Nolan Catholic softball heads to state for first time since 2010
The Fort Worth Nolan Catholic softball team refuses to let its Class 5A TAPPS playoff run end anytime soon.
The Vikings (21-11) scored four runs in the top of the seventh Saturday to defeat Houston St. Pius X 10-5 and advance to their first state tournament since 2010.
They face San Antonio Incarnate Word at 6 p.m. Thursday in Sweeny. The championship is scheduled for 3 p.m. Friday.
“For me, it means so much. It’s one of the most exciting feelings in the world and I couldn’t be happier that all of the countless hours we put into this season are finally paying off,” senior catcher Taylor “Tater” Smith said. “I’ve always dreamed of going to the state tournament, but most importantly, winning a state title.”
With two more wins, the Vikings will win just their second state softball title and their first since 1985.
We meet again
For the second straight year, Burleson (16-12) is in the softball regional quarterfinals and this time faces a familiar foe — Burleson Centennial (27-3).
The best-of-three 5A Region I series starts 7 p.m. Tuesday at Workman Field in Arlington. Game 2 will start at 4:30 p.m. Friday, with Game 3 to follow, if necessary.
This week's softball and baseball playoff pairings
“My girls have put in so much hard work this past off-season and it has paid off,” Burleson coach Summer Owen said.
Junior third baseman Zoe Miranda had three doubles and five RBIs in Burleson’s 9-2 win in last week’s Game 2 against Saginaw Boswell.
“She is clutch in everything she does. She works so hard at everything she does and she makes things happen,” Owen said. “What’s even better is that her confidence in herself rubs off on the rest of the team.”
The Centennial Spartans look to advance to their first regional semifinal in the program’s six-year history.
“We don’t ride a few players on this team to win games. Every game seems to have someone different that steps up and pulls through, which feeds everyone else to follow suit,” Centennial coach Shannon Sullivan said. “I’m so excited for this matchup for the city of Burleson. It’s a great accomplishment for the city to have both teams in the regional quarterfinals this quickly.”
Two of a kind
Mansfield (24-6) meets Keller Timber Creek (23-8) in the 6A softball regional quarterfinals.
Mansfield last made the fourth round in 1993, the first season of UIL softball. The Falcons have never been past the first round prior to this season.
Both teams swept second-round opponents last week, but Mansfield junior catcher Morgan Rios belted a sixth-inning grand slam that tied Plano 5-5 in Game 2. Then Mansfield juniors Kaitlin Richards and Rasheda Townsend drove in the go-ahead and insurance runs for a 7-5 win.
“I was so impressed with the amount of fight my kids showed. The Plano pitcher had retired 13 of our hitters in a row and we could’ve showed frustrations, but the girls stuck with our game plan and our hits finally started to fall,” Tigers coach Jennifer Haltom said. “Morgan puts in so much extra work. We have so much faith and trust in what she does at the plate.”
Keeping it close
The Fort Worth Arlington Heights baseball team is thriving in low-run games.
The Yellow Jackets (21-6) opened the Class 5A playoffs last week by defeating Crowley 4-0 and 3-2.
“We have to execute on offense a bit more than years past,” coach Shad Whiteley said. “But we’ve played some really timely and consistent defense behind our pitching.”
Just twice in the last 14 games has Heights given up more than three runs.
By contrast, Heights has won eight of those games by five runs or fewer, including four by just a single run.
Starting pitcher Blair Henley threw three consecutive no-hitters to start district play, and middle infielder convert Josh Soward has made the most of his opportunity on the mound to have a strong season as the No. 2 starter.
Soward is 6-2 with a 1.75 ERA on the season and Henley is 9-0 with an 0.12 ERA.
Henley has given up one earned run in 10 appearances all season.
Heights exited the playoffs last season in the regional final against Aledo.
“I think this team is capable of getting back there,” Whitely said. “A pitcher like Blair is something nobody else has out there and Josh has done everything I asked him to do if he wanted pitch this season.
“And we’ve got more depth in our bullpen, too, that really rounds us out there.”
Turf’s the thing
With threatening weather all week, coaches are scrambling to book games at turf fields this weekend.
QuikTrip Park will get Southlake Carroll and Hebron. Arlington Heights and Saginaw Chisholm Trail, two class 5A teams, will play their area round playoff at Class 3A Brock.
Mansfield Summit and Hallsville have booked their playoff at Sunnyvale, which features a turf infield, but outfield grass.
Late game review
Colleyville Heritage needed all three games to get past South Grand Prairie in the baseball 6A bi-district round.
Game 3 went into the late evening hours as Heritage (21-13) got a three-hit shutout from pitcher Tyler Merrick to put away the Warriors (17-12-1).
Mason Greer led Heritage at the plate in the series, going 4 for 10 with two runs scored and an RBI. Logan DeBelle was 2 for 4 with a run scored and an RBI.
Isaiah Alvarenga scattered six hits in a shutout win Friday night for the Panthers.
South Grand Prairie’s Jordan Monrroy gave up just a run, two hits and struck out seven in the Game 2 win.
This story was originally published May 9, 2016 at 6:32 PM with the headline "Nolan Catholic softball heads to state for first time since 2010."