SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS 2018
The No. 1 ranked Lady Dogs continued their dominance by disposing of Snook 8-0 in the Class 2A, Region IV area round of the playoffs at the Rockdale Softball Complex Thursday night in a one-game playoff.
The Lady Dogs now face No. 6 Shiner in the regional quarterfinals Friday in LaGrange at 7 p.m..Shiner blanked Sabine Pass 10-0 in area.
The Lady Comanches have the most softball state tournament appearances in UIL history with 12, and they lead the state with six softball state titles, losing in the final in 2017 to Bells.
Thorndale (24-2-1) has now won its two playoff contests by a total of 27-0.
“Of course, we could not have had a better start, but you would like to still score more runs when you have the opportunity,” said Thorndale Coach Lance Betak, who took some good natured ribbing for misplaying two foul balls in the coaches box. “I thought other than myself, our defense was lights out. There was three spectacular plays in the infield and in the outfield.”
Riley White was again dominant on the mound, chalking up her 20th victory of the season while striking out 11 batters and scattering four hits—all singles.
The righthander fanned six of the first eight batters she faced and allowed just one hit past the third inning. Snook did not get a runner past second base all evening.
“Riley did what she always does on the mound. She pitches great,” Betak said.
Thorndale came out blasting in the top of the first inning, sending 11 batters to the plate and wearing out Bluejay hurler Jaycee Briscoe.
After Jordyne Bigan opened the game with a single to left, Snook committed two errors, followed by consecutive singles from Madison Flores, Madison Kelm, Bailey White and Jacey Paulsen.
In her second plate appearance of the inning, Bigan ripped a triple in the left field gap to plate three runs and pushed the Lady Dogs ahead 7-0.
Thorndale had several opportunities to run-rule the Bluejays, but left nine runners stranded over the next six innings as Briscoe settled down and recorded six strikeouts.
The Lady Dogs posted their eighth run in the fourth inning when Flores coaxed a walk and Paulsen brought her home with a single.
Bigan sparked the 12-hit attack, going 3-for-5 highlighted by the three-run triple.
Hitting out of the ninth hole, Martinka went 3-for-4 with a double and Paulsen was 2-for-4 with a pair of runs batted in. She also turned in a couple of sparkling plays in the field at shortstop including a double play.
Thorndale was able to inflict damage despite the fact its leading hitter Riley
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