BY BRIAN GOSSET
X – @gosset41
X – @gmsportsmedia1
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Senior Carly Holman (UT-Dallas signee) struck out nine batters and went over 800 Ks in her amazing high school career – leading Plano John Paul II to a 12-2 victory over Plano Prestonwood in the regional final on Monday May 5.
Holman pitched all five innings and allowed three hits with both runs unearned.
Holman also shined from the plate with a home run.
Izzy Weber and Sadie Zipser also had homers for the Cardinals (25-2), who will play in the TAPPS D1 state semifinals against Argyle Liberty Christian (24-3-2) at 1:30 pm Monday May 12 at Allan Saxe Field on the campus of UT-Arlington.
Abby McGraw and Reagan McGraw led off the first inning for JPII with walks and two batters later Bridget Mulligan was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Zipser drove in a runner with a liner to right field for the 1-0 lead.
Prestonwood tied it in the second when Laila George reached on a error.
Holman doubled in Grace James and Abby McGraw added one in the second for a 3-1 edge. Mulligan and Zipser reached to start the third and JPII led 4-1 on a Prestonwood error. Holman hit a 3-run home run in the inning to extend the lead to 7-1.
Zipser and Weber went back to back in the fourth to make it 10-2.
Mulligan hit a 2-run double in the fifth to end the game.
Abby McGraw, Holman, Zipser, James and Mulligan all had two hits for the Cards, who have won 11 games in a row. JPII is at the state tourney for the fifth straight season – winning titles in 2021 and 2023.
