Small ball helps Boerne topple Alice softball in regional semifinals
JOURDANTON — Boerne had a few strongly hit shots in Thursday's Class 4A regional semifinal one game playoff against Alice.
But it was the softballs they were able to drop perfectly a few feet in front of home plate that provided most of the damage in a 7-2 win to end the Coyotes' season in the fourth round.
The Greyhounds had four bunt singles and two others that wound up as errors, and used small ball to plate two in the first inning to make Alice (29-9) play from behind all night.
The District 31-4A champion Coyotes, which matched their deepest playoff push in school history, scratched across runs in the fourth and the fifth, but a three-run sixth inning from Boerne put the game away and left Alice with too much to overcome in the final frame.
Boerne senior pitcher Ava Rodriguez finished with 13 strikeouts and held Alice to five hits while Coyotes starter Ava Hernandez tallied eight strikeouts, allowing seven runs on 12 hits to cap her high school career.
Merigrace Cantu came up big for the Coyotes in the third and fourth inning, contributing to both Alice runs.
Cristela Trevino, who was 1 for 2 with an RBI when she was hit with the bases loaded, said the Coyotes proved people wrong by winning a challenging district on their way to tying for the best playoff run in program history.
"It means a lot to be on this team," Trevino said. "We all worked hard. No one thought we were going to do it, but we all knew what we needed to do to be district champs. No one believed in us, but we believed in ourselves. When we beat Calallen the second time, we knew we were capable of something good."
Thursday's stars
Alice shortstop Merigrace Cantu, the Coyotes No. 2 hitter, finished 2 for 3 with an RBI triple and scored when Trevino was plunked, reaching in three of four at-bats.
Trevino, Deeandra Maldonado and Hernandez all notched hits for Alice in the contest.
The Coyotes challenged Boerne pitcher Rodriguez the most in the fourth and fifth innings, but Rodriguez answered with big strikeouts to end both frames, to limit the damage.
Rodriguez finished with 13 strikeouts but was held in check by Hernandez at the plate.
Greyhounds catcher Heidi Maytum reached base in all four at-bats, had three hits and broke the scoring open with a two run double in the first inning and followed it with another run-scoring base knock in the third. Boerne's Taylor Wilson also had two hits and Taryn Madlock and and Ava Nieto added two RBI.
They said it
Alice coach Janay Gonzalez on what made the team special this season: "This group was very special. Their bond, their chemistry, their sisterhood, it was all unbelievable. They came together as a team from the beginning of the season to the end. I couldn't be more proud of them. After the first round of district play we knew we could set the tone and could finish out on top. They set it as a goal and they did."
Alice catcher Cristela Trevino on the Coyotes battling all game after falling behind early: "We showed how much heart we have for the game. We tried our best, but just didn't come out with the win tonight."
Alice's Gonzalez on standout pitcher Ava Hernandez's legacy: "Hands down, the best pitcher I've seen come out of Alice. Her work ethic, athleticism ... she is so humble. All-around great kid and a hard worker. I couldn't be more proud of her."
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Small ball helps Boerne topple Alice softball in regional semifinals
