the distance in the three games.

Class 4A

1. Dripping Springs
2. Corpus Christi Moody
3. Burleson
4. Frisco Wakeland
5. Canyon Randall
6. Waco Midway
7. Huntsville
8. Hallsville
9. Frisco Centennial
10t. New Braunfels Canyon
10t. Montgomery
10t. Denton Ryan

Comments: In a battle of top ten teams, Dripping Springs blanked Smithson Valley 1-0. Number 12 Hallsville toppled top ranked Elgin in 4-2 and 1-0 in eight innings while Frisco Centennial won best of 3 series against Rockwall 7-0 and 9-1. In a battle of two teams that have both been to the state tournament in recent years, the Cougarettes of New Braunfels Canyon unloaded on Vista Ridge 11-1. Denton Ryan and Waco Midway continued their winning ways and meet this round. Dripping Springs and Corpus Christi Moody meet this round in a battle of 1 vs. 2. Forney eliminated Royse City.

Class 2A

1. Danbury
2. Santa Gertrudis Academy
3. Wall
4. Wichita Falls City View
5. Alpine
6. Mineola
7. Crawford
8. Colorado City
9. Jim Ned
10t. Deweyville
10t. Little River Academy

Comments: Danbury defeated Weimar 13-0 in 6 innings last Friday to claim the Area Championship and improving their overall record to 31-3 on the season. Red hot Refugio ran into a buzz saw and got swept by Santa Gertrudis Academy 5-1, 5-4 a week after blanking defending champion George West. Industrial swept Hitchcock then beat Hallettsville 4-1 in a one game to earn a shot at Little River Academy where they fell 16-3. A week after Ozona knocked off Early; Jim Ned turned the trick eliminating Ozona 3-1. The Crawford Lady Pirates defeated Corsicana Mildred 4-0 behind Anabeth Fuller's two hitter in game one and then completed the sweep 8-1 behind two freshmen pitchers Korie Dutschmann and Carrigan Chambers. The Pirates will meet giant slayer City View who continued their hot streak by ousting 2009 champion and 2010 finalist Brock 4-3 and 2-0. In match of great pitchers, both Brock’s Linsey Hays and Ciera Clampitt of City View recorded 29 strikeouts (each). Footnote, Hays collected 19 homeruns her senior season. Ponder was beaten while Alpine, Mineola and Colorado City posted impressive wins.

Class 1A

1. Shiner
2. Sam Rayburn
3. Petrolia
4. Albany
5. Johnson City LBJ
6. Windthorst
7. Mount Enterprise
8. Center Point
9. Grapeland
10t. Blue Ridge
10t. Itasca

Comments: Top ranked Shiner swept North Zulch Shiner 4-3 and 14-4 as pitcher Ashley Shimek improves to 18-0 on the mound. Johnson City beat Falls City 4-3 in a one game winner take all as the top seeds continue to take a beating in 1A. Windthorst eliminated Seymour while Petrolia took down Perrin-Whitt. Sam Rayburn crushed Honey Grove. Mount Enterprise swept Maud and Center Point ousted Charlotte two games to one. Mart edged Thrall in three games while Beckville took down Brookeland.