he Aledo Ladycats punched their ticket to the 5A State Semifinals with a 12-7 victory over Burleson Centinnial Spartans Thursday in Burleson.
Aledo scored in six of seven innings and had 15 hits and four home runs to sweep the regional final series. But the game wasn’t without a little drama.
The Ladycats seemed to be rolling to an easy victory, up 8-2 going into the bottom of the sixth inning. But the Spartans erupted for five runs to cut the lead to one heading into the seventh inning.
However the Ladycats didn’t fade. Instead, Kennis Marx and Taylor McKean lead off the top of the seventh with back-to-back home runs to make it 10-7. Later in the inning, Ana Flores hit a two-run home run off the face of the scoreboard in left center to give Aledo some breathing room.
Flores finished the day with three extra base hits, four RBI and three runs scored. The shortstop also had a pair of doubles and she had assists on the final two outs of the game.
The Aledo offensive onslaught started early in the game as Addie Perry led off the game with a solo home run. The Ladycats left the bases loaded in the inning, giving Centennial a chance to bounce back in the bottom of the inning.
Centennial pitcher led off the bottom of the first with a solo home run to tie the game, then the Spartans took the lead off a double by Hannah McCurry.
However, Aledo staring pitcher McKean cruised through the next four innings as she retired 13 straight batters heading into the sixth inning.
The Ladycat bats never cooled off in the game. They pounded out 15 hits, including including seven for extra bases.
Aledo took the lead for good with a pair of runs in the second inning. McKean had a single to left to tie the game, then Perry’s RBI single made it 3-2.
The Ladycats added a run in the third on a single by Kyleigh Pawlak and a triple by Brenlee Gonzales.
A Flores double and a single by Marina Tavares made it 6-2 in the fourth inning. Another Flores double made it 7-2 in the sixth inning. Flores then scored on a sacrifice fly to make it 8-2.
That’s when Centennial rallied to make it 8-7 before the Ladycats put it away with their big seventh inning.
Aledo improves to 35-3 with the victory. The 5A state semifinal games will be played Friday, May 31 in Austin.
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