NAVASOTA—Losing 2-0 in their Regional Finals series opener with Weimar on Wednesday evening, it seemed as if everything was going to plan for the Lady Dogs.
After all, they lost 2-1 in their first game with Ganado in the Regional Semifinals before battling back with an 11-1 victory in game two and a 6-2 win to advance to the next round. THS coach Lance Betak even said after the series with Ganado that his team seems to take the first couple of innings of game one to learn their opponent.
The same thing happened a week prior in their Regional Quarterfinal series with Latexo, whom they beat 1-0 with a walkoff hit by Karis Ginn in extra innings of game one before run-ruling the Lady Tigers in game two.
However, luck was not in their favor this past Thursday. Thornd a l e o p e n e d up game two with consecutive base hits from Emilee Baker and Natalie Garcia. But even with a Raeghan Carlson line drive to left field, the Lady Dogs concluded the inning with no runs and left the bases loaded.
Things started to look up for THS in the third as a Bailee Baker single with two outs led to Garcia scoring the first run of the game, putting Thorndale up 1-0. The lead was short-lived as Bossier Parish signee Skylar Heger brought in Malarie Mican from second on a line drive single to tie the game. The Lady Cats took the lead three batters later when Chloe Girfaldo scored on a hard hit ground ball by Paige Pavlu to put WHS up, 2-1.
After the third, the Lady Dogs struggled at the plate with only two runners getting on base over the course of the next three innings. THS had a resurgence in their final at-bat, filling up the bases with Garcia, Baker and Kovar but came up short as Carlson struck out and Baker lined out to center field, ending Thorndale’s chances of returning to state for the first time since 2019.
“We had no luck at all,” Betak said. “Bailee Baker hit the ball as well as anyone in this series, and two of the balls that she hit, the center fielder had to dive and catch them. If they don’t catch them, (we score) two or three runs.”
Garcia led Thorndale with three of the team’s eight hits. Kovar had two in her final high school softball game while Carlson and Bailee Baker each had one.
Ginn struck out five in six innings and allowed four hits. Weimar’s Reagan Wick struck out 10 in seven innings and allowed eight hits.
GAME ONE—One day earlier in Mumford, the Lady Dogs fell to Weimar, 2-0, after the Lady Cats racked up three hits that scored two runners.
THS left the bases loaded in the top of the first and left two runners stranded in the sixth inning.
Bailee Baker led at the plate with two hits while Carlson, Kovar, Emilee Baker and Landri Martinka had one hit apiece.
Ginn struck out two and allowed eight hits in seven innings. Wick retired seven batters and gave up six hits in seven innings thrown.
SENIORS—Thorndale’s series with Weimar was the final time for Reagyn Trahan, Kelsey Kovar and Emilee Baker to don the Lady Dog maroon-and-gold as all three graduated this past Saturday.
All three are signed to play softball collegiately, but hold Thorndale softball in high regard.
For Baker, who will be at Texas State in the fall, playing for the Lady Dogs was unlike any experience she’d ever had before.
“Being an athlete in Milam County is one thing, but representing Thorndale is different,” Baker said. “You hustle on and off the field, you leave things better than how you found them and you do the right thing no matter who’s around.”
Baker said these standards were set as a freshman by upperclassmen such as Madison Flores and Ashton Kiesling.
“Our difference begins with the teachers, fans and the community holding us accountable as well,” she also said. “It’s a tradition unlike any other I have been a part of before. Everyone is on your side and providing the best opportunities for you to succeed.”
She also thanked Coach Betak, who she said opened up a new love for the game that she had no idea she could have.
Even though the Lady Dogs only lose three seniors and have Division I signees Carlson (North Carolina) and Garcia (Texas A&M-Corpus Christi) slated to return next season, Betak emphasized that Baker, Trahan and Kovar will be very difficult to replace.
SEASON—The Lady Dogs finished the season as Co-District 27-2A Champions with an overall record of 22-9. THS made it five rounds deep defeating Harper, Nomangee, Latexo and Ganado before making it to the Regional Finals.
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