Making its fourth consecutive trip to the region final round, the Whitesboro softball team knew what it took to get to the next level.
After all, the Lady Cats were back-to-back region champions. But Mineola was standing in the way last weekend and the Lady Jackets made their presence sting.
Mineola (28-7-2) swept Whitesboro (28-11) last weekend by the scores of 11-0 and 8-4. The Lady Jackets faced Iowa Park in a best-of-three Class 3A-Division II semifinal series at Walnut Grove High School in Prosper with the winner advancing to the state championship game Thursday, May 28, in Austin.
GAME ONE
MINEOLA 11, WHITESBORO 0 (6)
Mineola pitcher Jadelyn Marshall kept Lady Cats batter in check during the Lady Jackets’ 11-0 victory May 14, at Caddo Mills High School. The game ended in the sixth inning because of the 10-run rule.
Marshall gave up one hit and two walks – all to Avery Howerton – and struck out eight. Mineola also scored five runs on three hits and two errors in the top of the first to take a 5-0 lead that would not be relinquished.
The Lady Jackets scored a run each in the third and fifth, and three more in the sixth. Howerton (1-1, 2 BB) led Whitesboro at the plate.
GAME TWO
MINEOLA 8, WHITESBORO 4
The Lady Cats’ bats couldn’t keep up in a season-ending 8-4 loss May 15. Whitesboro recorded seven hits – just one less than Mineola recorded.
A trio of hits allowed the Lady Jackets to take a 2-0 lead after one inning of play. Kennadi Fuller drove in a run on a fielder’s choice to trim the deficit to 2-1 before the Lady Jackets struck again with a run in the bottom of the frame.
Breighlin Rupert hit a two-run double to tie the game at 3 in the top of the third. The score remained the same until Mineola used a walk, a triple and a sacrifice fly to take a 5-3 lead after four innings of play.
The Lady Jackets added to the lead with a two-run home run in the fifth and a solo home run in the sixth. Cameron Ortiz recorded an RBI on a fielder’s choice for the Lady Cats’ final run of the season.
Ortiz (2-4, RBI) and Rupert (2-4, 2B, 2 RBI) led Whitesboro at the plate. Fuller (0-3, RBI), Howerton (0-2, 2 BB), Reagan Downs (1-4), Fallon Perkins (1-2, BB) and Kaydence Thomas (1-2, SAC) also contributed.