Birdville softball edges Wolfforth Frenship, advances to regional final

By Jarret Johnson

jmjohnson@star-telegram.com

GRAHAM -- Birdville advanced to the Class 4A Region I final for the first time in school history by completing a sweep of Wolfforth Frenship with a 2-1 win Saturday morning at Graham Softball Complex.

The Lady Hawks (31-6) had a hard time getting it going at the plate until late.

With Birdville trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the sixth with two outs, the Lady Hawks' Mele Hufanga slapped an 0-2 pitch up the middle to bring home Cherlynn Townsend from second base.

Townsend just beat the throw at home to tie the score at 1-1.

Birdville pitcher Susan Welborn picked up her seventh and final strikeout of the game in the top of the seventh to set the stage for the Lady Hawks.

Birdville's Addison Hooker led off with an infield single and advanced to third on a passed ball followed by a ground ball.

Kathleen Murphy then hit a slow grounder to third with one out and Hooker took off for home.

The senior catcher slid in head first as the throw home sailed high, prompting the Birdville dugout to empty onto the field in celebration.

"I just wanted to score," Hooker said. "We needed to win this game bad because we've never done this before at Birdville. There was no doubt, I was going home on that play."

Pitcher Rubi Moreno of Frenship (29-9) allowed just three base runners through five innings but could not pitch out of jams late in the game.

The Lady Hawks will face Waco Midway, a winner over Wichita Falls Rider, later this week at a place and time to be determined for the regional title and a spot at the state tournament.

"It's amazing, the kids were determined to win this ballgame," Birdville coach John Love said. "We gave up one run to a very good team and I'm very proud of that."

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