NAVASOTA — The Thrall Tigerettes varsity softball team advanced to the area round of the playoffs with a 7-2 win over the Elkhart Lady Elks on Friday, April 27, behind a dominant performance from junior pitcher Miley Pokorny.
Pokorny threw a complete game, recording 12 strikeouts and allowing just two runs.
Thrall struck first in the bottom of the first inning on a sacrifice fly by junior Riley Luton to take a 1-0 lead. Elkhart answered in the top of the second, tying the game at 1-1 after a successful steal of home. The Tigerettes loaded the bases with two outs in the bottom half but were unable to capitalize, ending the inning on a flyout.
The Lady Elks took a 2-1 lead in the third on an error, but the Tigerettes bounced back with a huge fourth inning. Freshman Selena Quintanilla tied the game with an RBI single, and an error by Elkhart brought home two more runs to give Thrall a 4-2 lead. A groundout added another run as the Tigerettes closed the frame up 5-2. Thrall padded its lead in the fifth, scoring twice on back-to-back sacrifice flies after loading the bases with no outs.
Pokorny and the defense shut down Elkhart the rest of the way, retiring the Lady Elks in order over the final two innings to secure the bi-district championship.
Quintanilla led the offense, going 3-for-4 at the plate with an RBI.
The Tigerettes will face Blooming Grove in a best-of-three arearound playoff series starting at 6 p.m. Friday, May 2. Game 2 will take place at noon on Saturday, May 3, with a third game to follow if needed.
The entire series will take place at Riesel High School. Blooming Grove advanced after a 13-2 win over Clifton and are led by standout utility player Rileigh O’Dell.
