WOODROW — Momentum was fleeting Friday night at First United Park.
Borden County scored five unanswered to win Game 2, and Hermleigh replied with six runs in the top of the first in the series-deciding third contest.
The teams continued to trade blows throughout Game 3, which included a state-tournament berth as a prize. It just so happened the reigning-champion Cardinals grabbed the final mojo.
Hermleigh scored four runs in the top of the seventh to edge the Coyotes 15-14 in the decisive game of their Region I-1A final series. The Cardinals rebounded from an 8-3 loss earlier in the day to secure their third consecutive state appearance.
Hermleigh delivers final blow
Hermleigh built leads of 6-0 and 8-3 before BC took its first lead with a six-run fourth inning in Game 3. The Cardinals countered with thee runs, but the Coyotes led 14-11 going into the final frame.
Hermleigh got RBI hits from Summer Smith and Destiny Hopkins, followed by a two-out BC error that scored two more. Smith worked out of a one-out, two-on situation in the bottom half to seal the result.
"They're a veteran group," Cardinals coach Sammy Winters said. "They've been in situations like that all year. They've been in situations like that their whole careers. Tonight they showed what they're capable of doing."
Borden County errors doom Coyotes
The Coyotes committed seven errors in the season-ending defeat. Six of Hermleigh's runs against Rexie Sanders were unearned. Sanders finished with 13 strikeouts, four walks and 12 hits allowed in a complete game.
Sanders pitched BC to state as a freshman. Fellow four-year contributors B.K. Behrens and Kenzie White were part of the memorable class of graduates.
"They're such a great, competitive class," Coyotes coach Bubba Edwards said, "in everything that they do. Not just sports, but also academics. Winners win, and that's what they are."
Cardinals flying back to Austin
Hermleigh will look to repeat as 1A champion following a 9-0 win over D'Hanis in the title game last season. The Cardinals fell 6-2 to the Cowgirls in the 2022 final.
Most of Hermleigh's starters returned this season, and Winters said they showed their playoff experience Friday.
"It's so hard to get (to state)," Winters said. "Borden County is so good. But I think our kids having been in situations and been in games like that, no one freaks out. No heads drop. They just put it behind them and they make the next play."
REGION I-1A FINAL
GAME 3
Hermleigh 15, Borden County 14
Hermleigh 602 030 4 — 15 12 3
Borden Co. 300 650 0 — 14 11 7
Summer Smith. Rexie Sanders. W — Smith. L — Sanders. 2B — Hermleigh, Destiney Hopkins 2, Sydney Hancock 2. 3B — Borden County, Kenzie White 2. HR — Borden County, White.
Records: Hermleigh 20-9; Borden County 10-6.
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