WOODROW — Dumas sophomore Yaritza Vargas stepped into the batter’s box Friday at a crucial point in her team’s Region I-4A semifinal contest, the second of a three-game series against Brownwood.
After the Lady Lions took an early 6-0 lead, the Demonettes battled back, and trailed by two runs in the fourth inning. Head coach Carlyn Tolleson and company needed a big play from the speedy second-year outfielder, and Vargas delivered.
The sophomore smashed a line drive into left field and began to charge around the base path. Brownwood’s defender slipped while running to the ball, and Vargas sprinted to home plate, recording a two-run inside-the-park homer to tie the game at 6-6.
Dumas would go on to finish off the victory behind another big play from the standout sophomore in the fifth inning as Tolleson and her team secured the sweep and their spot in the Region I-4A Division I final for the first time in school history with a 8-6 win.
Back against the wall
Following three errors in the first inning, Dumas trailed 5-0 going into its first at-bat.
The Demonettes didn’t see much luck in the batter’s box early on as Brownwood held all the momentum, adding another run in the second inning and once again holding DHS scoreless. Even trailing 6-0 in one of the biggest games of the season, Dumas remained calm, and began to chip away at the Lady Lions’ lead.
“It just shows major fight,” Tolleson said. “We know we’re never out of any game. I’m so proud of them for their fight back. We just needed a little momentum and we got it, and they did a great job coming back and not just stepping down and giving it to them. I mean, a huge win, and to come back, it’s just an awesome feeling as a coach watching them fight like that.
A three-run shot over the centerfield fence from Vida Fierro in the third inning cut BHS’ advantage in half before the Demonettes scored again in the fourth.
Then, it was Vargas’ turn to play hero.
The sophomore admitted she was nervous as she walked to the plate, but instead focused on what a big play would do for her team. Then, Vargas came through with a game-changing hit.
As the left fielder was careening around second base, Vargas knew she was heading for home plate, regardless of what her coach called in the moment.
The star sophomore noted that the play was similar to a situation in Game 1, when she knocked the ball into left field but was held up at third base by Tolleson. In Game 2, though, the Demonettes’ coach sent Vargas home without hesitation.
“I just got, like, very hyped and I was just so happy because I tied up the game,” Vargas said. “I was telling Coach T, I was going through and I saw her trying to stop me, and I was like, ‘You’re not stopping me this time, like yesterday’, so I just kept running and I saw her sending me. I slid across home and I just felt, like, a whole wave of happiness with all my teammates.”
The decision paid off, as Vargas scored the game-tying run to completely swing the momentum in Dumas’ favor.
Completing the comeback
After Vargas’ fourth-inning heroics, the talented outfielder stepped to the plate again in the fifth inning with two runners on base.
With one swing, the sophomore gave Dumas its first lead of the game, drilling a two-RBI triple into the right centerfield wall. Vargas’ clutch hit gave DHS an 8-6 lead that the team wouldn’t relinquish as the Demonettes won their first regional semifinal in school history.
After losing 15-6 to Dumas in Game 1 of the series, Brownwood gave DHS a scare in the second contest, and Lady Lions coach Cherita Munguia highlighted how well her team fought with their season on the line.
“We’re standing in a regional semifinal game against number four in the state, like it’s insane that we even got here,” Munguia said. “And then the fact that we come out after losing pretty badly yesterday and go toe for toe with this very lethal Dumas team, it just is a testimony to how much fight Brownwood girls have.”
Despite a hot start, though, Dumas’ belief and experience proved to be the difference as the team remained confident and fought back despite being in a 6-0 hole.
Now, the Demonettes will take on Andrews in the Region I-4A Division I final with a spot in the state semifinals on the line.
After advancing to the fourth round of the postseason for the first time in school history with a win against Brownwood, Tolleson and company look to continue their magical season with their first regional title.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: Dumas sophomore Yaritza Vargas overcomes nerves to help Demonettes softball make history
Reporting by Randall Sweet, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
