Atascocita tops New Braunfels Canyon
Humble Atascocita scored three runs without a hit in the bottom of the sixth inning to claim its first UIL Class 6A state softball championship with a 5-3 win over New Braunfels Canyon Saturday night at McCombs Field.
“These girls never quit. They play to the end and take whatever break you give them,” Atascocita coach Ashley Boyd said.
Center fielder Lauren Bazan of Atascocita was named championship game most valuable player after scoring a run and collecting two of her team’s six hits.
The Cougarettes (29-2) jumped ahead in the top of the third inning. Rylee Hopper doubled to the left field wall, advanced on a groundout by Mia Macchia and scored when Sydney Belvin reached first on an infield error.
Atascocita staged a tworun rally in the fifth inning. The Eagles loaded the bases with no outs on walks to Skylar Wilabay and Lillie Grotenhuis and a single by Bazan. Canyon reliever Aliyah Pritchett then stuck out two. Lesley Miranda hit a grounder up the middle, and second baseman Sydney Owens made a diving stop, but Miranda was safe on the infield hit and Wilabay scored. A wild pitch brought another run across to give Atascocita a 2-1 lead.
The contest got even more dramatic in the Canyon sixth inning as Pritchett walked to lead off and was bunted to second by Brooke Vestal. Owens singled to center, and Pritchett attempted to score from second but collided with the Atascocita catcher, who was called for blocking the plate. Meanwhile, Owens raced to third base, and then she scored when Bailey Zibelin doubled just inside the third base bag.
Canyon’s normally reliable defense slipped in the bottom of the sixth. Bryanna Bell walked against Pritchett, who was relieved by starting pitcher Vestal. The next two Eagle hitters, Macie Pampell and Wilabay, attempted sacrifice bunts, and in both cases Canyon tried unsuccessfully to get the lead runner. That left Atascocita with the bases loaded and no outs.
Bell scored on a wild pitch to tie the game, and Pampell came in on a sacrifice fly by Grotenhuis. Wilabay scored on the second wild pitch of the inning to make it 5-3.