The Kennedale Lady Kat Softball team bid a farewell to the 2015 season after battling to a top eight finish in the state UIL 4A Softball playoffs Saturday at Lady Kat Field, losing to the Snyder Lady Tigers 6-5. {{more}}
It was not the finish that seniors Rebeckah Abair (All-district ’14), Jazlyn Crowder (District MVP ’14) and Allie Turner (District MVP Pitcher and All-State ’14) had hoped for but it did reinforce Kennedale?s reputation as a top tier softball program in the state in Class 4A.Kennedale has consistently been a state ranked team, a contender for a region title and a possible state final four finish. Kennedale has now been knocking on the door three of the last four years and these seniors have been a part of it.
Saturday?s game had the drama that a region final should have. Going into the game, both teams had won with strong convincing wins and the series was tied at one apiece.Game Summary:
- Kennedale took the lead in the second with one run after Allyssa Bradberry, who was hit by pitch, reached third on passed ball and then scored off of Rebeckah Abair?s single. Score Kennedale 1-0
- The Lady Kats were looking good when Kennedale added three more runs in the top of the third off of singles by Allie Turner, Mary Grace Howard and Jazlyn Crowder followed by a triple from Elizabeth Schiele. Score Kennedale 4-1
- Snyder got into the game in the bottom of the third with three runs off of a single, two doubles and a triple, knocking Kennedale pitcher Alexa Niefert out of the game. Score Kennedale 4-3
- Kennedale held the lead until the bottom of the fifth when the Lady Tigers scored two runs after they loaded the bases with a walk, a reach on error and a successful bunt. This was followed by a single that ended up scoring two. Score Snyder 5-4.
- Neither team did anything in the 6th but Kennedale tied in the top of the 7th off of a Turner single, a sacrifice by Neifert and a Howard single. Score Kennedale 5-5
- In dramatic fashion, Snyder looking at 2 outs got three straight singles and won a walk off victory. Score Snyder 6-5
For the game, Allie Turner pitched 4.1 innings getting 3 strikeouts while allowing 3 runs on five hits and one walk. She pitched 46 strikes in 61 throws while getting 11 ground/fly outs and recorded 2 errors while on the mound. Alexa Neifert pitched 2.1 innings allowing 3 runs on five hits. She pitched 23 strikes in 31 throws while getting 7 ground/fly outs and recorded 3 errors.
For the 9 game playoffs series, the most prolific player for Kennedale was Jazlyn Crowder. Using unofficial stats as posted on Game Changer the following were the players with the biggest numbers.
- Jazlyn Crowder had a hit in every game, hitting .483 on 14 hits with 5 doubles, one triple, two homeruns, 15 RBIs, six walks and no strike outs.
- Elizabeth Schiele scored well with multiple base hits, hitting .408 on 13 hits with three doubles, two triples, 18 RBIs, three walks and no strike outs.
- Alexa Neifert hit .452 for the playoffs with 14 hits, 10 RBIs, two doubles, one triple, two walks and no strike outs.
- Mary Grace Howard was strong at the plate hitting multiple base hits with 6 doubles (two in one game) while hitting .433 on 13 hits, 3 RBIs, 6 walks and 2 strike outs.
- Allie Turner helped herself out as pitcher, hitting .393 on eleven hits, 3 RBIs along with two doubles, two triples, nine walks and two strike outs.
Kennedale will miss the play of its seniors but this is a young team. Allyssa Bradberry and Mary Grace Howard started as freshmen. Sophomore players included Alexa Neifert, Jamie Franks, Ashley McElvaney and Ashley Oliveras. Juniors on the team were led by Elizabeth Schiele and included Kamryn Crow, Jordan Vasquez, Samantha Velazquez and Valerie Velazquez.
Kennedale ended the season at 23-4 with a playoff record of 7-2 under Head Coach Chris Reue and Assistant Coaches Katrina Pytel and Derek Lopez.See recent Dallas
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