H.S. Softball: Young's homer lifts El Paso Hanks over Abilene High in series' opener
FORT STOCKTON – Madison Young’s two-out, three-run home run capped a five-run sixth inning and lifted El Paso Hanks to a dramatic 7-6 victory over Abilene High in the opener of the Region I-5A area softball playoff series Friday.
Desirae Spearman led off the sixth with her second homer of the game, and the Lady Knights (35-1) pushed across another run before Young’s game-winning blast − her team's fourth homer in the contest.
Game 2 of the best-of-three series is at 11 a.m. Saturday at Fort Stockton. If needed, a third game follows.
The winner plays the Wylie-El Paso Parkland winner in the region quarterfinals. Wylie leads that series 1-0 after a 22-1 win on Friday.
Spearman and Judith Osuna broke open a scoreless game with back-to-back homers with two outs in the third inning.
Abilene High (27-6) stormed back to score three runs in the fourth and three more in the fifth for a 6-2 lead.
Mariah Estrada hit a two-run double in the fourth, and Aubriana Camacho, running for Estrada, scored on an error after Emeri Burnett singled.
Tea Jimenez led off the fifth with a homer, while Kayley Washington hit a two-out, RBI single, and Estrada followed with an RBI double.
But Hanks rallied to deal AHS its first loss in the postseason.
Diana Silva, AHS’ starter, allowed seven runs on six hits. She struck out seven and walked one in 5⅔ innings.
Spearman went the distance in the circle for Hanks. She gave up six runs on seven hits. Spearman struck out 11 and walked three.
This article originally appeared on Abilene Reporter-News: El Paso Hanks upends Abilene High in Region I-5A area softball opener
