Sports

Lady Rangers looking to continue successful run though playoffs

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Robert Thomas

Hill Country News

The Vista Ridge softball team has prided itself on consistent play throughout its lineup this year, with that play leading to back-to-back district titles and a berth in the regional semifinals.

That consistency has shown in each round of the playoff for the Lady Rangers, as the team prepares for this weekend's best-of-three Region IV semifinal series with the top-ranked Corpus Christi Midway Lady Cherokees.

“There is no question this is the biggest playoff series we've ever been involved in,” said Vista Ridge coach Robin Brady. “I like how we're playing right now; we're playing with a lot of confidence and coming through in pressure situations.”

Vista Ridge (ranked fourth in Class 4A) has had its share of big moments in its three playoff wins, starting in the area round against San Antonio Brackenridge.

The series was a sweep for the Lady Rangers, a 2-1 win in game one and a 11-1 thumping in game two, but it also provided a big emotional boost for a team that had never gotten past the second round.

“The series against Brackenridge helped us get over the playoff hump,” Brady said. “We had gotten to that point in each of the last two years to only get turned back. When we pushed through it finally, it was a great relief.”

One of the heroes from that opening series was second baseman Alyson Pulver, as she shined with her glove and bat in the two games.

Pulver (.386 batting average, .451 on base percentage, 18 RBIs) made an amazing diving stop in the fourth inning to stop a Brackenridge rally in game one, and then slammed her first ever over the fence home run in game two.

In the playoffs, Pulver is hitting a robust .364 with two RBIs and two runs scored.

“Alyson has been there for us the whole year,” Brady said. “But since the playoffs has started, she's come on even stronger.”

Cleanup hitter Amber Price (.398 average, 36 RBIs) has also been a tough playoff out, getting five hits in nine playoff at-bats while driving in the eventual game-winning run against New Braunfels Canyon in the regional quarterfinals.

The Canyon game, a 4-2 Vista Ridge win, also saw a big game from Erika Vital as she drove in a pair of runs in the win. Vital hit an amazing .408 in the regular season and is hitting .500 so far in the playoffs.

“We've had a lot of different players step up all year long for us on offense,” Brady said. “I think that plays to our advantage, because teams are gearing up to stop our big hitters and that just allows our other hitters to step up.”

That may be the biggest problem of all for opponents, with Vista Ridge sporting a .353 team batting average and seven regulars hitting over .300.

That includes leadoff hitter Megan Pendleton (.392 average, .466 on-base percentage); catcher Allie Geisler (.417 average) and freshman outfielder Taylor Thom (.432 average).

Brady has also been pleased with the pitching of Ashley Johnson (two playoff wins, one earned run allowed) and Pendleton so far. The duo are both three year starters and each have 12 wins and ERA's under 1.50.

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