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Softball: Hebron completes sweep of L.D. Bell
By Justin Thomas, jthomas@starlocalnews.com
Because of Friday's storms, Hebron's softball team had to wait an extra day for a chance to punch its ticket to the UIL Class 5A Region I quarterfinals.
But they needed just one game to do so Saturday afternoon, completing the sweep of L.D. Bell with a 2-1 victory.
"We played pretty well, but their pitcher threw a very good game," said Staci Jackson, Hebron head coach. "She pitched well but we were able to draw some walks and get a couple of runs."
Patience was the key to Hebron's rally in the top of the second. Deja Talton opened the inning with a single and Olivia Martinez, Sarah Flores and Kylie Johnson drew consecutive walks to plate Talton. Amanda Sloper knocked in the second run with a fielder's choice.
The Hawks were coming off a 4-1 victory Thursday in Game 1.
Stearns allowed three hits in picking up the win in the circle. Hebron had five hits of its own, including doubles from Erinn Hill and Chelsea Herndon.
Hebron advances to the regional quarterfinals where they will take on District 8-5A foe Plano Senior. During the regular season, the Lady Wildcats defeated the Hawks, 7-4 and 2-0. Flower Mound and Plano East will also compete in a regional quarterfinal giving 8-5A a combined playoff record of 14-1 thus far.
"We weren't kidding when we said this was the toughest district," Jackson said.
The one-game series against Plano will take place at 7:30 p.m. Friday at Frisco's Staley Middle School.
"Plano is a good team with a lot of experience," Jackson said. "It's a one-game series, so it's all or nothing and we don't have to hold anything back."
In addition the playing twice during district in each of the past two seasons, Hebron and Plano have also met in the playoffs the last two years. In 2010, Hebron defeated the Lady Wildcats in three games in the Region I finals. However, Plano returned the favor last season topping the Hawks in three games in the regional quarterfinals.
"We've played a bunch over the past three years and a lot of the girls have a familiarity with each other," Jackson said. "I think that's something that can help both teams but it's also something you can tend to overanalyze sometimes. We just have to treat it like another game."
Hebron also knows the adjustments it has to make if it wants to continue in the postseason.
"I think it's going to come down to which team does a better job of putting the ball in play and plays defense," Jackson said. "Both teams have tough pitchers, but Plano has typically been a team that can put the ball in play so defense is going to be a key."
The Hawks also aren't forgetting the continued similarities from their 2010 run to state. In that season, Hebron finished fourth in district, defeated first-place Keller in the bi-district round and squared off against Plano in the regional finals.
"The girls talk about it all of the time," Jackson said. "They know what happened two years ago and have it in the back of their minds. We're just hopeful history can repeat itself right again."
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