SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS 2018
The three area softball squads have very different makeups and naturally are approaching the post season from different angles.
The Rockdale Lady Tigers will face Troy, Thursday at 7 p.m. at Rosebud-Lott.
Thrilled to be invited to the party, fourth place Rockdale has not made a post season appearance since 2014 and has not recorded a playoff win since 2013.
“These players have never achieved success in the sport of softball,” said third-year Rockdale Coach Erin Palmer. “Not one player in our program has made playoffs in softball, until this year. So by making playoffs, by achieving our goal, the players can fully grasp what it means, and what it takes, to achieve success. Which will drive them and future programs even harder, so that they too, can achieve success.”
Rockdale is led by Cailey Knighton, who is a force on both the mound and at the plate.
The senior is the Lady Tigers’ top hitter with a .379 average with 17 runs batted in.
On the hill, the senior righthander has fashioned a 10-1 ledger on the season and has logged 35 career wins.
Knighton needs just two strikeouts to become the school’s all-time leader in the category.
Knighton has plenty of support.
Junior Karley Leopold has knocked in 19 runs to lead Rockdale and sports a .333 average with two home runs.
Leopold is also Knighton’s relief on the mound and has logged five wins.
Macey Knesek (.314) and Payton Miller (.275) have both contributed 17 runs batted in.
Knesek has been an effective leadoff hitter, scoring 27 runs.
Sophomore Emily Depine has been a steady presence at the plate, hitting an impressive .343 with nine doubles.
Freshman Mariana Casarez has been a pleasant surprise, chipping in 12 runs batted in.
Thorndale
The Lady Dogs have been ranked No. 1 in Class 2A for the month of April and they are aiming to hang on to that lofty status for a little while longer.
The 23-2-1 Lady Dogs dropped a tune-up game to Academy, 2-1, to stop their winning streak at 21 (not including a 1-1 tie with Killeen Shoemaker).
They take on Louise in the first round Thursday at 7 p.m. n Schulenburg.
“Our team is focused and ready to get the playoffs started,” said Thorn-dale Coach Lance Betak. “We are just hoping to get everyone completely healthy. We have had a couple of injuries lately.
And the No. 1 bullseye on their back?
“I don’t think there is any pressure added by being ranked number one. That is just someone’s opinion. The only thing that matters is what you actually do on the field.”
To say Thorndale dominated district play would be a vast understatement.
The Lady Dogs outscored District 27-2A competition 188-6, including nine shutouts in 14 outings.
Milano, who finished second behind Thorn-dale in league play, provided the Lady Dogs with the most push back in 5-0 and 8-1 losses.
Thorndale has plenty of firepower to go around.
Like Rockdale, the Lady Dogs are guided by their pitcher, Riley White.
White has accounted for 19 of Thorndale victories with a minuscule 0.60 earned run average and 176 strikeouts.
At the plate, White is hitting an impressive .609 with a whopping 46 runs batted in.
Jayci Martinka closely shadows White with a .597 batting average, 29 runs batted in and has crossed the plate 41 times.
Jacey Paulsen is hitting .526 and Allison Betak .519.
Madison Kelm has been a power broker for the Lady Dogs with 35 RBI and a team-high three home runs.
Thorndale rolled up a school-record 26 wins last season after reaching the regional quarterfinals, the furtherest they have ever gone.
Milano
Milano had the daunting task of replacing All-State performers Cashlyne Blake and Naomi Graham and recovered quite nicely, finishing second to juggernaut Thorndale in District 27-2A.
The 13-8 Lady Eagles will take on Flatonia Thursday in LaGrange at 6:30 in the bi-district round.
“We are ready,” said Milano Coach Amanda Keen. “We are excited and we have been improving throughout the season. I am excited to see what this team can accomplish on this playoff run.”
While losing Blake and Graham, the cupboard was definitely not empty for Milano.
Kaylie Poehl has provided the muscle for the Lady Eagles with six home runs and 24 runs batted in while batting .537.
Laynie Bastow has driven in 21 runs, while hitting .424.
Emilie Compton (.446) and Kali Taylor (.407, 14 RBI) have also crossed over the .400 mark and Compton has scored a team-high 35 runs and swiped 10 bases.
Junior Jenna Lewis mans the mound for Milano with a 1.11 earned run average and has struck out 169 batters.
Lewis is also a standout at the plate, featuring a .364 average with 17 runs batted in.
Milano reached No. 3 in the state rankings last season before being knocked out by the No. 1 ranked team Shiner in the regional quarterfinals.
The Lady Eagles posted 25 wins, the most in school history.
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