Central Texas softball teams had a strong showing in the bi-district round of the UIL state playoffs over the weekend with 13 Austin-area teams advancing to this week's area round.
Dripping Springs, Bowie, Vista Ridge, Hutto, Leander, Liberty Hill, Weiss, Georgetown, East View, Hendrickson, Smithville, Thrall and Jarrell all won first-round matchups. This week's area round will be either one-game series or best-of-three formats depending on arrangements made between the two schools.
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• Dripping Springs standout Emma Phillips had a crushing performance with six hits, six RBIs and five runs scored as the Tigers beat Cedar Ridge 11-3 and 11-1. Sadie Braford pitched the first-game win, finishing with eight strikeouts in a complete game. Tatum Green pitched the second game that lasted only five innings. Alex Wiatrek had four hits with three runs and three RBIs while Lorelei Gamble had three hits in six at-bats.
• Lillie Gideon slammed three hits and drove in four runs as Bowie cruised past Round Rock 12-2 in a one-game playoff. Piper Kleinhenz pitched the victory for the Bulldogs, striking out five. Bowie freshman catcher Julia Wood had three this and scored twice while driving in one run and sophomore first baseman Ellie Lauer was 2-for-2 with a run scored and an RBI.
• Hutto spotted Lake Travis an early lead but went on to sweep the Cavaliers 6-2 and 16-6 to advance. Blair Kelly hurled a complete game in the first-game victory and then split duties with Molly Kreig in the second game. Hippos shortstop Kaelyn Price, hitting out of the leadoff spot, sparked Hutto's crowd in the first game when she singled, went to second base on a wild pitch, made it to third on a delayed steal and then scored on a groundout.
• Vista Ridge won a pair of high-scoring games over Austin High, 7-4 and 11-5. The Rangers collected 21 hits in the two games.
• Leander pounded New Braunfels 10-5 and 13-1 as Rachel Grundei hit .833 in the series with a home run, six RBIs, five runs scored and five stolen bases. Aliyah Allen collected five hits, including double and a home run, while driving in four runs and scoring four runs, Madelyn Lee hit .571 with four hits, scored six runs, stole five bases and drive in pair of runs. Leander faces Seguin in the area round.
• Hendrickson beat McCallum 2-1 in a one-game playoff on Zoey Kellam's walk-off RBI single in the eighth inning. Hawks pitcher Kara Luongo threw a complete game with 16 strikeouts and allowed only two hits.
• Kynleigh Ball and Emma Miloch both homered as Georgetown beat LASA 6-1 in another one-game playoff. Caitlin Gomez hurled the complete game for the Eagles, allowing just three hits and striking out 10 Raptors.
• Weiss blasted Crockett 18-0 and East View beat Bastrop 3-0 as District 23-5A completed its sweep of all four bi-district games over District 24-5A. Lucy Hanna pitched a complete-game three-hitter for East View. For Weiss, Jordynn Booe had two hits, drove in three runs and scored three runs as the Wolfpack scored eight runs in the second and 10 more in the third inning. Sofia Alvarez added two hits while seven different Wolves scored two runs each.
• Rouse had a great start against state-ranked San Antonio Veteran’s Memorial, as the Raiders won Game 1 5-3. But they then lost Game 2 6-1 before begin eliminated by a walk-off loss in the deciding game.
• Smithville blasted LaMarque 15-0 in a run-rule shortened contest as the Tigers scored twice in the first inning, added four more in the second, then erupted with seven in the third and two runs in the fourth to end the game early. Addison Otto had three hits, scored three runs and drove in three runs for Smithville while Brittney Collins had two hits, scored twice and drove in a run. Jessica Hinnant pitched the five-inning shutout, allowing one hit and striking out 12.
• Thrall hammered Elkhart 18-9 and Jarrell beat Gatesville 4-3.