Eastwood wins high school softball bidistrict title, here's how the Troopers did it
The UIL softball playoffs are underway in El Paso with the bi-district round. Here is a recap of games this week.
Americas and Eastwood in Class 6A and Ysleta, Hanks, Chapin and El Dorado in Class 5A all won bidistrict championships and advance to the area around.
Saturday's UIL playoff softball games
* In Class 6A, Eastwood won the three-game series from Odessa High by winning the deciding game, 9-8. Gabriela De Anda hit a solo homer in the top of the seventh to give the Troopers the lead. Eastwood lost Game 2 of the series, 5-4. It was De Anda's first homer of the season.
"It was a great win for us and it was nerve wracking," Eastwood pitcher and first baseman Samara Aguilera said. "It feels amazing to move on and achieve what we did. Gabriela is a great hitter and she's stepped up for us in this series. Her home run to put us ahead was the most exciting part of the game."
Eastwood will play Timber Creek next week in the area round.
"We had great energy from everyone and the kids really stepped up and did a great job," Troopers coach Crystal Carrion said. "This team worked hard and we have a great attitude. I'm proud of the effort
* In Class 6A, Eastlake saw its season end with a 5-2 loss to Frenship, which won both games in the series.
* In Class 4A, San Elizario was eliminated by Andrews. The Mustangs defeated the Eagles, 13-1, in the second of the series to earn a sweep.
* In Class 4A, Riverside was swept by Fort Stockton. Riverside lost Game 2 of the series, 8-6.
Friday's UIL playoff softball games
* In Class 5A, Chapin clinched a bi-district championship with a 13-2 win against Canutillo. The Huskies will play Abilene Wylie in the area round.
"I'm really proud of the team," Huskies coach Kevin Mills said. "We worked hard all season long and this team has good chemistry."
Added infielder Briana Montoya: "This has been a great team to be around and we want to keep this season going. We've gotten better as the season has improved."
Chapin will play Abilene Wylie on Friday and Saturday in Odessa.
* In Class 6A, after losing Thursday's series opener, Americas won two games against Abilene High to advance to the area round. Americas won 4-2 and 9-3. Mia Perez won both games in the circle and finished with 24 strikeouts in the three games. Sydney Saenz, Sabrina Carrillo and Christynne Sepulveda had key hits for the Trailblazers, who own a bi-district championship for the second straight year.
"Our kids fought hard and battled," Americas coach Roxanne Luna said. "We have goals we want to achieve this year and our kids are so focused on achieving those goals."
Americas will play Keller next Friday and Saturday at Lubbock Cooper High School in an area round matchup.
* In Class 6A, Eastwood defeated Odessa High, 4-2, in the opener of its series in Van Horn. Samara Aguilera was the winning pitcher with nine strikeouts. She also hit a home run. Miranda Guillen added a three-run home run for the Troopers, who will attempt to close out the series on Saturday.
* In Class 6A, Pebble Hills was swept by Midland High. After losing 6-1 on Thursday, the Spartans lost 5-2 at home.
* In Class 6A, Wolfforth Frenship defeated Eastlake, 14-2, in the opener of a three-game series. Game 2 is Saturday followed by a Game 3 if necessary.
* In Class 4A, Clint lost 12-0 to Midland Greenwood. The two teams continue the series on Saturday. The Lions will need to beat the Rangers twice to advance.
Thursday's UIL playoff softball games
* El Dorado clinched a Class 5A bi-district championship for the second straight year with an 11-2 win against Burges. The Aztecs scored 21 runs in both wins in the playoff series.
Vanessa Solis was the winning pitcher and hit a two-run homer. Shortstop Jackie Schmidt had three hits and an RBI, and Vivian Salinas reached base three times and drove in a run to lead El Dorado's offense.
"It was a great win for us. We've been through a lot this year, but we pulled through again and it feels good to advance in the playoffs," Schmidt said.
El Dorado has won back-to-back bi-district titles for the first time in school history. The Aztecs play Lubbock Monterey or Plainview in the area round next week at a time and location to be determined this weekend.
"We're excited to be moving on," Solis said. "It was a team win. Jackie played a great game on defense and had some big hits for us."
El Dorado faces Lubbock Monterey next Friday and Saturday in Fort Stockton in a three-game series.
* Hanks defeated Jefferson, 23-0, to advance to area in Class 5A. The Knights will play either Lubbock Cooper or Canyon Randall next week. The Knights scored nine runs in the first inning and 10 in the second. Elizabeth Clemente doubled in two runs, Kyndell Garcia drove in three runs, Judith Osuna had five RBI and Alejandra Salazar drove in three runs to lead the Knights.
"We played well," Osuna said. "We've been focused on all season on the mental part of the game, the spiritual part of the game and the physical part. We play as one team, we support each other and we have high expectations. It's been a great team to be around and we push each other to be the best we can be."
Hanks will play Canyon Randall next week in the area round. * Chapin won the first game of its three-game series against Canutillo, 12-2 in Class 5A. The two teams play Game 2 at 5 p.m. Friday. Michelle Perez was the winning pitcher and struckout nine. Briana Montoya led the Chapin offense with three hits and two home runs and Itzel Valles added a home run.
The Huskies will play Abilene Wylie in the area round next week.
* In Class 6A, Pebble Hills lost 6-1 to Midland High in Midland. Midland pitcher Alex Aguilar allowed two hits with 13 strikeouts. Pebble Hills catcher Riley Cassiday spoiled Aguilar's no-hitter in the seventh with a two-out single. The two teams play Game 2 of the three-game series at 5 p.m. Friday at Pebble Hills.
* In Class 6A, Americas lost 8-7 to Abilene High in Fort Stockton in Game 1 of the three-game series. Americas rallied from a 5-0 deficit to take a 7-5 lead into the bottom of the seventh. Sydney Saenz led Americas with a three-run homer in the sixth. But Abilene High scored three in the bottom of the seventh to win the game. The series continues Friday in Fort Stockton.
Mia Perez added three hits and Annika Ruiz added two hits for Americas.
* In Class 4A, Fabens' season came to end with a 20-2 loss to Monahans.
* In Class 4A, San Elizario lost 10-0 to Andrews in Andrews. The two teams resume the three-game series Saturday at San Elizario.
* In Class 3A, Anthony saw its season end with a 20-0 loss to La Mesa.
Wednesday UIL playoff softball games
* Hanks won the first of a three-game series against Jefferson, 18-3. The two teams play Game 2 on Thursday night at Hanks. Bianca Gomez earned the win for Hanks and on offense Mia Bailey drove in two runs on two hits, Desirae Spearman hit a home run, and Priscilla Medina and Elizbeth Clemente each had three hits to lead Hanks.
* Ysleta defeated El Paso High, 16-0, to win the one-game playoff and advances to meet Amarillo High or Lubbock Coronado in the area round next week. Anally Trejo was the winning pitcher with eight strikeouts. Offensively Anissa Rodriguez had five RBI and scored two runs and Elvia Yepez had four RBI. Ysleta will face Amarillo High in the area round.
* El Dorado defeated Burges, 10-7, in Game 1 of the three-game series. Game 2 is at noon Thursday at Burges. Jackie Schmidt drove in three runs and Carmen Vargas drove in two runs to lead the Aztecs offense.
More: See a list of which El Pasoans have found success in college baseball
Felix F. Chavez may be reached at 915-546-6167; fchavez@elpasotimes.com; @Fchavezeptimes on Twitter.
This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso softball teams begin play in 2022 UIL playoffs
