It was sweet revenge for Cinco Ranch, at least for another few weeks.

A game-winning RBI single by Emily Meurer and three solo home runs by senior catcher Meghan Brown helped the Cougars to a 5-4 win over Katy in nine innings Friday night, giving the Cougars their third straight District 18-5A championship.

But this win was much sweeter since it was the Tigers that knocked out the Cougars out of the playoffs last year, while Katy became the state runners-up.

“We beat them every year until regionals last year,” Cinco Ranch coach Kerry Simpson said. “They’re a fun team to play. We get up for them.”

Both teams came up with rallies in the extra innings after being tied 2-2 after seven. Cinco struck first with Brown’s third solo homer to center field to lead off the inning. A two-out RBI double by Allison Tarbox scored Amy Pelton and gave the Cougars a 5-3 lead.

Katy (25-5, 12-2) responded in the bottom of the inning with a leadoff homer to right field by junior catcher Holly Holl. Then after a one-out single by Stacy Dominique and a sacrifice bunt to move her to second base, sophomore outfielder Meagan Tiller hit a bouncer that was booted by second baseman Courtney Buchman that allowed Dominique to score the tying run.

In the ninth, the Cougars again went to work, as shortstop Alex Reynolds led off with a single and moved to second on a sac bunt. Then Meurer hit a double over the centerfielder’s head to score Reynolds for the game-winning RBI. Pitcher Kristen Rumley – who pitched a complete game – then closed out the game in the bottom frame despite giving up a two-out single.

But Simpson gave a lot of credit to her senior catcher for what she did at the plate with her bat and her glove.

“Meaghan did a great job behind the plate calling pitches and hitting home runs,” Simpson said. “You just couldn’t ask for anything more.

“I gave her the game ball, but she gave it to Courtney because she already had some. This shows what kind of attitude they have.”

The Tigers took a 1-0 lead in the first on a RBI single by Dominique. That lasted until the fourth, when Brown took one deep to center to tie the game in the fourth inning. Katy regained the lead in the next inning when outfielder Victoria Culberson hit a comebacker to the mound, but Rumley threw to first in the dirt for an error that allowed a run to score.

Cinco Ranch (23-4, 12-2) got out of the inning by a flyout to centerfielder Jessica Stoelke, who then threw home to Brown to nail Culberson as she was trying to score from third.

“Jessi made a great throw, and I just put the tag on her as tough as I could,” Brown said.

The win means Cinco Ranch will face Cypress Springs in the bi-district round of the playoffs Thursday night at Morton Ranch High School.

Katy will open the playoffs against Cypress Creek.

Simpson feels her team is mentally ready for another deep run in the playoffs, and hopefully a chance to make it to state.

“They got a great attitude. They’re ready to go can go as far as they can,” Simpson said. “They work so hard every week and do everything we need to get done.”

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