A four-run fourth inning propelled the Ganado Maidens to a 6-1 victory, and a series sweep over Groveton in the State Semi-Final playoff round. The Maidens (33-2-1) will face the Bosqueville Bulldogs (28-8-1) for the State title on Thursday at 10 a.m. at Red and Charlene McCombs field in Austin.
Despite struggling to score in the series, the Maidens were putting the bat on the ball, picking up 23 hits in the two game series.
Ganado wasn’t struggling to get on base, as they wrapped out 10 hits in game one, walked three times, and had two hit-by-pitches but up to the sixth inning, Ganado had only managed to score a single run. Ganado added some breathing room with a two-run sixth and a tworun seventh.
In the end, all the Maidens needed was the one run as Saylor Bures pitched a complete game shut out from the circle, picking up 15 strikeouts on the way.
Laci Holt opened the series with a single but she was caught stealing. Kalyn Benavides and Raelynn Pena singled but they were left stranded.
In the top of the third, Holt picked up a one out single, Stancik singled on the seventh pitch of the at bat. But again, both were left stranded.
Groveton picked up their first hit of the game on a third-inning single and then moved to second on an error, but the runner was doubled off. An error and a single out two more runners on but Bures got a strikeout and the Maidens escaped with the game still scoreless.
Paisley Hajovsky and Avery Torres began the top of the fourth inning with back-to-back strikeouts. They moved to second and third on a passed ball. After a strikeout for out number one, Jordyn Bundick hit a sac fly and Ganado took a Torres was left stranded.
Benavides walked and Pena singled in the fifth, but they were both left stranded.
In the sixth inning, Torres singled, moved to second on a passed ball, moved to third on a ground out and scored on a Holt triple.
Holt decided to create a run on her own and stole home to give Ganado a 3-0 lead.
B6 Maidens 3-0 In the top of the seventh, Pena hit a one out single and Paisley Hajovsky crushed a triple to drive in a run. Torres walked. Hajovsky scored on a passed ball.
Bures bared down in the final inning, striking out the side.
Raelynn Pena led the way in game two, driving in the first three Maidens runs. Laci Holt added three hits. Saylor Bures shined in the circle again, picking up a complete game. She allowed 5 hits, and one earned run, while striking out 13.
The Maidens totaled 13 hits in the game.
Tied at one going into the bottom of the fourth, Ganado regained the lead when Benavides walked, Pena doubled, and Hajovsky singled. The Maidens left the bases loaded but led 2-1.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Maidens finally had a big inning. Holt singled, her sixth hit of the series, Stancik singled, Benavides was HBP to lead the bases. Pena then picked up another RBI with a ground out. Raelynn Peters followed with an RBI bint single. Hajovsky drove in another run with a ground out. Hallie Bures finished drove in the final run of the inning and the Maidens led 6-1.
Groveton went down in order in the bottom of the seventh and the Maidens will advance to the State championship game for the second year in a row.
Bures struck out 28 in the two game sweep.
State Semi-Finals Game one: Ganado 5 Groveton 0 Holt 3 hits, triple, 1 steal, 1 RBI; Pena 3 hits; Hajovsky 1 triple,1 RBI; Stancik 1 hit; Benavides 1 hit; Torres 1 hit; Bundick 1 RBI; S. Bures 7 innings, 4 hits, 15 strikeouts.
Game two: Groveton 1 - Ganado 6 Holt 3 hits; Pena 2 hits, double, 3 RBIs; Hallie Bures 2 hits, 1 RBI, 2 steals; Stancik 2 hits, double; Jordyn Bundick 2 hits, 1 steal; Paisley Hajovsky 1 hit, 1 RBI; Raelynn Peters 1 hit, 1 RBI; S. Bures 7 innings, 5 hits, 1 earned run, 13 strikeouts.
