IN THE KNOW:
Regional Softball Final, Shiner vs. Mart
by John Hornberg, Victoria Advocate Sports
Thursday, May 26, 2011
VictoriaAdvocate.com Article | Shiner Lady Comanche Softball | Return to Shiner Comanche Sports Home Page
WHEN:
Game 1, 6 p.m. on Thursday; Game 2, 4 p.m. on Saturday; Game 3 following Game 2, if needed.
WHERE:
All games at Austin/Leander Vandegrift High School.
ABOUT MART
Mart has done well when it has gotten teams into one-game, winner-take-all situations. They beat Ganado 3-2 in the area round of the playoffs, and beat a powerful Johnson City team 2-1 in a game filled with rain stoppages last week. The Lady Panthers had to go to a third game in the lone three-game series they played, against Thrall, which run ruled Mart in the second game, 10-0. Overall, it hasn't won a game in the playoffs by more than one run. Mart made it to the state tournament last year, as the Region IV representative, but lost to Blue Ridge 4-3 in the semis. Shiner and Mart have history during that playoff run. The Lady Panthers beat the Lady Comanches 7-1 in the area round last year. They are currently ranked sixth overall by the Texas Girls Coaches Association. Mart was the winner of District 25-1A.
IN THE PLAYOFFS: Bi-district round, bye; Area round, beat Ganado, 3-2; Regional Quarterfinals, beat Thrall 2-1, 0-10, 4-3; Regional Semifinals, beat Johnson City 2-1.
ABOUT SHINER
The Lady Comanches are the top-ranked team in Class 1A, according to the TGCA, and are bidding for a return trip after making it to the state tournament in 2008. Shiner has been led since midseason by the pitching of Ashley Shimek, who has a 20-0 record and an ERA somewhere below 1. Add in the veteran leadership of outfielder Amber Ramirez and catcher Holly Haas, who pitched the game against Mart in the playoffs last year, and you have a top notch team. Shiner has depth at almost every position, especially at pitcher, and the team cites its offense as its biggest asset. If this series goes to three games, Julianna Rankin could make an appearance in the circle. The Lady Comanches beat Ganado 4-3 in the a one-game playoff for the top seed from District 28-1A, the key common opponent the Mart and Shiner share.
IN THE PLAYOFFS: Bi-district, bye; Area round, beat Bosqueville 8-0, 9-3; Regional Quarterfinals, beat North Zulch 4-3, 14-4; Regional Semifinals, beat Center Point 7-4, 8-4.
WHAT'S NEXT?
This weekend's series is for a shot at a return trip to Austin for the Class 1A state softball tournament. Shiner or Mart would play at 8:30 a.m. or 11 a.m. on Thursday, June 2 for a chance at the state final, which would be Saturday, June 4, at 8:30 a.m.
© Copyright
BaerCom - Shiner, Texas 2011