Keller, Keller Timber Creek advance with walk-off softball victories

Keller’s Shelby Henderson was cool and collected as she stood at the plate, knowing it could be the final at-bat of her high school career.

With the Indians trailing 2-1 with two outs in the bottom of the seventh inning, the senior hit a drive to the right-field wall for a walk-off two-run double and a 3-2 victory over Plano West to win the Class 6A Region I quarterfinals series in three games.

“Honestly, I was very calm when I went up to bat,” Henderson said. “We’ve been in that situation before and have come out on top. I just went up there saying, ‘Relax and see the ball.’ ”

Amanda Desario and Kourtney Williams led off the inning with singles before Desario was thrown out at home on Camryn Woodall’s fielder’s choice.

Desario drove in Mikayla McClasky in the third to get Keller (27-7) within one. Kaylee Rogers (24-4) pitched a six-hitter, allowing one earned run.

Keller will face Lubbock Coronado in the regional semifinals.

In other quarterfinals series:

Keller Timber Creek 5, Mansfield 2

Madie Green belted a walk-off three-run homer to lead the Falcons (25-9) past the Tigers (26-8) in Game 3 of their 6A series.

With the score tied 2-2, Avery Grimes led off the seventh with a single to right before advancing to second on an error. Matti Davis’ infield single set up runners at the corners with no outs. After a flyout and strikeout, the stage was set for Green.

“I’ve been having a very rough series, and every time I was down my coaches and teammates picked me up, and without them I wouldn’t have executed at the plate the way I did,” Green said. “I’m so proud of the fight in this team and how we’ve come together this past year.”

Caitlyn Curlee pushed Timber Creek within one with an RBI double in the third. Kylee Foster (22-9) allowed seven hits and two unearned runs.

The Falcons will play Wolfforth Frenship in their first trip to the regional semifinals.

Birdville 3, Aledo 1

The Hawks (24-10) made two first-inning runs stand up and ousted the two-time defending state champion Bearcats (21-12) in Game 3 of their 5A series.

Freshman starter Grace Green (13-4) went the distance for Birdville, striking out 12. She allowed just four runs in starting all three games.

“I just have to talk to myself out there and talk to my teammates — keep it light,” Green said. “It’s when I get too far into my own head, thinking too much, that things can get away from me.”

Leadoff hitter Gianna Valforte walked to start the game for Birdville before third baseman Elena Garcia pounded a one-out triple to bring Valforte home. Calie Burris knocked home Garcia with a sacrifice fly, and the Hawks took an early 2-0 lead.

Emily Powell scored on a throwing error in the top of the second for Birdville’s third run. The Bearcats battled back with a run in the bottom of the second when Megan Reynolds drove in Bailee Whitener with an RBI single, but Green allowed just one hit the rest of the way.

The Hawks will play Canyon Randall in their first trip to the regional semifinals since 2013.

Brock 11, Palmer 3

The Eagles (32-3) scored six runs in the first inning and four in the sixth to defeat Palmer and sweep a 3A Region II series.

Brock returns to the regional semifinal round, their third trip in four years, to face Hughes Springs.

In the first, Lauren Lightfoot doubled in a run for a 3-0 lead and Blakney Campbell plated her with a single to center. Bailey Ray capped off the frame with a two-run homer to left.

Regional semifinals set

5A Region I: Burleson Centennial vs. Canyon at Wichita Falls ISD softball complex. Game 1, 7 p.m. Friday; Game 2, noon Saturday (Game 3 to follow if needed)

5A Region II: Mansfield Legacy vs. Frisco at Coppell. Game 1, 7 p.m. Thursday; Game 2, 7 p.m. Friday; Game 3 (if needed), 4 p.m. Saturday.

This story was originally published May 14, 2016 at 9:33 PM with the headline "Keller, Keller Timber Creek advance with walk-off softball victories."