BY NOLAN RUTH
GEORGETOWN – It was a premature end to the season for head coach Heather Myers and the Aledo Ladycats as they fell 1-0 to Harlingen South in the Class 5A state semifinals on Thursday from Georgetown East View HS.
The loss marks the third time in the last four years Aledo has made an appearance at state without bringing home the gold. It was the program’s seventh trip overall, but the Ladycats haven’t won state since Lauren Craine pitched the team to victory in 2015.
Aledo ends at 35-4.
Aledo and South were originally scheduled for 1 pm at UT’s McCombs, but moved to Georgetown due to lightning and rain early Friday morning. South will play for the 5A championship at 1 pm Saturday against Melissa, which beat Lake Belton 4-0.
Despite a one-hitter from starting pitcher Taylor McKean, the Ladycats were unable to cross the plate and tie the game. The Tarleton State commit tallied 14 strikeouts over all seven innings and issued six walks.
Seven Aledo runners were left on the base path throughout the game with five being in scoring position.
Lexi Sandoval got the win on the rubber for the Hawks, pitching 6 2/3 innings, giving up only three hits, three walks and striking out 10. Amira Rodriguez came in to record the final out, which earned her the save.
Kyleigh Pawlak led off the Aledo second with a double and moved to third on a sacrifice bunt by Texas Tech signee Brenlee Gonzales. McKean then drew a walk and was replaced at first by Grace Heath. Heath proceeded to steal second to give the Ladycats two runners in scoring position with only one out. However, the ball never left the infield and both runners were left aboard.
The Hawks broke through in the third when Emily Ruiz recorded the team’s only hit of the game into right field, allowing Yezenia Perez to score from second. That was all the scoring that was required as no Aledo player would advance past second base until the final play of the game.
Down to the final out, Aledo’s Jordyn Edington hit a blooper into shallow left center and turned it into a double. UNT commit Addie Perry followed and was ruled safe at first base on a bobbled catch. South thought they had won the game, but Edington was headed for the plate to score the tying run. The Hawks realized the mistake and caught her in a rundown, ultimately tagging her out and sending Hawks to the state championship game. This is the program’s first trip to the state tournament.
