Shiner tops Hawley, headed to state final
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
by Antonio Morales, Victoria Advocate Sports
AdvoSports.com Article | 2A Softball SemiFinal Game Box Score | Shiner Softball | Shiner Comanche Sports Home Page
AUSTIN - Earlier this week, Shiner head coach Steven Cerny expressed he wasn't concerned about the collective age of his team, which features only two seniors.
Shiner players celebrate after defeating Hawley in the UIL Class 2A State Semifinal 5-4 to advance to the state final against Harleton.
[ click on any photo to enlarge ]all photos by Scott Julian, special to the Advocate
And with freshmen like Kailey Williams, it's not hard to understand why he feels that way.
With Shiner trailing 4-2, Williams came up with a two-run triple in the top of the seventh inning and scored the game-winning run on a Kori Landman sacrifice fly to push the Lady Comanches to a wild 5-4 victory against Hawley in a UIL Class 2A State Semifinal at Red & Charline McCombs Field on Wednesday [June 3, 2015].
"We've played good competition, they've all been in this situation before, but never on this big of a stage," Cerny said. "I was so proud of her (Williams) for being able to handle the pressure and coming up with a clutch hit.
"We were done. We came back to life right there. So we get a second chance to live not only today, but for tomorrow, so we're very fortunate."
Shiner will face Harleton (33-2) for the state championship at 3 p.m. Thursday [June 4, 2015] at McCombs Field.
Entering the seventh inning, Shiner (30-5-1) had missed some scoring opportunities. The Lady Comanches loaded the bases in the first, second and fifth innings, but managed to score only one run from those situations.
The numbers through the first six innings weren't pretty, Shiner was 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position and had left 10 runners on base.
When Hawley starter Karlee Thompson reached two strikes on Williams in her at-bat in the seventh, those numbers were close to getting worse.
"I've played ball a long time, so I've kind of learned to keep it level," Williams said. "Coach Cerny has told us this whole season to keep our composure, so that really helps here.
"(I was) kind of (nervous). but just went to the basics and made contact."
Williams, a shortstop, has had her moments in these playoffs, including a two-run home run against Benavides in the regional semifinals.
Her heroics would not have been possible without her teammates, though. Freshman Bethany Nevlud led off the frame with a walk, Kassidy Bishop singled to put another runner on base, and of course, Landman came up huge for the Lady Comanches with the sacrifice fly.
"You play for seven innings . they (the players) know that. We've been down before," Cerny said. "They grew today. they've done it all year and they came through today."
CeCe Darilek pitched all seven innings to earn the win. She allowed six hits and four earned runs, but became stronger as the game progressed.
Darilek retired the final seven batters he faced, and made quick work of the Bearcats in the seventh to secure the victory.
She kept the team in the game when they fell behind by three runs, 4-1, in the fourth.
"She did a great job," Cerny said. "She hit her spots the whole game, she did a great job of pitching. The early runs they scored, I'll take the blame for those."
The pitcher also had one hit and an RBI.
Shiner won't have much time to savor the victory as the Lady Cats, who defeated Bosqueville, 8-0, in the other 2A semifinal, await them.
"I've never been at the state title game, so this is great," Lady Comanches senior Tamara Hajek said. "Finally getting a chance to do what we were supposed to be doing, we're going to finish it (with a win), and we're going to come out with the gold."
Box Score
2015 Class 2A State Semifinal - Wednesday, June 3, 2015 McCombs Field, University of Texas @ Austin Shiner 5, Hawley 4 Score by Innings 123 456 7 R H E ----------------------------------------- Shiner.............. 010 010 3 - 5 9 0 Hawley.............. 020 200 0 - 4 6 3 ----------------------------------------- S — Ce Ce Darilek and Tamara Hajek. H — Karlee Thompson and Cassidy Meyer. W — Darilek (23-2). L — Thompson (27-2). 3B — S: Hannah Nevlud, Kailey Williams 2B — H: Bailey Dyer. Complete UIL Box Score for 2A SemiFinal Game
More State SemiFinal Game Photos
all photos by Scott Julian, special to the Advocate
[ click on any photo to enlarge ]
Shiner fans cheer them on during their game against Hawley in the UIL Class 2A State Semifinal to win 5-4 and advance to the state final against Harleton. Shiner's Hannah Nevlud makes a catch against Hawley in the UIL Class 2A State Semifinal to win 5-4 and advance to the state final against Harleton. Shiner's Kailey Williams makes a throw during their game against Hawley in the UIL Class 2A State Semifinal to win 5-4 and advance to the state final against Harleton. 
Shiner's CeCe Darilek pitches during their game against Hawley in the UIL Class 2A State Semifinal to win 5-4 and advance to the state final against Harleton. Shiner's Lauren Schuette reacts after scoring against Hawley in the UIL Class 2A State Semifinal to win 5-4 and advance to the state final against Harleton. Shiner's Kori Landman catches the ball at first base against Hawley in the UIL Class 2A State Semifinal to win 5-4 and advance to the state final against Harleton.
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