SOFTBALL PLAYOFFS 2018
LAGRANGE—With a half-dozen championship banners in its possession, Shiner brings a certain gravitas with it to any competition and that may have been too much for Thorndale to overcome.
“I think the experience of them being in those types of games was the razor thin difference in the game,” said Thorndale Coach Lance Betak.
The No. 1 Lady Bulldogs were knocked off their lofty perch in a 3-2 loss to No. 6 Shiner Friday evening in the Class 2A Region IV quarterfinals in a classic in front of a standing-room-only crowd.
Thorndale ends the year at 24-4-1, while Shiner (27-5) advances to the regional semifinals to face Sabinal (24-7).
Shiner is the top softball program in the state of Texas, with the most state tournament appearances in history with 12 and most state titles with six, the last coming in 2016. The Lady Comanches fell to Bells in the 2017 state finals.
With the quarterfinals loss, Thorndale matches its longest journey into the state playoffs which came last season when they were knocked out in this round by another state champion, Weimar. The 24 wins posted this season is just one short of the school record set last year.
The Lady Dogs had captured its first two playoff wins by the combined score of 27-0.
“I thought the game against Shiner lived up to the hype,” said Betak. “Most people were predicting and anticipating this matchup all season long and the game did not disappoint. “
Down to its last five outs, Shiner rallied for a pair of runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to snatch a 3-2 lead in which the Lady Bulldogs had no reprise.
Leadoff hitter Cameron Cowen slapped a single to left and then raced home on a Thorndale throwing error to tie the game at 2-all. After an intentional walk to Bethany Nevlud and a fly out, Lauren Haas singled to score Taylor Wenske who had reached on the error for the 3-2 lead.
A walk by Allison Betak in the sixth inning and a single from Madison Kelm in the seventh were unable to rally the Lady Bulldogs. Nevlud struck out the final two batters of the game to secure the victory.
Trailing 1-0, Thorn-dale finally strung together some offense in the fourth to grab a 2-1 lead.
Betak walked and then scored as Riley White ripped a triple to left field and then White scored on a wild pitch. The Lady Dogs never threatened again and mustered just four hits on the evening.
Nevlud fanned eight batters and retired the first 10 batters she faced.
Riley White struck out five batters and allowed six hits, but the Lady Bulldogs committed an uncharacteristic three errors behind her.
Shiner 3, Thorndale 2
Thorndale 000 200 0—2 4 3 Shiner 100 020 X—3 6 0
Kelm and White,R.; Boedecker and Nevlud. W-Nevlud. L-White. 2B-Nevlin, Williams. 3B-White, R. Records—Thorndale 24-3-1, Shiner 27-5.
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