News Detail
Big Fifth Inning Fuels Lady Lions into Final Four
SHINER, TX – Party like it’s 2008!
The Lady Lions are headed back to the TAPPS Final Four, after defeating San Antonio Antonian Preparatory 14-2 in a 5-inning run-rule on a beautiful Saturday afternoon at the Shiner Starplex. Behind a solid performance by junior pitcher Lyndie Swanson, the Lions continued what they have done the whole season: textbook hitting and lots of it. Designated as the visiting team, the Lions got started early and looked to stay hot, coming off of Tuesday’s victory. They ended up sending seven to the plate, chasing the Apache starting pitcher out of the game in only the opening frame. Mainly singles, the Lions put together quality at-bats to get out to an early 4-0 lead. Putting pressure on the Apache hitting from the start, Swanson pitched yet another quality start, allowing one run in the first, but settling in to only allow 6 total baserunners the rest of the game.
Despite the rough start, Apache pitching began to settle down and, along with a pair of runs, Antonian was still in the game, keeping the Lions hitters at bay, until the fifth inning. In what has to be a school record, the Lions sent fourteen batters to the plate, managing 10 runs on 10 hits, and left one on base all in the same inning. Eight consecutive hits, including back-to-back-to-back home runs by Valerie Grandjean ‘18 (solo HR), Swanson (2-R HR), and Calli Collins ‘20 (solo HR), made it 8-2 in a hurry. The bottom of the lineup continued to make contact, recording three singles and eventually a bases-clearing double by Swanson to end the scoring in the fifth, giving the Lions a 14-2 lead heading to the bottom of the inning. After the inning ended, it was all but clear who was going to advance, and after a 1-out single, Swanson got the next two batters, including a flyout to left field, to clinch only the second Final Four appearance in program history.
In the two playoff games they have played, the Lady Lions have scored 25 runs, hit 4 home runs, and have a team batting average of .545. They hope to add to these totals and make even more history on Friday, as they face Nolan Catholic High School (just outside of Fort Worth) and the Lady Vikings in the first semifinal game in Crosby, TX at 4:00 pm, with a chance to advance to their first ever state championship game on Saturday. We’re rooting for you and wish you the best of luck on Friday!
St. John XXIII College Preparatory forms the hearts and minds of young men and women in a Christ-centered community dedicated to academic excellence, the pursuit of virtue, and service to others in the Tradition of the Catholic Church.
