The junior’s heroics in late inning sends Lake Travis to 4th round for first time since 2015
By Michael Adams
madams@austinsportsjournal.com
DRIPPING SPRINGS – Lake Travis hasn’t had much luck against their district rival Bowie, especially in the playoffs.
The tide finally turned Friday.
Third baseman Maddie Pinzon helped the Cavaliers avert disaster and then provided the fireworks to propel Lake Travis to a 2-1 win over the Bulldogs in a Class 6A regional quarterfinal playoff at Tiger Field in Dripping Springs.
The win in the one-game playoff sends the Cavs (25-13) to the regional semifinals for the first time since 2015.
“When the lights come on and it’s go time, Maddie just performs,” said Lake Travis coach Kaycee Taylor. “She’s always been a real gritty player. … When they had the bases loaded, Maddie went big in that situation.”\
In the top of the 8th inning with the game tied 1-1, Bowie (27-9) loaded the bases with one out and slugger Anya German coming to up to bat. German has been a thorn in Lake Travis’ side in the past. So much so, Taylor intentionally walked the senior catcher Friday in her first two at bats.
German drove a hard ground ball that Pinzon scooped up, tagged third base for out No. 2 and launched the ball to first baseman Regan More for the putout at first and complete the double play to end the inning.
Then, in the bottom of the inning, Lake Travis then loaded the bases for Pinzon, who drove a walk-off single to the outfield to drive in the game winning run.
“It felt so amazing,” Pinzon said. “I wanted to beat Bowie so bad, we needed this win. The’ve been a thorn in our side, and I’m just so happy for all of us, because this was a team win.”
Bowie and Lake Travis have a lot of recent postseason history on the softball field.
Friday’s game was the third time in the last four years the two District 26-6A rivals have met in the third round of the postseason. Bowie swept the three-game series in 2021, and did so in 2022 to advance to the regional semifinals. In fact, The Bulldogs were 11-1 against Lake Travis since 2021 prior to Friday’s playoff game.
“When we beat them earlier this season at their field, that was the first time since I’ve been here,” said Taylor, who’s in her third year as Lake Travis’ head coach. “This one is so sweet. I don’t know how to describe it. It’s just awesome.”
Freshman pitcher Julie Rodriguez had a remarkable game both in the circle and at the plate.
In the circle, Rodriguez picked up the win while giving up four hits and one earned run while striking out eight batters. At the plate, she went 3 for 4 with an RBI.
Rodriguez gave Lake Travis an early 1-0 lead in the third inning with an RBI-single to plate Jayden Cortez.
Bowie answered in the top of the sixth with a solo home run by Cadie Hays to tie the game, which is where it stood until Pinzon’s heroics in the eighth inning.
The Cavaliers will face Weslaco (31-5) in the Region IV semifinals next week. Times, dates and locations have yet to be determined.