The Sundown Roughettes squared off against the Haskell Maidens in the Re- gional Semifinal Round of the 2A Division 2 softball playoffs this past weekend in Ira, resulting in the Roughettes earning a hardfought sweep to secure the Regional Semifinal Championship.
In game one on Friday, Sundown beat Haskell 7-4 in seven innings. Haskell scored a run in the third inning, and Sundown scored five runs in the fourth inning and two runs in the sixth inning. Haskell would make a late push with three runs in the seventh inning, but the Roughettes would still earn the win.
In the team statistics, Sundown bested Haskell 2-0 in walks and 0-1 in errors committed, while Haskell bested them 11-8 in hits.
The Roughettes standouts at the plate included Camry Jourden going 2/3 with three runs-batted-in, two runs scored, a double and a stolen base, Miranda Posadas going 2/3 with two RBIs and a double, Destiny Garza with an RBI and a run scored, Breigh Gregory going ¾ with a run scored and a double, and Brynly Gregory going 1/3 with a run scored, a double and a walk.
Garza pitched all seven innings in game one, surrendering four earned runs on 11 hits and zero walks while striking out three batters.
In game two on Saturday, Sundown beat Haskell in comeback fashion with a 3-2 walk-off win. The Roughettes scored a run in the second inning before Haskell scored two runs in the fifth inning to take the lead. They’d hold the lead until the bottom of the seventh inning, where the Roughettes scored two runs to walk off the game and series.
In the team statistics, the Roughettes bested the Maidens 7-6 in hits and 6-0 in walks, while the Maidens bested them 1-2 in errors committed.
Breigh Gregory pitched the full game, surrendering zero earned runs on six hits and zero walks while striking out five batters.
Sundown’s standouts at the plate in game two included Nayleen Morin going ½ with two RBIs, two walks and a double, Brynly Gregory going 2/4, Emry Jourden going 1/3 with a walk, Breigh Gregory going 1/3 with a run scored and a walk, Garza going ¼ with a run scored and a double, and Camry Jourden with a run scored and a walk.
The pair of wins improves the Roughettes to 27-3 overall, also securing the Regional Semifinal Championship. Following the series win, Sundown Head Softball Coach Meagan Gonzales reflected on how they did so.
“We showed a lot of toughness and composure all series long. Our girls never stopped believing, even when we were down to our final out in the seventh," Coach Gonzales said. “The top of our lineup did a great job getting on base and putting pressure on them, and Nayleen came through with a huge hit when we needed it most. I’m really proud of the way this team competed, stayed together and kept fighting until the very end to earn this series win."
Sundown now advances to the Regional Finals, where they’ll face the Reagan County Lady Owls this week on Thursday at 6 p.m. in Andrews. The series will be one game, with the winner advancing.
(Photo provided by Sundown ISD)