Lions take first game of best-of-three series for first win against the Hawks in last two years
By Michael Adams
madams@austinsportsjournal.com
DEL VALLE – Hays has had Leander’s number.
Heading into Thursday’s UIL regional quarterfinal series opener, the Hawks held a 9-1 record against the Lions dating back to 2013, with Hays winning the last four regular season meetings.
The Lions put together an impressive performance and snapped their losing skid against their District 25-5A rival with a 3-1 win in the first game of a best-of three series at Del Valle High School.
“We’re playing really good softball right now,” said Leander head coach Kendall Driver. “We had several incredible plays on defense that took away big hits that could have led to multiple runs. These kids are hungry.”
Leander got a stellar performance at the plate from catcher Emery Bell. The senior went 2 for 3 with two RBIs and a double. Bell’s double came in the third inning to plate Catelyn Beckerly, who scored two of the Lions’ runs.
“Our bats are starting to get hot,” Beckerley said. “We’re hitting really well and seeing the ball better, and our defense is just amazing and Scarlett (Geurin) pitched fantastic.”
Geurin got the win in the circle for the Lions, tossing a complete game while giving up one earned run. The freshman walked one and struckout one.
In the seventh inning, Hays put Leander’s freshman hurler in a high-pressure situation.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Kaitlyn Cowan scored on a passed ball in the bottom of the seventh for the Hawks’ first run and advanced the tying run to second base.
Geruin got lead off hitter Hailey Ruiz to hit into a fielder’s choice and Beckerley got the tag at third for the final out.
“(Scarlett) comes from a strong pitching pedigree, her mom was a division one pitcher and her sister is a pitcher for Oklahoma, she just knows the game so well for as young as she is,” Driver said. “She is never rattled. She was exhausted, but you could never tell because she’s just so composed.”
The series picks back up Friday at 6 p.m. back at Del Valle High School. Should Hays win Game 2, the teams will meet for a winner-take-all game on Saturday at 2 p.m.
The winner of the series will advance to the regional semifinals to face the winner of the Harlingen South-Corpus Christi Carroll series. Harligen South won game one 9-3 on Thursday.