25 years later, another crown
Lady Cats celebrate silver anniversary with more gold thanks to Garcia’s gem, six-run first
AUSTIN — Once Aaliyah Garcia struck out Corpus Christi Calallen’s final batter, she stood at the edge of the circle, placed her hands on her hips and stood still as a rush of purple-clad players closed in on her.
The moment after Angleton’s 8-1 victory Saturday at McCombs Field embodied the kind of sigh of relief that is appropriate once the weight of a 25-year drought has been lifted.
The Lady Cats are champions once again, lifting the Class 5A state softball trophy soon after the dogpile.
“We always see their banner up at our school and 1994 was so long ago,” said Garcia, referring to the last softball state title at Angleton before Saturday’s triumph. “And we’re always like, ‘It’d be so nice to come back and do it,’ and it was exactly 25 years this year. So we were like ‘Let’s do it, exactly on the anniversary.’ ”
Angleton went through the fire to honor the 1994 team in the best way possible. Five of its last seven playoff games were decided by one run and none was as heartstopping as Friday’s 11-inning 7-6 semifinal win over defending champion Forney.
Saturday’s victory lends perspective to the inside-the-park home run by Angleton shortstop Danieca Coffey in Friday’s semifinal that saved the Lady Cats’ season. The play tied the game at six after an eighth-inning two-run homer from Trinity Cannon, which gave Forney a late 6-4 lead.
Coffey said she was actually crying after Cannon’s home run Friday. But she was all smiles after she tied that game and, of course, the smile was even wider by Saturday evening.
“I was like ‘I did not want to be the third out of the game’ and then (Angel Jasso) got on base before me,” said Coffey, reminiscing on Friday’s play. “Then, I was like ‘Well let me just hit the ball so I’m not out No. 2.’ I just hit it and was running as fast as possible basically.”
Garcia was another one of the heroes in that Friday thriller with 13 strikeouts and the game-winning RBI. Add another completegame outing Saturday to Garcia’s weekend — just five hits, one run and five walks allowed to go with nine strikeouts against Calallen — and you have the 5A title game MVP.
Garcia was backed by a lineup that opened the first inning with six runs Saturday.
Garcia’s sacrifice fly, Haylie Savage’s two-run single, Mika Hinojosa’s RBI double, Angel Jasso’s RBI made up most of the early outpouring. Savage stole home for the other run. In the sixth inning, Ellie Grill produce a run-scoring single and Mia Scott brought Grill home with an RBI double.
Angleton coach Cindy Rubio was part of the early beginnings of Angleton softball. She’s a 1992 graduate.
Angleton had a softball program in 1990, but the University Interscholastic League didn’t start sanctioning the sport until 1993. Angleton would win a state title the next year, meaning it took 25 years for Rubio to take part in the celebration she missed out on by two seasons.
“To be a part of the beginning of softball there and then be able to come back and have a state championship and be able to have my name with it and be able to do that for the community,” Rubio said, “it’s an awesome feeling.”