Keller knocks out Timber Creek to book trip to state softball tournament
In one game between two teams from the same city, both had the same goal on their mind — the state tournament in Austin.
Keller (30-7) scored in three of the first four innings to defeat rival Keller Timber Creek 8-5 in a single-game Class 6A Region I softball final Friday at Saginaw Chisholm Trail High School to advance to its first state tourney in 10 years.
Trailing 8-1 in the final inning, the Falcons (27-10) scored four times, including a two-run double with two outs by junior Caitlyn Curlee before Keller got the final out.
The state tournament is scheduled for McCombs Field in Austin, starting with the Class 2A semifinals Wednesday. The 6A semifinals will be 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. on Friday with the final scheduled for 4 p.m. June 4.
Keller, which was one game away from reaching the state tournament last season, goes back to the tournament for the first time since 2006 and will look for its third state title (2003 and 2005).
Junior Camryn Woodall drove a one-out double to deep left for Keller in the bottom of the first and younger baby sister, freshman Caraline, gave the Indians a 2-0 lead with a two-out, two-run single to shallow center.
Timber Creek cut the lead in half in the third on Makaylah Ramirez’s bloop infield single. However, the Falcons ended the inning with the bases loaded.
The Indians scored three times in the bottom of the third to take a 5-1 lead off an RBI triple by Caraline Woodall, an RBI double from sophomore Kasey Simpson and an RBI single from sophomore Hanna Jones.
The Woodall sisters combined to go 6 of 8 with five RBIs — four by Caraline.
Curlee led the Falcons with three hits and two RBIs. Timber Creek enjoyed its best season in school history, after not advancing past the first round before this season.
This story was originally published May 27, 2016 at 11:15 PM with the headline "Keller knocks out Timber Creek to book trip to state softball tournament."