Lady Lions fall in Area finals to Leander Rouse

By LPR Staff

Editor/POST-REGISTER

A successful and – to some, surprising – season for the Lady Lions Varsity Softball team came to an end on Friday night, as the team fought, and eventually lost, a tough battle against the Leander Rouse Lady Raiders.

The season started with a bang, as the Lady Lions started off as District favorites, seco

nd only to last year’s State Champion Hays Rebels. As play moved through the season, despite injuries on the starting lineup, the Lady Lions rose to the challenge, eventually finishing second in the District, and earning a Bi-District Championship over San Antonio Edison, before going on to face Rouse this weekend.

In the warm breeze of Friday evening, the Lady Lions’ bats started slow, with the Lady Raiders taking an early 0-1 lead.

In the second, a double and an error from the bat of Zierra Gonzales scored Kendra Litchfield and Bella Ybarra, giving the Lady Lions a 2-1 lead. The lead would be short-lived, however, as Rouse answered later in the inning to reclaim a 3-2 lead.

Well-placed hits from Rouse batters, and a bit of bad luck for the Lady Lions allowed Rouse to continue building their lead through the evening, eventually claiming the Area Championship with a 13-5 victory over the Lady Lions.

With the season over, the Lady Lions still have work to do, as five seniors have committed to playing at the college level next year.

Gonzales, the short stop, will go on to Hill College; third baseman Katrina Mills has committed to Lamar University, and Lilly Dupert, the pitcher sidelined for much of the season with an injury, will play for Rhodes. Catcher Amanda Sigala has decided to play for LeTourneau University, and Gabby Ybarra, the left fielder who stepped into the circle early in the season, will play at the University of Dallas.