Lady Bison bow out of playoffs

BHS’ pitcher Rachel Morris fires a pitch across the plate, backed up by Heather Sigert and Heather Egan. Photo by Jordan Nix Heavy rain throughout the area Friday night forced softball coaches to reschedule regional quarterfinal contests. Buffalo and Warren were scheduled to meet Friday at 7:00 at Sam Houston State University, but thunderstorms postponed the game. Thirty minutes after game time with rains still falling, the game was moved to Saturday at 11:00. Warren, the runner up in district 23, fell to Corrigan-Camden in the regional quarterfinals last year. This time, the Lady Warriors advanced to the regional semi-finals with an 8-1 win over the Lady Bison, district 21AA runner up. Ironically, two third place teams are still remaining in the four teams standing. Anahuac, the third place team from 23AA, defeated the 23AA champion Deweyville. Harleton, the third place team from 18AA defeated their district winner, Elysian Fields. Linden-Kildare earned the final regional berth.

Lady Bison first baseman Meredith Shaw makes a catch for an out in the Regional Quarterfinal contest. Photo by Jordan Nix Neither team got on the board in the first inning. War- ren recorded three hits and scored two runs in the second. Rachel Morris led off with a single, but the Lady Warriors took out the lead runner on a fielder's choice on the next play. Lindsey McGill advanced on an error, but the Lady Bison stranded two.

The Lady Bison picked up two quick outs in the top of the third. Heather Sigert fielded the ball cleanly to Meredith Shaw at first for the first out. Morris struck out the next batter. Warren singled to center, but Morris followed with another strike out to retire the side.

Designated player Haley Ellison led off for the Lady Bison and gave the Warren pitcher a run for her money. Ellison put the eighth ball in play, but was thrown out at first. The Lady Warriors made another defensive stop for the second out, but Jordyn Briscoe reached base on an error. A fly to short stop ended the inning with one on base and the Lady Bison trailing 2-0.

Buffalo held ground in the fourth inning, throwing two batters out at first and Morris picked up another strike out.

Morris advanced on an error in the bottom of the fourth. Sigert attempted a bunt to advance the runner, but Warren's third baseman fielded the pop up. McGill reached first on a fielder's choice, but courtesy runner Juana Vazquez was tagged out at second. Shaw hit a solid lick to short stop, but Warren's defense held to end the inning.

Buffalo's defense prevailed in the fifth, sitting down the only three batters to step up to the plate. McGill hosed a fly to centerfield, and Sigert and Shaw connected for the second out. Shaw fielded the last out.

Courtney Cunningham singled to start things off for the Lady Bison in the fifth. Warren's catcher caught a pop up for the first out, then a fielder's choice took Buffalo's lead runner. A second pop up fielded by the catcher stranded one Lady Bison on base.

The sixth inning was the turning point. Eight batters faced Morris before the Lady Bison secured the third out. Three hits coupled with two errors gave Warren a 5-0 lead. Nikki Dorman connected with Shaw for one out, and McGill snagged a pop fly to center. Cunningham caught a pop up to left field to end the inning and stop the bleeding.

The Lady Bison could not get the ball out of the infield in the bottom of sixth. Three outs at first sent Buffalo back to the field for the last inning.

The seventh inning was another big one for the Lady Warriors. Warren led off with a hit to short right field. An error on a fielder's choice gave the Lady Warriors two runners on base. A subsequent fielder's choice took out the runner at second, but a hit batter loaded the bases. A double scored three runs and Warren led 8-0. Shaw fielded the out at first, but the sacrifice advanced the runner to third. Morris connected with Shaw for the last out.

McGill received the only walk of the game in the bottom of the seventh. With two strikes, Shaw doubled to right field, scoring McGill. Cunningham's attempt was fielded at short and fired over for the out at first. Following a KO, Pate stroked a ball to centerfield. The Lady Warrior bobbled it, but ended Buffalo's season with a catch.

Morris finished the game with three strike outs and no walks. The Lady Bison defense committed five errors during the game and the offense finished with three hits. The Lady Warriors committed four errors, struck out two and walked one and WHS scored eight runs on nine hits.