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Softball: Marcus sweeps into regional final
BY RICKY MOORE, Staff Writer
ABILENE — Marcus’ softball team might want to declare Abilene its second home.
The Lady Marauders, 7-4, victory over Lubbock Coronado was the fourth-consecutive for Marcus in Abilene in the past three years.
The win completed Marcus’ sweep of the Lady Mustangs in a best-of-three Class 5A Region I semifinals series. The Lady Marauders won the opener, 11-0, Friday at Eastland High School.
Next weekend, Marcus (28-6) will face Plano East, at a time, site and date to be determined, in the regional finals with a berth to the state tournament at stake. Marcus went to the state tournament in 2007. Plano East advanced to the state final in 1994 in its only state tournament appearance.
“It’s a very, very big step,” said Marcus coach Christy Tumilty, of the next round of the playoffs. “All we can do is to take care of the next game and hopefully we can get it done.”
Saturday, Marcus pounded out 12 hits off Coronado starter and loser Megan Naverrette.
Friday night, Tumilty had predicted Coronado (33-5) would make adjustments and play better in Game 2. She was right.
The Lady Mustangs, who had one hit Friday, also came out swinging. Coronado took a 2-0 lead in the top of the first inning, parlaying a hit and an error into two runs on Christina Florence’s double to right-center.
“What we saw today was why Lubbock Coronado is playing in this round of the playoffs,” Tumilty said. “I think we saw what they were capable of in today’s game.”
Marcus charged back in the bottom of the inning as KelVon Greer and Devon Wallace opened the game with back-to-back hits. Heather Foust’s triple to deep center tied the game at 2-2, but Marcus couldn’t add to the lead.
Tumilty said she was pleased to see her team respond so quickly.
“We used a lot of emotion last night,” she said. “We had to travel and they didn’t sleep in their own beds. It wasn’t the same routine for them. I was proud of what I saw today.”
Marcus broke the game open in the third, as the Lady Marauders first five hitters reached base.
As they had in the first, Greer and Wallace singled. Foust followed with a run-scoring hit and Sarah Draheim reached on an error to load the bases.
Danielle Blocker drilled Naverrett’s first offering to left field for a three-run double and a 6-2 lead.
“It was pretty exciting,” said Blocker, who delivered key hits in playoff wins over Irving Nimitz and Coppell. “I was glad to do something since I dribbled the ball to first in my first at bat.”
Courtney Flanary gave Marcus a 7-2 advantage with a triple.
Coronado cut into the Lady Marauders lead scoring a pair of runs during a brief rain storm. The Lady Mustangs put two runners on with a single and a walk, then with two-out leadoff hitter Megan Garando finished a nine-pitch at bat with a two-run double to center field.
Foust, who struck out eight and walked two, allowed one base runner in each of the next three innings, but got out of each situation to preserve the win.
The top of the Lady Marauders’ order was dominant Saturday. Greer, Wallace and Foust each went 3-for-4. Greer and Wallace scored two runs each, while Foust drove in three runs and scored one run.
The following are comments from the readers.
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
In no way do they represent the view of Starlocalnews.com
Go Marcus Go wrote on May 24, 2009 12:10 PM:
" Our maid may live in Flower Mound but I have to give you credit. These Flower Mound lassies are not playing like Old Maids. Go Marcus Go! But as a place to live - Grapevine Rules! "
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