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Garland Lady Owls
310 S. Garland Ave
Garland, Texas
75040
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 2006 News Stories |
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Wednesday, June 21
Garland, No. 4 team in country, is serious about returning to UIL tournament
08:23 PM CDT on Wednesday, May 24, 2006
By KATE HAIROPOULOS / The Dallas Morning News
GARLAND The sign on the locker room door spells it out:
"Big Game Hunters Only."
Posted by supportive team parents, the sign plays off the Garland softball team's season theme: "The Hunt for June."
Garland is close to getting back to the UIL state tournament, June 1-3 in Austin, after falling to Keller in the 5A championship last season. Garland, whose players sometimes sport camouflaged T-shirts in keeping with the theme, is only a best-of-3 series victory from making it back.
The Region II finals vs. Huntsville begin Friday at the Waco ISD athletic complex.
For some teams, playing this deep in the playoffs could be a tense time. Not for Garland, the winners of 22 straight and the No. 4 team in the country.
"We're trying to stay as relaxed as possible," said senior Vanessa Vice, "but still get the job done."
Garland coach Cindy Mosteller is always coming up with new ways to keep the pressure off. Take Monday's practice.
The players gathered in a field that borders Buckingham Road and the Garland softball field and took batting practice with grapes and orange slices. The team had the snacks left over from its weekend series with Bryan and Garland put them to good use.
"We were focused for a while," senior left fielder Jenny Knight said, "but it turned into throwing them and smashing them into each other."
The exercise was valid because "if you can hit a little grape, you can hit a 12-inch softball," Mosteller said. But that wasn't the point.
"They had a blast," said Mosteller, who has also been known to incorporate Super Soaker water guns into practices. "It didn't even seem like softball, and that's exactly what you want it to be."
Don't get the wrong idea though, Mosteller said. Garland is still working hard this week, as it has all season. Finding the right balance is key for a team that demands so much from itself.
But the players, who went swimming together after the practice/food fight Monday, should be relaxed because they had been playing incredibly well. The team has outscored playoff opponents, 26-5, and the offense is hot. Garland had 27 hits in its two-game sweep of Bryan last week. Mosteller said the defense has also been strong behind the pitching of Tomi Garrison.
"I just think we're peaking knock on wood at the right time," Mosteller said.
BRANDON THIBODEAUX/Special Contributor
Garland coach Cindy Mosteller has tried to keep her team loose by holding batting practice with grapes and orange slices. And Garland is confident. When it fell behind 2-0 in the first inning against Bryan on Saturday, Mosteller said there was no panic. She didn't even have to call a timeout because the players on the field huddled up together and refocused. Garland went on to win, 10-2.
Mosteller and her players swear that they don't look back at last season's 15-inning, lightning-delayed loss to Keller in the title game for motivation. The players say they're proud of the program's first run to the state tournament.
Now they just want to make it two in a row, hopefully with a better ending. That would be fun.
E-mail khairopoulos@dallasnews.com
CLASS 5A REGION II SOFTBALL FINAL
Huntsville (25-8) vs. Garland (31-2)
Game 1: 7:30 Friday at Waco ISD Complex
Game 2: 5:00 Saturday at Waco ISD Complex
Game 3: (if necessary): 30 minutes after Game 2
Wednesday, June 21
UIL state softball preview
10:23 PM CDT on Wednesday, May 31, 2006
By GREG RIDDLE / The Dallas Morning News
TOP STORYLINES
Kirsten Shortridge's health: Keller's senior All-American pitcher twisted her right ankle against Burleson on Saturday, and she said Monday that she was in a lot of pain and was having trouble walking. The MVP of last year's 5A state tournament may not be 100 percent, but she is expected to be ready to pitch Friday.
REX C. CURRY/Special Contributor
Keller's hopes to repeat as Class 5A champion might depend on the condition of star Kirsten Shortridge's right ankle. Cleburne's motivation: Cleburne (28-10-1) will be trying to win its first state title and to send coach Teri Rabe out in style. Rabe is stepping down after the season so she can coach at Ganado, where her husband, Mike, is the football coach and athletic director. Teri Rabe is also pregnant, and her baby is due in September.
Repeat performance? Keller (33-3) in 5A and Elysian Fields (25-7) in 2A are the only teams that have a chance to repeat as state champions. Four teams that were state runners-up last year are back in the state tournament Garland (33-2) in 5A, Justin Northwest (28-10-1) in 4A, West Columbia Columbia (35-1) in 3A and Dallardsville Big Sandy (18-4) in 1A.
FAMILIAR FACES
Coahoma: The 2A power is in the state tournament for the eighth time, a state record. Coahoma (28-11-2) has won only one state title, though, with that coming in 1998.
Keller: The nation's top-ranked team is in the state tournament for the sixth time. Keller won 5A state titles in 2003 and 2005 and was the runner-up in 1997.
Shiner: The Class A power is in the state tournament for the sixth time. Shiner (20-4-1) is seeking its third title, having won in 2001 and 2002.
TOP PITCHERS
Kirsten Shortridge, Keller: The Baylor signee is 31-2 with a 0.22 ERA. She has 1,523 career strikeouts, moving her past three-time Olympic gold medalist Lisa Fernandez on the all-time national high school list. Fernandez entered this season No. 7 all-time.
Brittany Barnhill, Justin Northwest: The heavily recruited junior is 23-6 with a 0.32 ERA, and she has pitched eight shutouts in 10 playoff games.
Cody Trahan, Orange Little Cypress-Mauriceville: The LSU signee is 25-2 and has averaged more than two strikeouts per inning for a team that has won 19 in a row.
Sarah McCloud, Celina: The junior is 23-3 with a 0.19 ERA and has averaged 1.9 strikeouts per inning. She has orally committed to Georgia.
Tomi Garrison, Garland: The sophomore is 22-1 with a 0.24 ERA, and she has pitched four playoff shutouts, including a perfect game.
Brittany Cuevas, Clute Brazoswood: The Louisiana- Lafayette signee is 23-3 with a 0.36 ERA. She struck out 25 in a 10-inning win over Pearland.
TOP HITTERS
Kirsten Shortridge, Keller: The two-time Gatorade state player of the year is hitting .521 with 19 extra-base hits, 44 runs scored, 27 RBIs and 44 stolen bases.
Brittany Barnhill, Justin Northwest: She is hitting .475 with 29 stolen bases, and she has walked 43 times.
Amberly Waits, Cleburne: The Louisiana Tech signee is hitting .424 with four home runs, 24 RBIs and 18 stolen bases.
Vanessa Vice, Garland: The Tulsa signee is hitting .468 with 21 extra-base hits, 46 runs scored and 33 RBIs.
Krystle Huey, Garland: The speedy junior has orally committed to Oklahoma, and she's hitting .456 and has scored 46 runs.
Alicia Salazar, Dripping Springs: The senior is hitting .461 with four home runs and 27 RBIs.
E-mail griddle@dallasnews.com
ON A ROLL
Garland: The nation's fourth- ranked team is 33-2 and has won 24 in a row behind an offense that averages 7.9 runs per game. The first six batters in Garland's lineup all hit better than .350.
Clute Brazoswood: The nation's 25th-ranked team is 31-3 and has won 14 straight. It faces Garland in the 5A semifinals. One of Garland's two losses was to Pearland. Brazoswood beat Pearland four times this season, including a two-game sweep in the regional final.
Spring Branch Smithson Valley: The state's third-ranked 5A team is 26-1, and it has won 25 in a row since losing to Coppell. Senior pitcher Taryn Munoz (21-1, 0.40 ERA) has helped Smithson Valley reach the state tournament for the fifth time in the last eight years. It faces defending 5A state champion Keller in the semifinals.
Justin Northwest: It beat three teams that were in the top eight in the 4A state rankings en route to the state tournament.
Wednesday, June 21
Garland, Keller score early this time, but game ends late again
01:26 AM CDT on Sunday, June 4, 2006
AUSTIN First team to cross the plate wins.
That was a reasonable assumption Saturday night as Garland and Keller ran on to McCombs Field for the Class 5A state softball championship. Runs are scarce in softball, and against dominating pitching and defense, well ...
Even getting a player to third base would be a staggering blow in this championship rematch of the area's softball heavyweights. And getting that player across the plate getting a single break in the string of zeroes on the scoreboard figured to be the haymaker that would floor one of the nation's best teams.
Garland threw that haymaker in the third inning Saturday, scoring a run to push the defending champs against the ropes. All Garland needed to do was hang on for four innings, and it would have its first state championship.
"We were like 'Just ride it out, ride it out,' " senior first baseman Vanessa Vice said. "We thought, if we just play good defense behind Tomi [Garrison], we'll win it."
Easier said than done, of course, against a Keller team that is ranked No. 1 in the nation. A Keller team that for two years has been the only thing Garland couldn't overcome.
After Garland scored its run on an RBI single by Fra'Shekia Knight, Keller responded in the fourth with a run. The defending champs, making their sixth appearance in the state tournament, threatened again in the fifth and sixth innings, but Garland's defense diffused each rally and the score remained tied at 1.
Despite an expected low score, the game was much different than the championship matchup of a year ago, when it took 15 innings to get a run across the plate in Keller's 4-0 victory. That game didn't end until 1:30 a.m. on Sunday, which was five hours after it began and three innings after a lightning delay that might've been God saying, "Let's just call it a tie."
In that game, Garland hung in with defense because it could barely put the ball in play against Keller's Kirsten Shortridge, perhaps the most dominant high school pitcher since Texas Longhorns ace Cat Osterman was stringing up zeroes at Cypress Springs. Shortridge had a tournament-record 22 strikeouts in last year's championship game, and she had a no-hitter through 14 2/3 innings.
But this year, Garland looked a year older, wiser and stronger. From the start of the game, the fourth-ranked team in the nation put the ball in play against Shortridge. Garland got its first hit in the first inning, and it hit the ball hard throughout the game.
The best example was in the third inning, when left-handed hitter Krystle Huey hit a monstrous shot over the right fielder's head. Vanessa Vice did the same thing an inning later, but her liner sailed foul.
Keller also hit the ball hard against Garland's Tomi Garrison, another formidable pitcher who pitched 14 shutout innings before giving up a run in last year's championship game.
But as different as that made this year's matchup, the night was feeling very much the same as a year ago. It wasn't going to end early.
With one run on the board for each team, the game headed to extra innings and another classic finish. It was just a matter of which team had the next knockout punch.
"The girls knew it was our year," Garland coach Cindy Mosteller said. "They knew it in their hearts."
E-mail mwixon@dallasnews.com
Wednesday, June 21
Garland smiles, but resumes its mission
After 24 straight wins, team looks to reverse last year's result at state
12:39 AM CDT on Sunday, May 28, 2006
WACO The Garland softball team's 24th straight victory looked a lot like the 23 before it.
On the mound, Tomi Garrison dominated by allowing only three hits. In the field, Garland players gobbled up everything hit their way to melt potential rallies into a blur of zeroes. At the plate, Garland pounded out eight hits to break its opponent's back.
And when it was over Saturday, the Garland players smiled and congratulated each other for a job well done. Just another game, it seemed, although Garland's 2-1 victory over Huntsville earned a sweep of the Class 5A Region II series and a spot in state.
Where was the dog pile in the middle of the field? The screams and hollers, the throwing gloves in the air, the kind of hugging you might see when a teacher announces the final exam has been canceled?
There wasn't any of that at Waco ISD Athletic Complex.
"We still have a mission," Garland coach Cindy Mosteller said.
But the Garland players still remember how that state appearance ended in one of the most amazing championship games ever.
Garland was so close to a title in its 15-inning loss to Keller, it's easy to understand why the players have been so focused on getting back.
"Our goal is to get back to the state championship," said junior third baseman Brianna Love, "and get a different outcome."
For much of Saturday afternoon, the outcome of the series seemed headed for Game 3. Garland (33-2) was down 1-0 after the first two hitters for Huntsville.
Actually, Garland was down after the first two pitches to Huntsville (25-10). Garrison's first pitch of the game was smashed into left field by Caley Jeter, and Elaine Burzynski knocked the next pitch into center field to score Huntsville's only run.
It was a strange position for Garland, which has outscored its opponents, 32-6, in the playoffs.
"Usually we just relax and let the game come to us," Love said. "It made us focus and get ready a little quicker."
But maybe a little too ready and a little too focused. At least in the sense that Garland started to play without its easygoing style. As Garland trailed, 1-0, after five innings, and a win-or-else Game 3 started to sink in, the players started to feel it.
"We got down, and then we tightened up and the innings wore on," senior first baseman Vanessa Vice said.
So before the sixth inning, Mosteller huddled with the team. She told the players to relax and enjoy themselves kind of like the way they did last week when Garland spent practice time swinging at grapes and orange slices.
There was no great strategy to that, just fun. And that's what Mosteller wanted Saturday's experience to be.
"I told them, 'There are no bad days in the playoffs,' " Mosteller said. "I want to see you smile out there."
The smiles soon arrived, aided by four straight hits. Garrison started it with a one-out single, Vice followed with a single, Love doubled in the tying run and Whitney Wilson singled in the winning run.
In less than five minutes, Garland had equaled its hit total from the first five innings.
Things were finally going Garland's way.
"And once we get going, we're going," Love said. "And we don't stop."
Certainly not now. Garland has plans for two more games of smiles in Austin.
Wednesday, June 21
Garland pitcher makes the best of rest
11:01 PM CDT on Saturday, May 13, 2006
By GREG RIDDLE / The Dallas Morning News
McKINNEY Facing a quick turnaround between games, Garland softball coach Cindy Mosteller wanted to make sure her players got a good night's sleep before playing Rockwall on Saturday afternoon.
So Mosteller hinted that some members of the nation's fourth-ranked team might be getting a call Friday night.
"I said cellphones off at 11:30," Mosteller said. "They knew I would probably try to call somebody. I called one to see if it was on. It always works."
No one looked more rested than sophomore Tomi Garrison, who pitched on 19 hours' rest.
After throwing a shutout Friday night, Garrison came back and threw a one-hitter, her third consecutive shutout of the playoffs, as Garland beat Rockwall, 3-0, in eight innings at McKinney North. Garland (29-2) completed a two-game sweep of the Class 5A Region II quarterfinal series and reached the regional semifinals for the fourth consecutive season.
"It wasn't hard, because coach made us go to bed at 11:30," Garrison said. "My pitches didn't work as good today, but there was defense behind me."
Garland extended its winning streak to 20 games and advanced to face Bryan in a best-of-3 series that will be played at the Waco ISD Complex. Game 1 will be at 7 p.m. Friday. Garland beat Bryan, 4-0, earlier this season.
Garland had nine hits against Tye Coats (23-4) but didn't score until the top of the eighth.
Krystle Huey drew a leadoff walk, and Fra'Shekia Knight's sacrifice bunt moved her to second. Garrison followed with a one-out bloop single to right, and Huey scored when right fielder Leah Lowry's errant throw went to the backstop between third and home. After an infield single by Vanessa Vice, Brianna Love drove in two runs with a triple to left.
E-mail griddle@dallasnews.com
Wednesday, June 21
Garland No. 3, Keller No. 4 in national rankings
11:47 PM CDT on Wednesday, June 7, 2006
From Staff Reports
After winning the Class 5A softball title, Garland (35-2) finished No. 3 in the final USA Today/National Fastpitch Coaches Association national rankings. Keller (34-4), the 5A runner-up, was No. 4.
Wednesday, June 21
Champ Garland could return for more
02:36 AM CDT on Monday, June 5, 2006
By GREG RIDDLE / The Dallas Morning News
AUSTIN It was approaching midnight when Saturday's Class 5A state title game ended.
But that didn't keep a host of Garland softball players from making calls on their cellphones as soon as they left the field.
Who could blame them they had a lot to talk about.
Such as how Garland beat Keller, the nation's top-ranked team, 4-1, in a 13-inning thriller. And how Garland avenged last year's 4-0, 15-inning loss to Keller in the title game. And how after beating a team that had won two of the last three 5A state titles, Garland may have started its own dynasty with a team that had only three senior starters.
"It feels great, unbelievably great," said Garland senior first baseman Vanessa Vice, who drove in the winning run with a single in the top of the 13th.
It was Garland's first state title, but it was too late for a fancy celebration.
"We went to IHOP," Garland coach Cindy Mosteller said. "Then [Sunday] when we drove in, the parents had firecrackers and signs and confetti as we came off the bus."
Garland (35-2) entered the state tournament ranked No. 4 nationally. The only team ahead of it to win a state title was No. 2 Cactus (Ariz.), a team Keller beat.
Keller (34-4) fell just short of becoming the first 5A team to win back-to-back state titles. Keller stranded nine runners, including runners in scoring position in the fifth, sixth, eighth and 12th innings. Keller had runners at second and third with one out in the 12th but couldn't score against Garland sophomore pitcher Tomi Garrison (24-1).
"One hit away," Keller coach Moe Fritz said.
After managing only one hit off Keller All-American pitcher Kirsten Shortridge in last year's title game, Garland had nine hits against the senior Saturday. But the score was 1-1 until Garland scored three runs in the 13th on Vice's RBI single and Whitney Wilson's bases-loaded double that drove in two runs.
Shortridge (32-3) was 66-5 in her final two high school seasons, with two of the losses coming to Garland. Garrison, meanwhile, is 46-2 in her first two high school seasons. Garrison, Wilson, Krystle Huey, Fra'Shekia Knight and Brianna Love will return next year. They combined for eight hits Saturday. Huey had three of the hits.
Wednesday, June 21
Defending champion Keller, Garland to play again for title.
HIGH SCHOOL SOFTBALL
State tournament results
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Class 5A
Keller 5, Smithson Valley 1: Defending Class 5A softball champion Keller defeated Smithson Valley on Friday to set up a rematch today of the 15-inning 2005 championship game against Garland.
The top-ranked team in the state, Keller (34-3) broke a 1-1 tie by scoring three runs in the third inning.
Kirsten Shortridge finished with three hits, scored three runs and struck out eleven Rangers. She did not allow an earned run in winning her 32nd game of the season.
Smithson Valley finished with a 26-2 record.
Garland 3, Clute Brazoswood 0: Garland broke through for three runs in the fifth inning Friday to defeat Clute Brazoswood in the Class 5A state softball semifinals.
Garland (34-2) rapped out four straight two-out hits in the fifth. Krystle Huey and Fra'Shekia Knight both singled before pitcher Tomi Garrison delivered an RBI single.
Vanessa Vice then slapped a two-run single to center field to stake the Owls to a 3-0 lead.
"I was just looking for something to hit; I knew I had to drive in the run," said Garrison, whose three-hit shutout was her 23rd win of the season.
Garland third baseman Brianna Love set at state tournament record by tripling in her first two at-bats.
Brazoswood finished with a 31-4 record.
Class 4A
Little Cypress-Mauriceville 3, Cleburne 2: Katie Harrell's line-drive base hit to right field drove in the winning run in the bottom of the 12th inning, lifting Little Cypress-Mauriceville into today's Class 4A championship game with a thrilling win over Cleburne.
"I was just looking to hit the ball hard, and it was a little away," Harrell said. "I just jumped on it."
Harrell's third hit and second RBI brought home Miriam Richards, who had singled with one out.
The combination of Harrell's hitting and Cody Trahan's pitching she struck out 16 overshadowed a nice pitching effort from Cleburne's Katie Cowan, who struck out eight.
The Bears (29-2) built a 2-0 lead, but Cleburne (28-11-2) tied it in the sixth on a Janaye Richardson double and a Sam Oleksak single.
Class 3A
Van 2, Clyde 1: Cara Hulme struck out seven and held Clyde to just two hits, and Van rallied with a pair of runs in the sixth inning to advance to the Class 3A championship game.
The Vandals (36-5-1) will face Columbia (36-1) in the title game.
Van scored two runs on a single and a Clyde fielding error.
Butch Hart
Wednesday, June 21
Road ends for Brazoswood
By Joel Luna
The Facts
Published June 3, 2006
AUSTIN After fighting through close encounters in their exciting run to the Class 5A state softball tournament, the Brazoswood Lady Bucs finally met their match Friday evening.
The Garland Lady Owls (34-2) put together four straight singles off Brazoswood senior pitcher Brittany Cuevas in the fifth frame and three runs crossed the plate for a 3-0 Garland lead, which held up to the end at Red and Charline McCombs Field.
There are two ways to look at it, Brazoswood head coach Laura Oltman said. On the one hand, it was one bad inning. But on the other hand, they hit the ball well, and obviously, much better than we did.
Garland sophomore Tomi Garrison was too much for Brazoswood (31-4), which was playing in the state tournament for the first time since the 2000 Lady Bucs won the state title.
Garrison (24-1) faced 24 batters, finishing the game with four strikeouts, while allowing three hits and giving up a walk.
Garrison and the Lady Owls will move on to the state finals to face the winner of the Smithson Valley and Keller game played later Friday. In 2005, Garland lost to Keller in 15 innings, with Garrison, a freshman, on the mound.
Brazoswood ace Cuevas was rolling up until the fifth, striking out six of the first seven batters she faced.
The only hitter to put a bat on the ball to that point was Brianna Love, who bashed a triple to center field in the second frame. Cuevas came right back and struck out the next two Lady Owls, to strand Love at third. Love had another triple later in the game, becoming the first Class 5A player to do so at the state tournament.
In the Garland half of the fifth, Cuevas struck out the first two batters she faced one looking at strike three and the other swinging away. Krystal Huey then managed a hit to center field on a 2-2 count to keep the inning alive and Frashekia Knight followed with a single. Garrison then drove in the first run of the game with a third consecutive single.
With runners on second and third bases, Vanessa Vice singled on the first pitch offered by Cuevas, bringing in two more runs.
They took the Band-Aid off real fast, and one bad inning got us down, and we just didnt have sticks to come back, Oltman said.
Having reached the region final in the last two seasons and losing to Fort Bend Elkins both times, the Lady Bucs broke through and reached the state tournament this season with a series win over Pearland in the Region III final.
Its been fantastic and what I am about to tell the girls is, that right now, it is hard to realize that it has been a great season that theyve had, Oltman said. Only one team can go all the way, but theyve been fighters and theyve been a wonderful team to be a part of.
Runners were far and few between for Brazoswood against Garland. Sam Chumchal was the first to reach base on a walk in the second and Kristin Kappler reached in the fourth with an infield hit.
We knew we had to crowd the plate because they were getting the outside corner, Oltman said. And we tried to encourage them to foul that outside pitch off instead of hitting it. I mean we were hitting it, but we were putting it in play on the ground. Unfortunately, we couldnt find the answer.
Cuevas finished with 12 strikeouts and gave up no walks on the afternoon. She will be taking her talent to the University of Louisiana at Lafayette this fall.
Everything about this season has been awesome, Cuevas said. Even after the game, looking at my teammates, it is still awesome. It has been a great opportunity and I am so proud of my teammates. Whatever happened in that inning, it was fast and quick.
The other two Brazoswood players with hits were Brittanie Garay and Ashley Kappler.
Seniors on the team were Cuevas, Courtnie Ghinaudo, Alla Williams, Tasha Rotramel, Chumchal, Katie Fleming, Vanessa Flores and Lisa Paul.
Wednesday, June 21
Closing in on Austin
No. 2 Garland only team left that stands in Huntsville's way
By Tom Waddill
Sports Editor Huntsville Item May 26, 2006
Two more wins. Thats all that stands between the Lady Hornets and the state softball tournament in Austin.
Those two victories are going to be awfully tough to get, though. Huntsville clashes with Texas second-ranked team, the Lady Owls of Garland, in a best-of-three Region II final series starting tonight in Waco.
Garland (31-2) has not lost since March 4. The Lady Owls, who also are ranked fourth in the country by USA Today, score runs in bunches, they play air-tight defense and coach Cindy Mosteller has a pair of pitchers in sophomore Tomi Garrison and junior Whitney Wilson who mix it up and baffle opposing lineups.
State finalists a year ago, Garland has cruised in three playoff series this spring. The Lady Owls blanked Carrollton Newman Smith 4-0, they swept Rockwall 2-0 and 3-0, then last week, they destroyed Bryan 7-3 and 10-2.
The Lady Hornets (25-8) know its not going to be easy to knock off a team that appears destined for a return trip to the state tournament. But they believe it can be done.
I dont feel nervous and I dont think the kids feel nervous, Huntsville coach Nancy Hopper said after practice Thursday. I think were prepared. Theyre just girls they put their cleats on just like our kids do.
Theyre good, but so are we.
The Lady Hornets have been super this postseason. Huntsvilles scrappy bunch outlasted Round Rock Westwood in a three-game series, they upset A&M Consolidated in College Station, then rebounded from a series-opening loss last week and eliminated a talented Mesquite team by winning two games in a row.
Senior Morgan Mikulin, with the help of classmate and catcher Randi Jo Riggs, pitched three brilliant ballgames last week against the Skeeters. Mikulin struck out 13 in Huntsvilles extra-innings loss last Friday, then came back and nearly no-hit Mesquite in the third game. Combined, Mikulin pitched 24 innings in less than 24 hours. She struck out 24 batters and allowed only 13 hits in the three-game set.
Hopper said her senior star will probably have to repeat that kind of performance for the Lady Hornets to have a shot against Garland.
The top four or five hitters in their lineup have the potential to be big hitters. Theyve been solid all season, so Morgan and R.J. are going to have to work together to keep them off balance, Hopper said.
The Lady Owls have four hitters with season averages above .400. Junior shortstop Krystle Huey leads the way with a .522 mark. Sophomore center fielder FraShekia Knight, Wilson and junior third baseman Brianna Love provide plenty of pop in the middle of Garlands batting order. Those three have combined for eight homers and 91 RBIs this season.
Garlands gaudy offensive production helped Garrison compile a 14-1 regular-season record with an 0.31 earned run average while in the pitching circle. Wilson was 10-1 with a 0.60 ERA.
To get ready for the the Lady Owls, Hopper cranked up the teams pitching machine this week and had her hitters take plenty of cuts.
They pitch a little better than the last couple of teams weve seen, Hopper said. Theyve got more speed and probably a little more control. They mix their pitches better.
Coach (Jackie) Dixon has done a good job putting our scouting reports together. All this week weve been working on hitting the pitches we know theyre going to throw. We have tried to train according to the scouting reports weve received.
The Lady Hornets say theyre ready and anxious to test their mettle against the states second-ranked team. Game two of the series is set for 5 p.m. Saturday, with a third game, if necessary, to follow later Saturday evening.
If we can come out and play our game if everybody just plays their own game I think we can keep it close and beat Garland, outfielder Heather Adian said. Theyre just another team.
Outfielder BreNeka OBryant said rankings mean little to nothing to her and the rest of her teammates. Huntsville was ranked 14th in the final Texas Girls Coaches Association Poll, and the Lady Hornets have already knocked off No. 11 Mesquite and 20th-ranked Round Rock Westwood.
Those are just numbers to me, OBryant said. The higher a team is ranked, the harder they fall.
Wednesday, June 21
The Stage is Set
Cody Stark
Assistant Sports Editor
This is the time of year when the high school baseball and softball playoffs come down to the best teams in the state. And fortunately for folks around the area, the Huntsville Lady Hornets and the Trinity Tigers are among them.
While both schools knew who they would be playing this week, they now have dates, times and places.
The Lady Hornets will go up against Garland, the No. 2 ranked team in the state in Class 5A softball, in a best-of-three regional final series at the Waco ISD sports complex, beginning Friday at 7:30 p.m. Game 2 will be held Saturday at 5 p.m., with the third (if necessary) to follow 30 minutes later.
Coach Nancy Hopper said she didnt have any problem with a series, she just wanted to make sure that the seniors on the team had a chance to walk across the stage and receive their diploma at Huntsvilles graduation commencements Saturday at 10 a.m.
I agreed to a three-game series if we were able to spread out the times, Hopper said. I wanted to make sure our seniors had the chance to walk at graduation. Since we are playing Saturday at 5, they have the opportunity to go back and graduate with their friends. It is their choice, because they have been going to school for 12 years to get to this moment.
So far, the Lady Hornets have fared well in best-of-three series in the state playoffs on their way to the most successful run in school history. Huntsville defeated A&M Consolidated two game to one in the regional quarterfinals, and bounced back from an opening loss to win the final two in the semifinals against Mesquite.
Now the Lady Hornets are one of the final eight teams left, and despite Garlands ranking, see the Lady Owls as just the next in line to go down.
Garland is a very good team that hits well and has, probably, the best pitching we have seen yet, Hopper said. But we have done really well in best-of-three series. We have adjusted well. We began (Monday) on preparation for Garland. We are ready to go. The best thing about playing a top ranked team, is they fall further when you beat them.
The Trinity baseball team also has a tough obstacle in the road, as the Tigers continue their voyage through the playoffs.
Next in line is Hughes Springs, ranked No. 1 in the state in Class 2A by the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association. The two schools will play a single regional semifinal game Thursday at Mike Carter Stadium in Tyler at 7 p.m.
The Mustangs finished the regular season a perfect 30-0, and Tiger head coach Mike Shank felt the best chance to beat them was by playing only one game.
They wanted to go two out of three, and luckily we won the coin toss and made it one, the coach said. They havent lost a game all year and have put up some impressive scores in the playoffs. There are only 16 teams left in the playoffs, so every game is going to be tough.
Hughes Springs, like the Tigers, have yet to lose a playoff game. The Mustangs, the District 18-2A champs, beat Arp 17-6 in the area round, and topped Nacogdoches Central Heights 12-5 and 19-3 in the regional quarterfinals.
The Tigers are 6-0 in the playoffs and have won three best-of-three series over East Chambers, Newton and Grapeland. Junior ace Dallas Gallant will get the start against Hughes Springs, and is 4-0 with a save during the Tigers run.
Hughes Springs hits the ball well, but I dont think they have a pitcher as good as Dallas, Shank said. Its going to come down to us coming out and getting some runs early. They are going to get some hits off Dallas, so we have to do our part at the plate to help him out.
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Wednesday, June 21
LADY OWLS ARE STATE CHAMPS AFTER 4-1 WIN OVER KELLER (06/04/06)
Lady Owls walk away with State Championship in extra innings
By: Derek Ray Johnson
AUSTIN- Garland (36-2) scored three runs in the 13th inning to win the 2006 Class 5-A State Championship over the number one ranked team in the nation in Keller (34-3) with a game that will be talked about for years.
"It feels amazing," Garland pitcher Tomi Garrison said. "I cant wait to get our State Championship rings and just start celebrating. Last year we had one senior and this year we had five seniors. Im really glad for our seniors."
The Lady Owls walked onto the field at McCombs Field in Austin with a different swagger in its second time around. Last year, Garland didnt quite know what to expect in its first ever State Championship game.
The Lady Owls lost to Keller in the state championship last year 4-0 in 15 innings, but you could just feel this team was determined to take home the state crown this year.
Garland marched right through the state playoffs this year without celebrating any of its playoff wins. Tomi Garrison struck out Kellers Amber Tramp for the final out of the game and Garland finally got to celebrate.
"We didnt celebrate our wins in the playoffs because we knew there was more to come," Brianna Love said. "Were going to stay up all night celebrating and I dont know if well ever stop now that we won state."
It was a mob scene on the pitchers mound as Garland players and coaches piled on top of each other to celebrate the schools first ever State Championship in softball.
"It feels great just like I thought it would," Garland coach Cyndi Mosteller said. "I believed our kids could win state and the kids just had this attitude this year kind of like they knew they were going to win state this year."
Garland entered the game having to go against Baylor signee, Kristen Shortridge. "We knew how good Shortridge was coming in," Mosteller said. "She likes to get ahead in the count and she throws a lot of strikes. I just told our hitters to be aggressive and swing early in the count to get us going offensively."
The Lady Owls swung the bat early and often. Garland racked up nine hits off Shortridge and struck first in the third inning.
Krystle Huey ripped a liner that sailed over the right fielder with one out in the third inning and sprinted to third base for a triple. FraShekia Knight punched a single up the middle to give Garland an early 1-0 lead.
"I knew I had to make contact and it felt good to come through in that situation," Knight said.
Keller rallied to tie the game in the fourth inning on a questionable call by the plate umpire. Amber Tramp walked with two outs in the fourth inning then moved over to third on Kylie Kings bloop single to center field.
Keller had runners on second and third when Haley Siebman lined a scorcher that ricocheted off Brianna Loves glove. Huey was in the right place at the right time and scooped up the deflection and dove to tag out King racing for third base.
It appeared Garland escaped the inning, but the umpire ruled that Tramp had crossed home plate before Huey made the tag at third base.
Coach Mosteller, usually subtle and stoic, vehemently questioned the call, but was unable to get the plate umpire to change his decision. "I still feel like we made the out before the runner crossed the plate," Mosteller said.
Garland and Keller spent the next nine innings showcasing unbelievable defense as momentum seemed to sway from side to side on each out recorded.
Garlands defense was in top form on Saturday night and it was its defense that kept them in the game. There was several times that Garland appeared to be in real trouble, but its defense stood strong and just kept coming up with big plays, one on top of another.
Keller had a chance to win the game in its final at bat in the seventh inning, but Garlands defense came through in the clutch.
Brooke Webster ripped a shot that bounced off Vanessa Vices glove, but second baseman Whitney Wilson was backing up Vice and picked up the ball and fired back to Vice just in time to force extra innings.
Garland threatened in the eighth inning when Huey led the inning off with her third hit of the night. FraShekia Knight moved Huey to second on a ground out to second. Garrison kept the rally alive when she nailed a pitch that ate up the Keller shortstop.
Huey moved to third base on the play, but Garland was unable to break through. Vice struck out swinging then Wilson grounded out with the bases loaded after Love drew an intentional walk to end the inning.
Keller threatened in the eighth inning when Shortridge reached first on a bunt single. Garland came up with another defensive gem when Love charged an attempted sacrifice bunt and fired a laser down to second to force out the speedy Shortridge.
"I was just hoping we could get the play at second to keep Keller from getting a runner into scoring position," Garrison said.
Shortridge was still throwing darts for Keller in the ninth and recorded her eighth strikeout when she fanned Lyndsey Lipscomb on a nice change-up.
Garland kept Keller from rallying in the ninth inning after Erin Hinojosa led the inning off with a single to right field. Lipscomb bobbled the ball for a second when Hinojosa tried to stretch the single into a double.
Lipscomb picked the ball up and hit the cut-off with a perfect throw and Wilson quickly tossed the ball to Huey at second, which she turned into an out when she tagged a sliding Hinojosa.
Kellers Marisha Branson was hit by a pitch to lead the eleventh inning off, but Keller failed to convert. Love made a great catch on a foul pop-up while standing on the steps of the Keller dug-out to make the catch.
Garland dodged another bullet when Wilson caught a liner at second base and doubled-up Branson at first, who was breaking for second.
Keller appeared to have the game in hand when King led the 12th inning off with a double that bounced off the wall.
"We were beyond being nervous at that point in the game," Huey said. "We just knew we had to come up with a big play."
Keller laid down a bunt in an attempt to move King to third, but Garrison charged the bunt and delivered an amazing turn-around throw to third base as Huey tagged out King that stunned the capacity crowd.
"I was just glad that Krystle was there when I threw it," Garrison said. "That was a huge out and Krystle did a great job of breaking from her position at shortstop to get over to third base in time."
"We had a meeting at the pitchers mound prior to that play and I just let Tomi know that I would be there for her," Huey said. "I was just glad I got there in time and made the tag and it worked out good for us."
Siebman then singled to right and Lipscomb fielded the ball and fired to third to try and get the lead runner, but the runner beat the throw which allowed Siebman to move up to second.
Keller had runners on second and third with just one out and was a hit away from winning back-to-back State Championships.
Garland snatched victory from the gaping jaws of defeat when Love fielded a bunt at third base and threw the runner out at first after looking back at the lead runner at third base.
Garrison struck out Michelle Huffman looking on a fastball that just grazed the inside corner to get out of a major jam with the State Championship on the line.
"We had a few chances to score tonight and we didnt," Shortridge said. "It just wasnt in the cards for us to win tonight and it just didnt go the way we had hoped for."
Garland seemed to have a newfound energy entering the 13th inning and reeled off three hits which led to three runs to give Garland a 4-1 lead.
Huey led the 13th inning off with a lead-off chop single to second. Garrison laid down a bunt and reached first safely when Shortridge threw the ball wide of the first baseman.
Garland put its first two batters on base with nobody out, which brought the boisterous contingent of Garland faithful to its feet.
Vice smashed a single up the middle to score Knight and give Garland a 2-1 lead. It was just the night before that Vice drove in the game winning run to get Garland to the title game.
"Its really amazing," Vice said. "I didnt get a hit all night and to get one there was a great feeling. All I could think about was coming up with a hit."
But on this night the senior connected on a Shortridge fastball for the game winning, State Championship winning rbi.
Love was intentionally walked for the second time in the game to load the bases full with nobody out. "I honestly dont know why she walked me," Love said. "I hadnt been on base all night, so it kind of caught me by surprise."
Wilson delivered the knockout blow when she smashed a double to bring in two more Garland runs and the celebration in the stands was on.
"It felt really amazing when I hit the ball," Wilson said. "I could hardly breathe because I was so excited. "Ive never screamed so much in my whole life."
Garland made quick work of the previously #1 ranked team in the nation in the seventh inning. Shortridge led off with a single in the Keller 13th inning, but it would be Kellers last hit of the season.
Garland freshman catcher Kodie Garner caught Bransons foul pop-up for the first out then a Keller groundout moved Garland within just one out of its first State Championship.
"I was really nervous back there with this being the state championship," Garner said. "I just listened to my coaches and my teammates and did what they told me to do."
Fittingly, Garrison blew away Kellers Tramp on a fastball to end the game and give Garland its first state title in softball.
Garland spent a lot of years trying to get over the hump in getting past the regional final. Last year, Garland took that monkey off its back by making state for the first time.
This time around, Garland solidified its already prestigious softball program with a state title. "We had been there so many times in years past," Garland assistant Jennifer Robertson said. "It really is an unbelievable feeling. We lost a heartbreaker last year and learned from it and knew what it would take to win it this year."
"This feeling right now cant be put into words," Lipscomb said. "It couldnt be any better than what it is right now."
"Im extremely proud of our team," Keller coach Maureen Fritz said. "It was a great game and we just came up short."
Saturday marked the final game for Shortridge as a high school softball player. "I know the result of this game is going to be hard for her, but shell end up playing in the college world series for Baylor," Fritz said. "Shes a phenomenal player and I am going to miss her."
Coach Mosteller of Garland has been the coach at Garland ever since softball was recognized as a sport by the UIL. This is Coach Mostellers 13th season coaching the program. Garland has missed the playoffs only once during her reign at the school.
Coach Mosteller has already turned Garland softball into a dynasty and on Saturday she brought the only thing missing at Garland, which is the State Championship.
The number 13 is a lucky number for Coach Mosteller. She was born on the 13th day of the month and it was only fitting that Garland won its first state title in her 13th year as the coach in the 13th inning of the title game.
"I knew we were going to win when the 13th inning came along," Mosteller said. "What can I say. My lucky number is 13."
Garland 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 - 4
Keller 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 - 1
Winning Pitcher- Tomi Garrison (24-1)
Losing Pitcher- Kristen Shortridge (32-3)
Wednesday, June 21
Coach Mosteller has helped build Garland softball into a dynasty (05/29/06)
Garland gearing up for state semi-finals in Austin
By: Derek Ray Johnson
The Lady Owls are (35-2) overall on the season and carry a #2 state ranking as well as a #4 national ranking by USA Today entering this weeks State tournament.
The only team ranked ahead of Garland in Texas is Keller, which is also ranked #1 in the nation in the latest USA Today national top 25 poll.
Last year, Garland lost to Keller in the state championship in a game that took 15 innings to decide the winner.
Garlands opponent in the state semi-final is Brazoswood High School (31-3). Brazoswood is ranked 25th nationally by USA Today and swept Pearland to advance to the state tournament.
Brazoswoods last appearance in the state tournament was back in 2000 when they won the state championship.
Garland has always been known locally for its great softball teams, but it wasnt until last year that Garland made its first ever appearance in the state tournament.
Capturing the Region II Championship was the one thing that had long eluded all of Garlands great softball teams.
Garland finished as the regional finalist in 1994, 1997, 2003 and 2004, but in 2005, Garland took that monkey off its back and advanced to state for the first time in school history.
Softball wasnt recognized as a high school sport by the UIL until 1994 and Garland has dominated ever since the inception of high school softball in Texas.
In 13 years, Garland has won 11 District Championships, made the playoffs 12 times and advanced to the state semi-finals for the second year in a row after its Regional Championship win over Huntsville on Saturday.
Garland has been able to put together a softball dynasty in Texas, which has now stretched into national recognition. Garland has spent the last two years ranked in the nations top 10 teams by the USA Today.
Garland coach Cyndi Mosteller has been the big reason for Garlands success. She has been coaching the softball team at Garland since its first season back in 1994.
She has also built Garland into a powerhouse that is recognized by just about everyone associated with softball in Texas.
Coach Mosteller was named the AP Class 5-A Coach of the year in 2005. She might very well be on her way to capturing the award for the second year in a row.
Her players love playing for her, whether its present or former players. Last year, Coach Mosteller lost her father and her players rallied to support her during a difficult time.
The team planted a tree at Garlands softball field in memory of her father and dedicated the rest of the season to her. The end result was Garland making it all the way to its first softball state championship game.
We played on a lot of emotions last year with the loss of my father and having to play a lot of single game series in the playoffs, Mosteller said. Our girls are more relaxed this year and we havent had to deal with any tragedies like we did last season.
Garland assistant coach Jennifer Robertson played for Mosteller back in 1994 and returned to coach with her two years ago.
I loved playing for coach Mosteller as a player and I love coaching with her, Robertson said. I have so much respect for her. I see how hard these girls play for her and one day when I become a head coach, I want to be just like she is.
It doesnt matter which player you talk to because whoever it is, they always mention how they love playing for her and they talk about how much they learn from her.
Garland practices hard each and every practice to get better each day. They put so much into practice and by the time their games roll along, its all fun and games.
We do all of our hard work during the practices, so we can just relax and have fun when we play the game, Mosteller said. Theres never a bad game when youre in the playoffs and we just focus on having fun when were playing a game.
The Lady Owls play softball by that motto and you could see it even when they entered the sixth inning trailing 1-0 to Huntsville. Despite not being ahead, Garland looked relaxed and the girls were still smiling.
Garland proceeded to score two runs and win the game 2-1 to sweep Huntsville out of the playoffs.
One big reason for the comeback according to Mosteller was tossing grapes at the players before they went up to bat in the sixth inning.
During last Mondays practice, coach Mosteller tossed grapes for her players to hit. I figured that if they can hit grapes then they can hit a softball, Mosteller said. I tossed grapes at them before we batted in the sixth inning to kind of remind them of that.
The players laughed and came up to the plate more relaxed. They responded with four hits and two runs to win the game.
This is just one example of many on how Coach Mosteller gets through to her players and why her players love playing for her.
This week as Garland prepares for its return trip to the state semi-finals, Coach Mosteller will have them ready and is sure to do something different to loosen them up and have them relaxed.
Garland is going to approach the state semi-finals similar to the way they did last year. Last year we drove up on Thursday before our game on Friday, Mosteller said. We plan on driving up on Thursday again this year after our morning practice.
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