Is it still considered a game if only one team shows up to play? In the semifinals and finals round of the 2A-4 District Softball Tournament, the Mansfield Lady Tigers were a double threat as they played back-to-back matches on Saturday, May 2, and completely dominated the show with a combined score of 22-0. The Lady Tigers shutdown Lavaca first in the semifinals as they kept the Lady Arrows grounded 12-0. Freshman, Cole Smith had a great showing as she led the lineup with 3 hits and 4 RBI. Smith also earned 1 run for the Lady Tigers.
For the District finals, the Lady Tigers found themselves face to face with conference foes the Acorn Lady Tigers and after a complete ambush of Acorn, Mansfield left the field with a 10-0 final score along with the title of 2A-4 District Champions. Mansfield pitcher, Alyson Edwards, held fast for six innings allowing four hits and zero runs while striking out eight. Edwards was an offensive asset as well delivering 3 of the 10 runs. Kiara Thomas and Chloe Creekmore trailed with 2 runs each and Natalie Allison, Brooklyn Adams, and Skylynn Harris sealed 1 apiece.
The highlight for Mansfield in the District finals though was the homers duo of Harris and Creekmore. To close out the bottom of the first inning, Skylynn Harris hit an over the river and through the woods grand slam that brought Edwards, Creekmore, and Allison all home. As the game sat quietly for the next three innings, Chloe Creekmore busted through the doors of the bottom of the fifth by orbiting Mansfield’s second homerun which allowed Edwards to score again.
The Mansfield Lady Tigers are now the conference and district champs and will be flying into Round 1 of Regionals on Thursday, May 6 to take on Decatur. The Lady Tigers hold a 12-4 record with 10 of those games being complete shutouts along with 167 total runs on the season compared to their opponents combined 21.
Photos courtesy of Crystal Thomas