BY HAILEY BROWN
The Lady Cowboys varsity softball team started the week with a practice to prepare for their regional semifinal game on Tuesday, May 8. The Lady Cowboys faced off against the Nova Titans at Cooper City High School, where they ended the game in the fourth inning 15-0. The Lady Cowboys then had two days to prepare for their regional final game against St. Thomas Aquinas High School, where they went on to win in overtime 2-1.
On Tuesday, May 8, the Lady Cowboys took on the Nova Titans in the regional semifinals. The Titans started at bat, leaving the Lady Cowboys on the field. The Lady Cowboys wasted no time getting on defense by getting three outs in the first four plays. The bottom of the first inning put the Titans out on the field and the Lady Cowboys at bat. The Titans did not back down, getting a double out followed by another out, putting them back at bat and giving themselves another opportunity to score.
Both teams continued to blow through the next couple of innings, getting three quick outs and moving on and off the field. The bottom of the third inning started with the Lady Cowboys on offense. Beka Erenthal started off the inning, followed by Amanda Gettys. Both Erenthal and Gettys hit a single, putting a runner at first and second base. On a wild pitch, Erenthal advanced to third and Gettys to second. Brenna Lokeinsky hit a sacrifice fly ball bringing in Erenthal, but getting herself out. Next at bat was Jasmin Herrera, who hit a double bringing in Gettys. Freshman Mia Kotzen was put in to run for Herrera and scored shortly after on a triple by Michelle Adelman. The Lady Cowboys continued scoring points and ended the bottom of the third inning 7-0.
The Lady Cowboys got three quick outs and put themselves up at bat again. Herrera started off with a single followed by a single by Adriana Crespo. With Kotzen in for Herrera again, Kotzen was able to score again off of a line drive to the left field by Katherine Claros. Bridgette Tuxbury hit a line drive to left field bringing in two runs. The game ended in the fourth inning 15-0, with the Lady Cowboys moving on to regional finals.
On Friday, May 11, the Lady Cowboys went up against the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders at St. Thomas Aquinas High School. The game went into nine innings, two more than usual, and ended 2-1 with the Lady Cowboys advancing to states.
Both teams struggled to score for the majority of the game. The top of the fifth inning began with Lokeinsky up at bat. Lokeinsky sent the ball high and to center field, sailing over the fence, hitting a home run and putting the Lady Cowboys up by one. The Raiders got the next three outs, putting them at bat and giving them an opportunity to even the game. The first at bat was hit by the pitcher and the second was walked, putting a runner at first and second base. St. Thomas was able to score off an error made by the Lady Cowboys and tie the game 1-1 in the fifth inning.
It wasn’t until the top of the ninth inning that either team had scored. Kassandra Espinosa started off the inning at bat. Espinosa hit a triple on a fly to right field. Tuxbury hit a single to left field, bringing home Espinosa and putting the Lady Cowboys ahead. Herrera was able to get the final out, striking out the St. Thomas pitcher and ending the game 2-1. The Lady Cowboys advanced to states and will have a chance at winning a state title.
“We played great,” Lokeinsky said. “We could have made [fewer] mistakes but we played with our hearts, and that essentially is what has gotten us this far.”
Photo by Sarah Khan
