Wylie players congratulate left fielder Carlee Casteneda (8) after she made a diving catch during Friday’s Crosstown Showdown at Wylie East. Photo by Oladipo Awowale / C&S Media
By David Wolman
Photo gallery: https://www.dotphoto.com/viewalbum.asp?AID=6884893
Although Wylie’s run to another District 9-6A title has been marked largely by dominance, there have been a few moments when the Pirates have had to dig deep to pull out a victory.
Last Friday’s 3-2 win in nine innings over Wylie East in the Crosstown Showdown exemplified that mental toughness.
Wylie never let a pair of late rallies by Wylie East affect its focus.
In a game in which both teams’ defenses shined, Wylie went ahead for good in the top of the ninth inning. With the Pirates having the go-ahead runner at third base and another runner at first base, Wylie stole second base. Wylie East had miscommunication within its defensive coverage on a throw to second base, and that allowed Natalie Johannes to score the go-ahead run.
“We played with a lot of fight,” Wylie head coach Heather Damron said. “They trusted each other and had just a lot of faith that they were going to go out there and put their best effort forward.”
The victory came against a Wylie East squad that needed either a win or a Rowlett loss to extend its season. Rowlett didn’t do the Raiders any favors, as the Lady Eagles defeated the Lady Mustangs 16-8, forcing Wylie East into a must-win scenario.
Trailing 1-0 entering the bottom of the seventh inning, Wylie East gathered near the dugout for a pep talk from head coach Demi McNulty, who urged her team to increase its intensity and urgency.
The Raiders responded, breaking through on the scoreboard when Kennley Gholson sliced an RBI double into right-center field to tie the game at 1-1.
Wylie regained the lead in the top of the eighth on an RBI double by Emma Cook, but Wylie East continued to plug away.
Gabby Flores tied the score at 2-2 in the bottom of the eighth with an RBI triple.
“I am so incredibly proud of the grit that our team played with tonight,” McNulty said. “Although the outcome isn’t what we hoped for, there were many things to celebrate. Grace Maddux pitched an incredible game for us, and the way she fought for her team, throwing a complete game, including extra innings, is admirable. We had some great clutch hits tonight, and Wylie High made some great plays on us. I’m honored to be the coach at Wylie East, and I look forward to coming back even stronger next year with this group of athletes.”
Wylie was not fazed.
Heads-up baserunning by Katelyn Ashenfelter set the stage for the Pirates’ latest victory. The sophomore singled to left field in the ninth and aggressively advanced to second on a bobble of the ball.
Johannes entered as a pinch runner for Ashenfelter and scored moments later on a defensive miscue by Wylie East, and Wylie held on for the victory.
After the Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a Julia Barta RBI single, Wylie’s defense settled in and made one big defensive play after another.
Left fielder Carlee Casteneda made one of the game’s biggest defensive plays in the fourth inning, diving to secure a line drive off the bat of Ryan Collins and taking away a potential game-tying hit.
“She made a great catch,” Damron said. “She could have just as easily relaxed, and the ball would have fallen out of her glove. Instead, she held on and kept squeezing.
“We played playoff-level intensity defense tonight.”
Wylie will play Royse City in the bi-district round of the Class 6A Division I playoffs beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday at Wylie.
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