Kinsey Kackley has had more than her share of hard luck this softball season, but on Thursday the standout pitcher and McKinney Boyd teammates got a big catch that did not get away.
Kackley tossed a shutout as Boyd surprised Flower Mound 2-0 in Game 1 of a best-of-three Class 6A bi-district playoff series at Boyd. Kackley (6-6) had 15 strikeouts while driving in the only run Boyd would need with a RBI single to right in the first inning. Kackley had allowed eight earned runs in her six losses this season.
It’s the 11th time Kackley — a University of Louisiana at Monroe signee — has struck out 14 or more batters in a game this season, and this time it was against the best. Flower Mound (27-2-1) is the top-ranked team in The Dallas Morning News’ Class 6A area poll, but on Thursday the Lady Jaguars managed just four singles in having a 21-game winning streak snapped and was shut out for the first time since a scoreless tie to Denton Guyer on Feb. 26 at Allen.
Game 2 of the series is 6:30 p.m. Friday at Flower Mound High School. Flower Mound must win to extend the series to third and deciding game at 10 a.m. Saturday at The Colony.
Savanna Luther added a solo homer to right in the sixth inning for Boyd (10-16). Flower Mound left the bases loaded in the third inning.
Landrie Harris (17-1-1) had a strong outing in defeat, striking out 11 while allowing three hits and two walks. Flower Mound’s Logan Halleman was the lone multi-hit batter of the game, going 2 for 3.
Denton Guyer edges Hebron
DENTON — In the days leading up to Denton Guyer’s first-round playoff matchup against Hebron, Keith Medford said the key for the Lady Wildcats would be pitching and defense.
And Guyer’s coach wasn’t kidding.
While the Lady Wildcats had plenty of scoring chances on Thursday night, Guyer was only able to scratch across two runs.
But ultimately, that was all they needed, as the Lady Wildcats used a complete-game shutout from Ranci Willis to knock off Hebron 2-0 in Game 1 of the best-of-three Class 6A Region I bi-district series.
“It’s not real glamorous with pitching and defense, but it wins games,” Medford said. “I’m super proud of Ranci. She obviously kept us in the game the whole time. Hats off to Hebron. We were taking some knockout punches. They were doing everything they could do to play us hard. I knew they would. They’ve got great coaching and great players. I knew this wasn’t going to be easy.”
Willis struck out 12 and was untouchable at times, as the Texas Tech signee surrendered just one hit in seven innings.
Guyer’s defense did the rest, playing lights out behind Willis in the field. Third baseman Avery Jefferson was one of the Lady Wildcats who made several highlight reel-worthy plays, making a diving catch in foul ground and fielding a slow-rolling bunt before throwing out the Hebron runner at first.
Guyer (21-3-1), ranked No. 3 in The News’ Class 6A area poll, took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the second, an inning that was sparked by Jefferson’s lead-off single up the middle. She then stole second, and after the Lady Wildcats loaded the bases, Megan Ayala worked a walk to push across a run.
Later in the third with the bases also loaded, senior Kate Moala drove a pitch to the wall in right field for an RBI-single to put Guyer up 2-0.
Willis did the rest, slamming the door on Hebron to put the Lady Wildcats one win away from advancing to the area round.
— Reece Waddell, Denton Record-Chronicle
Euless Trinity upsets Keller
EULESS — Senior pitcher Mackenzie Lucio responded from a disappointing third inning with shutout frames the rest of the way to lead Euless Trinity to a 7-4 victory over Keller in Game 1 of a best-of-3 Class 6A Region I bi-district playoff series Thursday night at Trinity High School.
“This year has definitely been a struggle,’' said Lucio, who missed significant time with an injury to her non-throwing shoulder. “The big thing tonight was not getting down on myself after a bad inning.’'
Lucio, bound for College of the Ozarks, struck out nine, walked one and scattered eight hits.
Trinity (12-15-1), the No. 3 seed from District 3-6A, answered Keller’s four-run outburst in the top of third with four runs in the bottom of the inning to reassume command.
“Based on the quality of the opponent, this is the biggest win in the program’s history,’' said Trinity coach Jeremy Dettmer.
Keller (19-9), runner-up in District 4-6A, is a nine-time state tournament qualifier and four times has gone on to capture the crown. In its last 26 playoff matchups, either series or single games dating back to 2016, it has failed to advance only twice.
It is worth noting that Keller is without two of its key players due to injury. Tessa Galipeau, a Syracuse signee, suffered a dislocated shoulder and Alex Langeliers, bound for Louisiana Lafayette, is out with a quad injury.
Game 2 is scheduled for 7 p.m. Friday at Keller. If needed, Game 3 is set for noon Saturday at Keller. The series winner will advance to the area round against the winner of the El Paso Montwood-Abilene bi-district series.
Trinity grabbed a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning on a bases-loaded groundout by Amariah Smyers.
Keller took a 4-2 lead in the third capped by Marisssa Espinoza’s three-run homer just inside left field foul pole.
Trinity batted around in the bottom of the inning to retake the momentum. Ella Ward delivered the first of her two RBI singles and a Keller throwing error accounted for two more runs.
— Randy Jennings, The Dallas Morning News
In other bi-district games
Prosper 5, Flower Mound Marcus 1: Elissa Griffin struck out 11 in a complete-game as Prosper pulled away in Game 1 of a Class 6A bi-district series pairing up ranked area teams in Prosper. Griffin allowed four hits and two walks.
Prosper (23-3-1), ranked No. 2 in The News’ 6A area poll, pulled ahead on a two-run homer by Elizabeth Moffitt in the third inning. Moffitt and Ayden Allen had two hits apiece for Prosper while Sydney Lewis added a solo homer.
Tori Edwards had a solo homer in the fourth inning for No. 7-ranked Marcus (20-7-1).
Allen 1, Plano 0: Alexis Telford threw a three-hit shutout to win a pitcher’s duel in Game 1 of a Class 6A bi-district series at Allen. Telford had 11 strikeouts with one walk.
Pinch runner Maddie Slaughter scored the game’s lone run on a Plano throwing error with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. Slaughter ran for Taylor Wright, who drew a walk, and stole second to set up the winning score for Allen (24-6-2), the No. 4-ranked team in The News’ 6A area poll.
Jayden Bluitt suffered a hard-luck loss for Plano, throwing a no-hitter in defeat. Pluitt had five strikeouts while allowing one walk.
Keller Timber Creek 7, Hurst L.D. Bell 1: Lauryn Davies drove in three runs as Timber Creek scored a run in every inning except the seventh to pull away in Game 1 in a Class 6A bi-district series at Hurst. Izzy Bojkovic added a solo homer to left in the fifth inning for Timber Creek (24-7-1), the No. 5-ranked team in The News’ Class 6A area poll.
Reese Mitchell pitched four shutout innings with five strikeouts while allowing one hit and one walk for the win. Maddisan Noriega had a triple for Timber Creek while Kyndel McDaniel and Saniya Hill had a double apiece. Mikaela Martin had a RBI double for L.D. Bell (10-9).
Rockwall 22, Rowlett 5: A three-run homer by Ashley Monks sparked a seven-run third inning as Rockwall built a 15-1 lead on its way to Game 2 rout of the Class 6A bi-district series at Rockwall. Rockwall (23-4), ranked No. 6 in The News’ Class 6A area poll, wins the series two games to none and will face No. 9-ranked Mansfield or Belton in the area round.
Carter Smith was 2 for 5 with two RBIs and two stolen bases for Rockwall while Savannah Ford and Ashley Minor drove in three runs apiece. Rockwall was helped by 11 Rowlett errors.
Wylie 8, Mesquite Horn 3: Averie Gunther tossed a two-hitter while adding a two-run triple in the first at the plate as Wylie overpowered Horn in Game 1 of a Class 6A bi-district series at Wylie. Gunther had 13 strikeouts while allowing two walks.
Aubrey Brown and Jordyn Merrett had two hits apiece for Wylie (22-4), the No. 8-ranked team in The News’ 6A area poll, with Brown smacking a RBI double in the second inning. Sydney Murphy added a double for Wylie.
Mansfield 13, Belton 0: Emilee Watkins tossed a five-inning, one-hitter as Mansfield rolled in Game 1 in a Class 6A bi-district playoff series at Belton. Watkins (12-5) had five strikeouts with one walk while going 2 for 4 with two doubles and two RBIs at the plate.
Maddie Escalon went 3-for-3 for Mansfield (23-8-1), the No. 9-ranked team in The News’ 6A area poll, including a two-run single in the first inning. Mansfield scored six runs in the fourth inning, including a three-run homer to left by Zoey Johnson. Emma Mayes added two hits for Mansfield.
Irving Nimitz 11, Arlington Bowie 1: Karina Rodriguez threw a no-hitter as Nimitz rolled and advanced in a one-game Class 6A bi-district series at Grapevine. Rodriguez (20-3-1) had 10 strikeouts while allowing one walk and hitting one batter. Bowie scored its run on an error in the third inning.
Nimitz (20-3-1) broke the game open with five runs in the second inning, capped by a two-run triple by Savannah Robles. Juice Caldwell, Rodriguez and Robles had two hits and two RBIs each with Caldwell and Robles hitting a double and a triple apiece. Nimitz will face either Prosper or Flower Mound Marcus in the area round. Bowie ends its season at 12-11.
Saginaw Boswell 9, Trophy Club Byron Nelson 3: Emma Robertson hit a pair of two-run homers, in the first and fourth innings, as Boswell overpowered Byron Nelson in Game 1 of a Class 6A bi-district series at Trophy Club. Kynley Menchaca and Harleigh Russell had two RBIs for Boswell while Haley Parker had a complete-game win, striking out seven.
Amber Stanic and Lauren Wachowiak had two hits apiece while Avery Couch had a RBI triple for Byron Nelson (14-14).
Southlake Carroll 5, Weatherford 4 (8): Lillian Cooper had a huge game, going 5 for 5 with three RBIs, including the game-winner on a two-out single in the bottom of the eighth inning as Carroll won a thriller in Game 1 of a Class 6A bi-district series at Southlake. Cooper also forced the extra inning with a RBI double in the seventh after Weatherford scored two runs on an error in the top of the frame. Cooper had two doubles for Carroll (17-12).
Cameron Timmons (11-9) added three hits and pitched a complete game for the win. Anna Hunt added two doubles for Carroll.
Mansfield Lake Ridge 7, Copperas Cove 2: Chloe Jones struck out 10 in a complete-game win to keep Copperas Cove at bay in Game 1 of a Class 6A bi-district series at Whitney. Jones allowed five hits and one walk.
Raigan Brannon had a two-out, two-run double in the first inning for Lake Ridge (16-11-1).
Colleyville Heritage 1, Granbury 0: Lindsey McConnell pitched a two-hit shutout as Colleyville Heritage edged Granbury edged Granbury in Game 1 of a Class 5A bi-district series at Colleyville. McConnell had six strikeouts while allowing seven walks for Colleyville Heritage (25-7-2), the top-ranked team in The News’ Class 5A/Others area poll.
Jalie Neff drove in the game’s only run with a two-out triple to right in the first inning.
Prosper Rock Hill 12, Frisco Reedy 3: Taylor Hagen went 4 for 4 with three doubles as Rock Hill overpowered Lovejoy to complete a two-game sweep of a Class 5A bi-district series at Rock Hill. Rock Hill (24-6), ranked No. 3 in The News’ Class 5A/Others area poll, broke the game open with four runs in the second inning, including RBI singles by Emily Alvarez and Emma Klaire Hill, who had three hits with a triple and two RBIs.
Hagen also pitched five innings for the win as Rock Hill got its first series win in school history and advances to the area round to face Woodrow Wilson or Sunset. Reedy ends its season at 13-7.
Mansfield Legacy 11, Saginaw 5: Isabella Valenzuela and Elisabeth Gaudio had a two-run double each as part of a five-run second inning as Legacy pulled away from Saginaw in Game 1 of a Class 5A bi-district series at Saginaw. Gaudio finished with four RBIs with a triple while Isabella Delarosa had three hits for Legacy (16-4), the No. 10-ranked team in The News’ Class 5A/Others area poll.
Lucy Ballard pitched five innings for the win while adding two hits at the plate. Alyssa Smith had two hits with a triple for Saginaw.
Frisco Memorial 3, Wylie East 1: Maddie Muller struck out nine in a complete-game win and Memorial scored three runs in the fifth for its offense in Game 1 of a Class 5A bi-district series at McKinney. Muller allowed one earned run, three hits and two walks.
Gracelyn Taylor tied the game at 1-1 with a solo homer and Payton Newlin drove in the go-ahead run with a double off the Wylie East pitcher. Those were only hits of the game for Memorial.
Woodrow Wilson 12, Sunset 11: Caitlyn Gloria stole home in the top of the seventh inning as Woodrow Wilson won a high-scoring Game 1 of a Class 5A bi-district series at the Forester Complex. Woodrow Wilson (20-5) rallied from a 10-5 deficit with six runs in the fifth inning, capped by a two-run single by Caitlyn Carrillo, who had three hits with a triple and three RBIs while pitching for the win.’Gloria, Miranda Lopez and Adelize Quiroz had two hits apiece for Woodrow Wilson.
Yamilett Martinez had three hits with a double, a triple and a homer for Sunset. Yolmarcell Hernandez and Arianna Vanegas had two hits apiece for Sunset.
Melissa 22, Carrollton Creekview 0: Bryton Wright tossed a two-hit shutout while hitting two doubles as Melissa overwhelmed Creekview to win a one-game Class 4A bi-district playoff series at Highland Park. Wright (23-1) had 10 strikeouts while allowing two walks.
Melissa (23-1), ranked No. 7 in The News’ Class 5A/Others area poll, exploded for 12 runs in the fourth inning, including a grand slam by Rachel Wells, who also had a double and finished with six RBIs. Lilly Dye added a two-run single in the fourth and finished with four RBIs. Five players had two hits apiece for Melissa, which advances to face Hillsboro or Pinkston in the area round.
Aubrey 4, Kennedale 3: An infield single with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning drove in the winning run as Aubrey won a thrilling Game 1 of a Class 4A bi-district series at Aubrey. Jade Willingham was 3 for 4 with a triple for Kennedale while teammate Alyssa Phillips had two hits.
Celina 6, Midlothian Heritage 0: Ella Gamblin threw a shutout as Celina blanked Heritage in Game 1 of Class 4A bi-district series at Midlothian High School. Gamblin had four strikeouts while scattering four hits and three walks.
Celina (10-10) scored five runs in the fourth inning with Grace Cantu and Addison Eliot hitting a RBI single each. Cantu had two hits while Lacey Harrison had two hits with a double for Heritage (13-14-1).
POSTPONEMENTS
Inclement weather forced the postponement of the first game of some bi-district best-of-three playoff series Thursday. Here are some that have been rescheduled.
Molina-W.T. White: Game 1 of this Class 5A series will be held at 4:30 p.m. Friday at the Forester Athletic Complex. Game 2 will be at noon Saturday at the Forester Complex’s No. 3 Field with Game 3 to follow if necessary.
Royse City-Ennis: Game 1 of this Class 5A series will be held at 7 p.m. Friday at Royse City. Game 2 is noon Saturday at Forester Athletic Complex with Game 3 to follow if necessary.
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