AUSTIN, Texas — After a slow start for Santa Gertrudis Academy (40-5), the Lady Lions offense roared to a 6-3 win over Grandview in the Class 3A UIL State Semifinal to punch their ticket to the championship.
“It means everything. It’s very exciting," Adi Mireles, Santa Gertrudis Academy junior shortstop, said. "For our first time in five years we all wanted it from the get go and I’m just glad we’re here and what we’ve accomplished.”
The Lady Lions did most of their scoring in the second inning, as senior Julia outfielder Guerrero and junior second baseman Taylor Reyes chipped in two RBI's apiece and junior Trinity Silguero added another to make it a 5-`1 lead. Carina Palacios, Alexxis Moreno, Hanna Perales, Silguero and Guerrero all had a run in the second.
“Obviously once you already imagine it in your head countless times from a young age, and I’m like I want to go to state! I want to go to state," Guerrero said. "I’ve already imagined it, so whenever the pitch came I just decided this is where I’ve got to go right now.”
Reyes later hit a home run over the left field fence in the top of the fifth as the dagger.
“It was nice," Reyes said. "I’m going to be honest, when we walked in here the girls saw the wall and they were like, ‘you know Taylor, try to put one over here today.’ I was like, okay guys. Honestly right when I saw that pitch inside and I turned on it everything slowed down and it was like I was in the cage.”
Grandview had a hot start, as freshman pitcher Madi Doty struck out the side in the first inning to give the Zebras momentum to start the contest. Then, Jaley James hit a single over third base to score Sydney Mann, to give the Zebras the early lead in the first.
Despite two runs in the bottom of the sixth from the Zebras to close the scoring gap, Grandview was unable to come back on the Lady Lions who made three double-plays on defense.
SGA moves on to face Coahoma (35-3) at 1 p.m. Thursday at Red and Charline McCombs Field in Austin.
In case you missed that 🥎💣 from @IslandersSball commit @taylor_reyes22. The @SGA_LionAth junior hit a solo homer in Austin at the UIL 3A state semifinals against Grandview. #KRIS6Sports https://t.co/qBLVpU6VYw pic.twitter.com/p3IbaVpZv5
— Larissa Liska (@LarissaLiska) May 31, 2023
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