State Softball Roundup

CLASS 5A

Complete game helps Pearland shut out Austin Bowie

AUSTIN — Jessica Bowden threw a complete game shutout as top-ranked Pearland defeated upset-minded Austin Bowie 4-0 for the Class 5A championship.

Bowden scattered five hits and struck out five. The Pearland (37-6-1) defense made several key plays including a diving catch by left fielder Leandra Maly that converted to a double play when Maly got up and doubled a Bowie runner off base.

Pearland scored in the fourth inning on three hits and four illegal pitch balks called against the Bowie (29-14) pitcher. Brooke Dubois singled with one out and moved to second and third on balks, then scored on a single by Haley Beam.

The Oilers added a second run when Megan Coronado scored on a single by Jaclyn Bechtle. Pearland added two runs in the sixth on RBI singles by Megan Coronado and Maly.

CLASS 4A

Waco Midway wins on 11th no-hitter in UIL history

AUSTIN — Kemitria Ward fired the eleventh no-hitter in UIL softball history and drove in the only run of the game as Waco Midway defeated Magnolia 1-0 in the Class 4A finals.

Ward was named the MVP of Saturday’s championship game. She struck out 15 while notching the first Class 4A no-hitter since 1997 and only the second in the past eight years in all classes.

Midway (36-5-1) scored in the eighth inning when Sydney Watson reached on an error and advanced to third on a bunt single by Kya Collins. Ward delivered a sharp single that scored Watson with the eventual game winning run.

Magnolia (33-13) pitcher Katy Adkins fanned six and did not allow an earned run but took the loss.

Midway won its second state title overall with eight state appearances.

CLASS 3A

House leads North Lamar to title

AUSTIN — Rayn House pitched a 12-inning shutout in 90-plus degree temperatures to lead Paris North Lamar to a 1-0 win over West in Class 3A state softball championship play.

Cobi Barker singled home pinch runner Jessica Jones with two outs in the top of the 12th inning for the North Lamar victory on Saturday.

House, named the championship game MVP, scattered eight hits and struck out 14. House accepted her trophy while wearing her graduation gown as four of the North Lamar (35-5) players accepted their diploma on the field after the game.

North Lamar had base runners thrown out at the plate to end the sixth and eighth innings while West had a runner thrown out at the plate to end the ninth.

West (37-3) threatened with two base runners in the 12th but stranded the runners to end the game.

CLASS 2A

Ham has championship performance for George West

AUSTIN — Maggie Ham staged a championship performance, leading the George West Longhorns to their first state softball championship as the Longhorns defeated defending Class 2A champion Brock 1-0 in eight innings.

Ham, the championship game MVP, had her fourth hit and second double of Saturday’s game with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning. George West cleanup hitter Kayla Krietsch drilled a line drive down the left field line bringing Ham home with the winning run.

Ham pitched the three-hit shutout, striking out a record-tying 16 hitters. Ham is the third pitcher and the second this year to strike out 16 hitters in a game along with Brock’s Linsey Hays, who fanned 16 in the semifinals.

CLASS 1A

Longoria leads Forsan to championship

AUSTIN — Amanda Longoria pitched a one-hit shutout to lead the defending champion Forsan Buffaloes to a 5-0 win over Blue Ridge in the UIL Class 1A softball championship game.

Longoria drove in the first two Forsan runs with singles in the first and third innings of Saturday’s game and struck out five on the mound. Longoria finished with three hits at the plate.

Forsan (28-4) pounded out 13 hits in the game, scoring runs in four different innings. Longoria limited Blue Ridge (30-10) to one hit, by Brooke Deckard, and did not advance a base runner past first base.

Ambra Hills had two hits and scored two runs for Forsan.