The HPHS Lady Scots Softball team kept rolling last Friday night with a 6-0 win over Irving High School to take the best-of-three series two games to zero to advance to the UIL Region 2 area playoffs.
After the fireworks of 16 hits (7 for extra bases) the previous night, Irving started another pitcher (and changed their batting order) to try to tweak things.
Irving's strategy was only slightly effective. Although the Highland Park bats weren't quite as red-hot as they were Thursday, HP managed 7 hits and forced the Lady Tigers to commit 4 errors by aggressively running the bases - the Lady Scots had five stolen bases in the game.
Highland Park started quickly in the top of the 1st inning after lead-off batter Katie Bell drew a walk. HP Head Coach Meredith Townsend knew the Irving starting catcher from the Thursday night game was pitching, so with a new catcher behind the plate, going to senior courtesy runner Heather Hansen seemed a smart move - it paid off. Hansen quickly stole 2nd and advanced to third when leftfielder Emily Singh beat-out an infield hit. Hansen then easily scored when senior captain Kate Hodges singled up the middle. HP would tack-on another run in the frame after an Amanda Reenan sac. fly scored Singh. By the middle of one inning, HP already had a 2-0 lead.
The game stayed 2-0 until the top of the 6th when junior Sunny Bowden smacked a 2-run double scoring Emily Vandermeer & Olivia Davis, who each walked. After rightfielder Grayson Rutherford's base-hit (which scored Bowden) HP was up 5-0.
That three run 6th expanded to 6-0 when catcher Rennie Orr (who was 2-for-3 on the night with a double) walked in the top of the 7th. Courtesy runner Sarah Hall then proceeded to advance on another Vandermeer free pass, eventually scoring after stealing a base and being sacrificed home by Olivia Davis.
With a lead the entire game, junior pitcher Katie Bell never flinched at the new-look Lady Tiger batting order. Bell was masterful in pitching a 3 hit shutout in 7 full innings of work. Bell struck out 6, walked only one and provided the Lady Scot defense with a steady diet of infield ground balls and harmless flares upon which they feasted; the Scotty defense was solid all evening, registering no errors in helping Katie Bell put away the Irving batters in order in the 3rd, 4th and 5th innings.
Highland Park will now put their playoff success to the test in the area round. HP will face Rockwall High School, the District 11-6A champ, and an undefeated 22-0-1 squad with several college signees, a national high school ranking, and the distinction of being the #1-ranked high school softball team in Texas.
HP will face Rockwall in another best-of-3 series. Game 1 will be played Thursday, May 7th at Rockwall High School at 7pm. Game 2 will be played at the HP Softball Field on Friday, May 8th also at 7pm. If necessary, game 3 will be played Saturday, May 9th at HP at 11am.