Sports

Seniors close out careers with All-Star contests

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While the summer brings a final chance to recharge and relax for most, several talented baseball and softball players still had one game left to play before bidding goodbye to high school.

In all, 10 players from Cedar Park, Leander and Vista Ridge took part in the Ninth Annual Austin Area Baseball Coaches Association and Ninth Annual Austin Area Softball All-Star games.

The baseball game, played on June 9 at the Dell Diamond in Round Rock, featured two players from Cedar Park (Hunter Bailey and Patrick Cochran) and three players from Vista Ridge (Clay Wernli, Michael Flanagan, Michael Zouzalik) on the North team.

The game itself was a wild one, a 16-4 demolition by the North that featured a nine-run third inning.

Bailey got a starting nod at third base for the North, finishing 2-for-3 with two runs scored and an RBI.

“I had a lot of fun out there and really enjoyed the experience,” Bailey said.

Zouzalik was next to get into the game, coming in the third inning and putting up two scoreless frames.

Cochran then got in three plate apperances and three innings at first base, making a nice catch up against the South dugout in the sixth inning.

Wernli entered the game in the sixth inning as a pinch-hitter, staying in center field for the final three innings. He finished 1-for-3 with a run scored.

“It feels good to be on the field with my teammates one last time,” Wernli said. “I've just never seen an All-Star game turn out like this one did.”

Flanagan closed out the game at catcher in the seventh, driving in a run with a deep sacrifice fly to center in the eighth.

In all, the North pounded out 23 hits in the easy win.

Meanwhile, the softball game was just the opposite as the North and South teams combined for just six hits in nine innings in a 1-0 win by the North.

Playing from Leander ISD on the North team was Lauren Derting from Leander and Vista Ridge senior quartet Alyson Pulver, Nikki Goff, Allie Geisler and Amber Price.

All five players started for the North, and played several different spots during the game.

Derting played at first base and at pitcher, tossing two scoreless innings with two strikeouts in relief.

“These four years went by so fast and this was a fun way to end my high school career,” Derting said. “I never thought I would end up here when I started as a freshman.”

Geisler (1-for-2) played both catcher and first base for the North, while Pulver started at second base. Goff logged time at first and third, while Price started in the outfield.

“This is the last time the four of us will play together,” Geisler said. “It feels good to play with them one last time.”

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