Softball

Softball playoffs: Leander drops two to Smithson Valley; Dripping Springs, Lexington heading to state semifinals

By Michael Adams
Austin Sports Journal

BUDA – Smithson Valley’s Zoey Allison crushed Leander’s hopes of getting out of Hays High School’s softball field early Saturday afternoon.

In the decisive game three, pitcher Arianna Capek closed the door on the Lions’ season.

The Rangers took both games of a doubleheader 4-3, 2-0 to win a Class 5A Division I regional championship best-of-three series and advances to next weekend’s state semifinals. It will be Smithson Valley’s first semifinal appearance since 2012 and first 5A semifinal appearance since 2009.

After winning Game 1 on Friday, Leander (30-12) took a 3-2 lead in Game 2 in the top of the fifth inning

Madelyn Lee hit a one-out single and scored the first run of the inning on Allyah Allen’s double in the next at bat. Allen scored on a error after a bunt by Rachel Grundei.

Grundei scored two batters later when Kylee Arnold singled on a line drive to left field.

Smithson Valley (26-3) tied the game in the bottom of the inning when Allison hit an RBI-single with one out. Allison later became the Rangers’ hero with a walk-off home run to center field to force a decisive Game 3.

In Game 3, Capek stymied the Lions’ bats giving up just three hits and no runs with four strikeouts.

Leander had a few missed opportunities to get on the scoreboard. The Lions left a total of four runners in scoring position, including Madelyn Huling and Cameryn Beckerley, who were on second and third base, respectively, with two outs in the bottom of the second inning.

Ava Capek gave Smithson Valley its first run in the bottom of the fourth. The third baseman hit a double to left field and scored on Kailee Gonzales’ single. The Rangers added an insurance run in the top of the sixth.

Smithson Valley will face Mont Belvieu Barbers Hill in the semifinals. The winner of the series will face the winner of Aledo-Melissa in the state championship game in two weeks.

Dripping Springs advances to state semifinals for first time since 2017

Dripping Springs’ Lorelei Gamble runs toward first base after making contact with the ball during a Class 6A Division II softball regional final playoff game at Concordia University Field in Austin, Texas on Thursday, May 16, 2025. (Michal Adams/Austin Sports Journal)

Lorelei Gamble was a home run shy of hitting for the cycle Saturday.

The sophomore, who has 22 home runs on the season, went 3 for 3 with a single, double and triple and drove in one run to help Dripping Springs to an 8-1 win over Cedar Ridge in Game 3 of a Class 6A Division II regional final series at Concordia University in Austin.

The Tigers (31-9-1) also got a big day at the plate from Jai-Lynn Flores, who hit an RBI-double for Dripping Springs’ first run of the game.

Emma Phillips was 1 for 3 and scored two runs, while Sadie Bradford also drove in a run and got the win in the circle. Bradford gave up one run and three hits while striking out three batters.

Dripping Springs will face Humble Kingwood (31-4-1) in the semifinals. Teams have the option to play a three-game series or a one-game playoff for the first time. The winner will fave either Denton Guyer or Forney in the state championship in two weeks.

Lexington advances to state semifinals for first time in school history

Aubrie Matthews was a perfect 3 for 3 from the plate and scored two runs to lift Lexington to a 6-1 win over East Bernard Saturday at Navasota.

The Eagles (25-8-2) had nine hits total, including two from Teal Brockenbush, who drove in three runs.

Taylor Akin got the win in the circle and gave up one run and four hits while striking out 10 batters.

Lexington will face Jourdanton (23-13) in a Class 3A Division II semifinal. The winner of that series will face Coahoma or Sadler S&S Consolidated i the state championship game in two weeks.