San Antonio Express-News (Sunday)
Panthers eliminate Bears, face Judson next
O’Connor’s junior shortstop Leighann Goode didn’t expect to score when she took off from first in a steal attempt. But following a throwing error and misplay in center field, Goode made her way around until she touched home plate.
That run turned out to be the difference in the Panthers’ 4-3 victory against Brennan in eight innings on Friday at Northside Field No. 2.
The win gave O’Connor a third-round series sweep over their District 29-6A rivals as the Panthers (19-3) head to the regional semifinals for the ninth time in program history. The Panthers defeated Brennan 6-3 in the series’ first game on Thursday.
O’Connor next faces Judson (30-1) in the Region IV-6A semifinals. The best-of-3 series begins at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Northside Field No. 2. Game 2 is scheduled for noon Saturday at Judson. If necessary, Game 3 will be 30 minutes after Game 2.
The Panthers earned that chance with Goode’s heady play.
“As soon as I took off, I heard the crowd and my dugout going crazy,” Goode said. “I knew that was our chance to take the game.”
Goode led off the eighth with a single. A.J. Sanchez tried to get her in scoring position, but flied out to first on a bunt try. After that, she went on her steal try, and it worked better than expected. The throw from the catcher sailed into center field and Goode took off for third. After the throw was misplayed in center field, O’Connor coach Caitlyn Bollier sent her home.
“I personally didn’t see the ball,” Goode said. “My coach was telling me to go for it. … I remember seeing the emotions going through because it was a tied ballgame, and I knew I had to do it, especially for our seniors. I just felt the excitement, honestly.”
Junior second baseman Jada Munoz went 2 for 4 and had a two-run homer in the third and a run-scoring single in the first that gave the Panthers a 3-0 lead.
Munoz singled in A.J. Sanchez in the first to open the scoring. Sanchez doubled in the third and scored on Munoz’s homer to left field.
“It was an inside low, and that’s my favorite pitch,” Munoz said. “So as soon as I saw it, I took it and as soon as I hit it, it felt so good off the bat, and I knew it was over.”
The Bears (18-10) cut into the lead in the bottom of the third when Victoria Garza scored from second on an error.
Brennan tied it in the bottom of the sixth when Rebecca Makey and Garza had run-scoring singles.
Brennan missed chances to win it in the bottom of the seventh when the Bears left runners in scoring position. They also had a runner tagged out after getting caught in a rundown between third and home.
That set up the Panthers’ big eighth inning.
“We have a very common, steady mindset,” Munoz said. “We like to stay positive and dwell on the negative. We just stick together as a team.”
Goode and Munoz played a big hand in securing the series when they turned a 4-6-3 double play that ended the game.
“Me and Leighann, we’re very good together,” said Munoz, a junior second baseman who started the double play. “It’s a great feeling. Defense wins games. We know that. We’ve always said that and just as long as we minimize our errors, we’re good to go.”