When comparing the Thorndale Bulldogs and the Ganado Maidens on paper, the series looked to be evenly matched and in game two of the best-ofthree series, it was, however, Ganado took a 12-0 six inning victory in game one and won the series in two games.
The first game was one sided from the beginning with Ganado putting up two runs in each of the first three innings, while Thorndale only managed a fourth inning single in the game.
The Maidens picked up six extra-base hits, with sophomore Raelynn Pena bringing the biggest bat, crushing two home runs and collecting five runs batted in.
“I feel like I was seeing the ball well,” Pena said.
“But also the coaches prepared us for what she would be throwing.
“(Hitting the home runs) felt great! I was just trying to do whatever I could to help the team win.”
Game two was much closer to what the stats said the series would be with the game going to the bottom of the final inning tied at 1 before senior Maiden Madi Weempe singled in the winning run to send Ganado on to the Regional Finals.
“Coming up to bat, with the pressure mounting after being 0-3, I knew I had to focus,” Weempe explained. She came to the plate with the winning run on third. “I concentrated on shortening my swing and staying on top of the ball.
“I even had a friend in the stands yell to me, telling me to get out of my head,” she continued.
“Taking a step back, I took a deep breath and refocused, knowing I had a job to do for the team to succeed.”
In the circle, Bulldog pitcher Karis Guinn matched Maiden Saylor Bures, allowing five hits and zero earned runs while striking out four in the complete game loss.
Bures also pitched seven innings, allowing five hits, while striking out 11 and allowing one earned run in the complete game victory.
Once again, the Maidens (28-5-1) will face a district foe in the playoffs. The last few years it has been Shiner or Weimar, but with the large and small school divisions this year, Shiner and Weimar will be matching up in the small school division, while Ganado will meet Flatonia (16-10-1) in the Regional Finals.
Ganado defeated Flatonia 11-0 and 10-0 during district play.
“This team is solid,” Maidens Head Coach James Harp said. “Pitching, defense, speed, offensive power and execution.
We will continue to work on all facets of the game moving forward as we have from day one. We look forward to the challenges ahead and know we control our own destiny.”
Game one: Thorndale 0 - Ganado 12 Laci Holt 3 hits, 1 RBI; Faith Palacios 3 hits, double, RBI, 1 steal; Raelynn Pena 2 home runs, 5 RBI’s; Kalyn Benavides 2 hits, double, 3 RBI’s; Madi Weempe triple, RBI; Kyla Stancik double; Rhylee Green 1 hit; Paisley Hajovsky 1 hit; Zoey Ybarra 1 steal; Hallie Bures 1 steal; Saylor Bures 6 innings, 1 hit, 9 strikeouts.
Game two: Ganado 2 Thorndale 1 Benavides 2 hits, double; Stancik 1 double, 1 RBI; Holt 1 triple; Weempe 1 hit, 1 RBI; Hajovsky 1 hit; Palacios 1 hit; Ybarra 1 steal; Bures 7 innings, 5 hits, 1 earned run, 11 strikeouts.
