Heading into the opening game of the Regional Semi-Final playoffs between the Ganado Maidens and the Danbury Panthers, the Ganado Maidens had been rolling through opponents.
Shiner put up 2 runs against Ganado on April 12. Since that game, the Maidens hadn’t allowed a run in any of the four games between. In their previous three playoff games, Ganado had outscored their opponent a combined 62-0. In the circle, Saylor Bures had thrown three straight no hitters in the playoffs.
The Maidens had a much tougher series in the Regional Semi-Finals, winning the series 2-0 and 9-2 to advance to the Regional Finals.
In game one, Bures needed her lights-out pitching as the offense struggled to find any hits against Danbury.
The Maidens bats were connecting, but the potential hits weren’t finding many holes. Ganado picked up five hits in game one and only struck out twice.
Kalyn Benavides singled and then Raelynn Pena didn’t have to worry about her hit finding a hole as she crushed a two-run home run to give the Maidens a 2-0 lead.
“I was just trying to stay calm and put a good swing on the ball, so seeing it go over the fence was really exciting,” Pena said about her homer. “I felt like I was seeing the ball pretty well in game one. The coaches told us what types of pitches they throw and what to expect, so I stayed patient at the plate and looked for something I could drive.”
After getting a lead, Bures allowed a double in the sixth innings, but nothing more and Ganado won 2-0.
Pena played the playoff game every kid dreams of: she had three hits in the, she had what turned-out to be the game-winning homer, and she added a double to her tally.
After a tight game one, Ganado came out in game two determined to get on the board early.
Laci Holt got things running when she smacked a lead-off triple. Kyla Stancik doubled and Benavides doubled and Ganado quickly held a 2-0 lead. With the chance to add more damage to her tally in the series, Danbury chose to walk Pena.
“When they intentionally walked me early in game two, I took it as a sign of respect,” Pena said. “Of course, I always want the opportunity to swing the bat and help my team that way, but getting on base still gives us a chance to create offense. I just stayed focused on supporting my teammates and doing whatever I could to help us win.”
In the bottom of the first a Danbury walk followed by an RBI double game Danbury their first run of the series.
With Ganado again holding a slim 2-1 lead, Hallie Bures crushed a home run in the second inning to give Ganado a 3-1 lead.
“(Having a game like this) feels amazing but I feel more than joy to have been able to perform for my team in the playoffs,” Hallie explained. “Especially in a game like that where every moment matters.
I feel like I do my best under pressure, and those are the moments we have worked for all season.
But it definitely was all a team effort, in games where I haven’t stepped up as much, my other teammates have, so I’ve been trying to do my best to return the favor.”
Pitching again took over in the middle innings, and Danbury added their second run in the fifth to pull to 3-2.
“I think game two we came with more grit,” Hallie explained. “After game one seeing how close the score was, hearing the other stands chants, seeing the signs.
We came out hungrier and more determined.
We weren’t going to let anyone get close to taking our opportunity away from us. I think our intensity and resilience showed the entire second game. Everyone bought in every inning and produced. Our group of girls have played together since little league. We all want the same thing, and all have the same goals, and will do anything to achieve them!”
In the sixth, Ganado finally put together a big inning.
Raelynn Peters doubled and scored on a H.
Bures triple. Holt added an RBI single and the Maidens headed to the sixth with a 6-2 lead.
After Danbury went down in order, the Maidens loaded the bases on two walks and a hit-by-pitch and Avery Torres singled in a run.
H. Bures followed with an RBI groundout and a Holt sacrifice fly left the Maidens with a 9-2 lead and after a quick bottom of the seventh, the Maidens moved on to the Regional Finals.
Ganado (30-2-1) will face Thorndale (17-18-1) in the Regional Finals.
Game One: Danbury 0 Ganado 2 Raelynn Pena 3 hits, homerun, double, 2 RBI’s; Kalyn Benavides 1 hit; Hallie Bures 1 hit, 1 steal; Saylor Bures 7 innings, 1 hit, 9 strikeouts.
Game Two: Ganado 9 Danbury 2 H. Bures home run, triple, 4 RBI’s; Holt 2 hits, triple, 2 RBI’s; Benavides 2 hits, double, 1 RBI; Kyla Stancik 2 hits, double, 1 RBI; Avery Torres 1 hit, 1 RBI; Raelynn Peters 1 double; S.
Bures 7 innings, 5 hits, 2 runs, 1 earned run, 8 strikeouts.
