Foster, Angleton create playoff atmosphere
RICHMOND — Wednesday became a huge night for District 275A softball well before the Foster parking lot filled to capacity, leaving any stragglers to find any patch of cement they could.
It was big before the earlyarriving baseball crowd next door stood on the top row of the bleachers to catch the action — or simply make room for Angleton fans who couldn’t find a seat elsewhere.
Angleton beat Foster at home three weeks ago, giving the Falcons their first district loss. Then the Wildcats dropped one at Lamar Consolidated last week, putting the state’s 10th-ranked Wildcats and No. 13 Foster back into a first-place tie.
Wednesday settled it. The Falcons’ lead grew to six runs, but they needed to hold on as an Angleton rally fell a run short in the 6-5 Foster win.
The victory puts Foster (29-2, 10-1) in sole possession of first place with one game to go.
“Those are the types of games you’re going to get in the playoffs,” Falcons pitcher Kacie Pryor said. “So to face it beforehand and just get the feel of it prepares you better. And honestly, it just gets you pumped going into the playoffs after a big win like that.”
Softball titans
The Houston area is rich in softball talent and powerful teams. They provide plenty of punch come playoff time, but that doesn’t mean fans have to wait until then or simply get their fill in top non-district matchups.
Some of the best go at it with district titles on the line.
Spring and MacArthur are second and eighth in this week’s Class 6A Texas Girls Coaches Association state rankings and sit atop 15-6A. The Lions swept the series and should be among the favorites in Region II.
No. 12 Kingwood did the same to No. 14 Atascocita in 21-6A. In the nine-team 21-5A, No. 6 Barbers Hill split with No. 24 Crosby.
“This is good and bad,” Foster coach Keely Shuler said. “Every year in the playoffs, teams come with herds and herds of people. So being able to zone them out and just play their game that they’re used to playing is helpful. It was very helpful tonight.”
Tori Tovar drove in the first two Foster runs before the offense nearly hit around in the fifth inning. Brett Coleman delivered the big blow, sending a 2-2 pitch from Aaliyah Garcia over the wall in center. Garcia hit Pryor for the second time the batter before and never recovered. The three-run shot made it 5-0.
Tovar followed with her third hit of the day before Garcia recorded an out. The next two Falcons reached and a wild pitch brought Tovar across.
But Angleton, which didn’t advance a runner past second base through five innings, didn’t go away.
In the sixth, the Wildcats (19-5-1, 9-2) responded with five singles and two runs courtesy of RBI hits by Avery Farr and Daniela Coffey.
Two more singles in the seventh brought up Kelsey Ahart, who cleared the bases with a home run to left and pulled the Wildcats to within a run.
“Having the competition in district is always good, especially going into playoffs,” Angleton coach Cindy Rubio said. “Seeing the good pitching (and) the good hitters are always a plus. I would rather have a district full of Fosters than not.”
‘This is what you want’
The top two seeds from any given district can’t meet in the playoffs until the regional finals. Foster ends the regular season Friday at Lamar Consolidated, which entered this week tied for third with Calhoun. The Falcons won the first meeting 3-0. Angleton finishes at home against Calhoun.
But Wednesday, both walked away with points to improve on and a good test for when the stakes get higher in the weeks to come.
“This is what you want,” Pryor said.