WOLFFORTH — Clearly the Colorado City and Floydada softball teams aren’t ones to break tradition.
For the third consecutive season, the Wolves and Whirlwinds will play a third game to decide their third-round playoff series.
The teams split a dramatic doubleheader Thursday at the Frenship Athletic Complex, where they’ll conclude the Region I-2A Division I semifinal series Friday night.
Late in Game 2, it looked as if Floydada might pull off a comeback to complete a sweep. But that’s not how this recent rivalry has played out.
Madison Pyle opened the seventh inning with a solo home run to tie the game at 6. It was the Winds’ third long ball since the team fell behind 5-1 through five innings. Floydada had the bases loaded with two outs when Brooklyn Pyle ripped a ball up the middle. The sharp line drive hit teammate Rilynn Hinsley’s upper leg just steps away from second base to end the threat.
“That was a momentum-stopper,” Whirlwinds coach Armando Morales said, “because right there, that’s a line drive that we’re gonna get two runs in, so we go ahead by two. That kind of really hurt us and that really kind of killed us right there.”
Instead, C-City pinch runner Addi Martinez scored the game-winner from second base in the home-half of the frame. Taelynn Oden flew out to right field, but an error trying to get Martinez out at third sent her home.
“When she tagged up, I was actually telling her to stop,” Wolves coach Jesse Casarez said. “Then I see her going, which it was the right call on her part. That’s Addi. She’s a trackster. She’s got great speed on the bags.”
Add that to the list of postseason thrillers between the teams. All three games last year were within two runs, including Floydada’s nine-inning, 13-12 victory in Game 2. The opener Thursday was a tight contest as well.
Brooklyn Pyle’s two-run homer capped a three-run sixth inning as the Whirlwinds won 7-4. Floydada tallied 10 hits in Game 1 and 26 for the day. Morales feels good about his offense continuing that trend. He said errors were damaging in Game 2, and he’d like to see a faster start in the decider at 7 p.m. Friday.
The Whirlwinds coach hopes that’s the recipe to keep another series tradition intact.
“Our girls, they’re ready for (Friday),” Morales said. “We faced them two years in a row and we’ve gone to three games. We’ve won both of those, so I’m hoping that it stays the same and we’ll show up and get our sticks going early.”
This article originally appeared on Lubbock Avalanche-Journal: Floydada, Colorado City softball continue 3-game playoff tradition
Reporting by Stephen Garcia, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal / Lubbock Avalanche-Journal
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