All photos by Hassan Abushaaban.

The Memorial Mustangs and the Chavez Lobos battled it out at Barnett Stadium Friday night in the 5A bi-district softball playoffs.  Memorial entered the game with a season record of 21-10, fresh off their undefeated run through District 19-5A, while Chavez, who claimed fourth place in District 20–5A, came into the contest at 8-9 on the year.

The Mustangs struck early, as a lead-off base hit by center-fielder Leslie LeJune sparked a four-run first inning for Memorial.  Starting pitcher Hannah Gentry held the Lobos scoreless in the bottom half, with a 1-2-3 inning.

Chavez pitcher Rebecca Villareal had a stronger showing in the second inning, coaxing the first two batters she faced into ground-outs.  The third Mustang batter of the inning, third baseman Brittany Chaney, reached on a walk and stole second before second baseman Meghan Slattery grounded out to third to end the frame for the Mustangs.  Gentry managed a quick first out in the bottom of the second before giving up a centerfield single to Chavez left-fielder Jessica Figueroa.  However, the Lobos’ first baseman Sara Nuncio grounded into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning with Memorial still on top, 4-0.

In the top of the third inning, Memorial pushed their lead to nine runs off RBIs from LeJune, Madison Shofner, and Glynn Kaplan, to go along with two runs scored on wild pitches.  After a fly-out and a ground-out in the bottom of the third, Gentry walked Chavez right-fielder Marissa Morin and gave up a single to shortstop Marie Ruiz before striking out center-fielder London Martin to end the side.

The fourth inning went much like the third for the Mustangs, as catcher Suzanne Beltran led off with a double to center field.  A walked batter, a hit batter, and several wild pitches set the table for Memorial to plate three more runs before the end of the frame.  Meghan Slattery took the mound for the Mustangs in the bottom of the fourth in relief of Gentry and held the Lobos to another 1-2-3 inning, with two strikeouts and a groundout.

Villareal held Memorial to only one base runner in the top of the fifth, as Beltran reached on an error, while Slattery, Blanche Schwabenland, and Ashlin Aldinger grounded out, heading to the bottom of the inning.  Knowing the mercy rule was in effect, Slattery did not let up and sat the Lobos down in order in the bottom of the fifth to end the game with a 12-0 Memorial victory.

After the game, Memorial head coach Tina Young was happy with the confidence her team showed.  “I was really pleased with their aggressiveness right from the start,” she said.  “We’ve been a slow-starting team, but they came out ready to play from the beginning and never let up.”

Memorial will play the winner of Cy-Creek vs. Katy in the next round, and Young is looking forward to it.  “We lost in the playoffs to Cy-Creek two years ago and lost to Katy last year, so we’re excited to get to play one of those teams again,” she said.

Stay tuned to The Athlete’s Connection for more information as the area round pairings are announced. 

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