Oilers closing in on state tourney goal
Senior-laden squad turns to junior, sophomore for key contributions
It is normal for athletes to play for their teammates, but in the case of a few underclassmen on Pearland’s softball team that desire takes on an extra dimension.
Actually, it takes on 14 extra dimensions.
Junior Ashlynn Walls and sophomore Kaylee Buck have played key roles for the Lady Oilers this season, but if they get their way it is their 14 senior teammates who will get most of the glory.
Pearland is one step away from the state’s biggest stage with this week’s Region III-6A championship series with Katy looming as the final step before the state tournament.
“We have a lot of seniors who want to make their last run a big one and leave an impact on the program,” Buck said.
In order to do that, Pearland will have to eliminate the defending state champion. Alvin almost did that last week, but Katy roared back from a five-run deficit in the final two innings of the series’ second game to force a decisive game, which it won.
Pearland (29-6-1) survived a comeback attempt of its own in the decisive game against Seven Lakes. Several seniors, including pitcher Alyssa Denham and Sydney Gutierrez made critical plays down the stretch to clinch the victory.
“It was very nerve wracking, but it was the perfect playoff atmosphere,” Walls said. “I know the fourth round is a big round. We all wanted it very bad. We stuck to the game plan and things fell our way.”
The Lady Oilers gained lots of confidence from their third-round sweep of Deer Park. The Lady Deer entered the series ranked among the nation’s best and already had beaten Pearland, 8-0, during the regular season.
Pearland didn’t flinch. They entered the series expecting to win. The Lady Oilers will do the same this week. The series opener is scheduled or 7 p.m. Thursday at Tompkins. The second game will be played at 6 p.m. Friday at Manvel. If a third game is necessary it will follow on Friday.
Both teams have talent on their side, but Pearland has a little bit more. All 14 Lady Oiler seniors have signed with college teams, including x with Division I universities. The Division I-bound players are Gutierrez (Georgia), Denham (Louisiana-Lafayette), Madison Clements (Stephen F. Austin), Aileen Garcia (UT-Arlington), Megan Hiers (Houston Baptist) and Lindsey Stewart (UT-San Antonio).
A trip to the regional is a big deal, but Walls and Buck said they want to help the senior class go out with a bang by winning the school’s fifth regional championship.
“We have grown up with all of them,” Walls said. “We know how much talent they have and how much they want it. It means a lot to our whole team that we do it for them.” Still alive
A highly anticipated series against Clear Creek last week turned into a dominant performance by Pearland. The Oilers scored a sweep to advance to this week’s regional semifinals against Langham Creek.
All three games will be played at the University of Houston. Thursday’s and Friday’s games begin at 7:30 p.m. If a third game is required it will begin at 1 p.m. Saturday.