TROPHY CLUB — In an elimination game filled with big hitting performances for Flower Mound Marcus on Saturday it’s ironic that Karli Burgess had the hit that stood out the most. It was a moment that capped reflection and produced clutch redemption for the senior third baseman.
Burgess smacked a two-run, two-out double in the top of the sixth inning, anchoring a four-run frame and Marcus would hang on for a thrilling, 8-7 win over Keller in the third and deciding of a Class 6A Division II Region I semifinal series at the Byron Nelson High School softball field. Burgess regrouped after striking out in her first two at-bats and having a substitute pinch hit for her in the fifth inning before she was reinserted into the lineup. She responded by taking a low fastball to the wall in left-center to give Marcus a 7-5 lead.
“When I came to bat the third time I just made sure I stayed calm and I just said whatever happens happens,” Burgess said. “The best part was my watching my team jump up after I hit it. It felt so great.
“This game was definitely the most stressful this season for me, but it was the most fun.”
Burgess would score later in the sixth on an infield hit by Calli Rasmussen. This turned out to be important as Keller got a two-out, two-run single by Cambree Cribbs in the bottom of the seventh. Marcus pitcher Bella Valdez rebounded to force the next batter to fly out to right to end the game, picking up the win in a four-inning relief effort.
Marcus (27-10) — ranked No. 7 in The Dallas Morning News’ Class 6A area poll — advances to the region-final round after a two-year absence to face Denton Guyer with the details to be determined. No. 8-ranked Keller (26-9-1) was denied facing Guyer in the region finals for the third consecutive season as well as advancing that far for the ninth time since 2011.
Marcus got slugging Emily Souders and McKenna Barr. Souders hit a two-run homer to right in the fourth inning as part of a three-hit, three-RBI game while Barr had two hits, including a solo homer down the left-field line on the second pitch of the game.
Marcus was even better as table setters, especially Ella McNiel, who finished 5 for 5 with four of her hits the infield variety including two bunts. Rasmussen and Myleene Olguin added three singles apiece for Marcus, with Olguin driving in the first run in the sixth.
“We definitely made corrections after the last two games and practiced the pitches we knew we would get,” McNiel said. “This was probably just believing in ourselves and not over-thinking things.”
Marcus overcame a huge game by Keller’s Annsley Groce in her swan song for the Indians. Groce, a Texas A&M signee, went 4 for 4 with a triple, three stolen bases and two runs scored.
Keller also had two doubles apiece from Mackenna Jackson and Kaiya Fabela. Jackson had a two-run double to left in the fourth inning to give Keller a 5-4 lead. Fabela, a Brigham Young signee, had a double to center to start Keller’s seventh-inning rally.
Lauren Cavanaugh added two singles for Keller, which out-hit Marcus 13-12.
Birdville 4, Abilene 0: Coryn Burris set the tone with a solo home run to right field in the first inning, helping lead Birdville to a 4-0 win over Abilene.
Burris finished with two hits, two runs, one RBI and two walks. Reagan Jordan struck out six and threw a complete-game shutout. The Hawks have won seven of their last eight games.
Staff writer Ronald Harrod Jr. contributed to this report.
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