Grandview shuts out Eustace in bi-district sweep; Jeter hits 4 HR in 1 game
May 1—WACO — The top-ranked Grandview Lady Zebras swept the Eustace Lady Bulldogs with wins of 10-0 and 18-0 in a Class 3A bi-district doubleheader Saturday to take their first steps towards a state run.
It was an all-around dominant team effort for the Lady Zebras, who improved to 33-1 on the season.
"Everybody as a whole contributed," Grandview Coach Leigh Ebner said. "We didn't have any errors. We were solid defensively. We were solid offensively. I think it was a good all-around solid day for everybody."
In game 1, Grandview carried a 5-0 lead into the sixth inning when the Lady Zebras put up five runs for the run-rule win. The series-clinching game 2 win was somewhat similar to game 1 for the Lady Zebras as they used a nine-run explosion in the top of the sixth inning to turn a 9-0 lead into an 18-0 win.
"I was very proud of them," Ebner said. "I think they did a good job of staying focused and not letting the fact that it was somewhat of a slow start for us get in their heads in any way. That's the great thing about this team is once they catch that momentum, they run with it and they do a great job of that."
Grandview senior Caydin Blackmon struck out six with two hits and one walk allowed in a complete-game shutout for the game 1 victory while freshman Madi Doty struck out 12 with two hits and one walk allowed in a complete-game shutout in game 2.
"To have two shutouts in the first round of the playoffs speaks to how talented these two ladies are," Ebner said. "They went out there and they did their job. They stayed focus and got two shutouts. I'm just happy to be a part of something this special that we have here at Grandview."
While Blackmon and Doty dominated in the pitcher's circle, junior Bella Jeter had a performance for the ages in the Lady Zebras' game 2 win. Jeter went 4-for-4 with four home runs, five RBIs and five runs. And each home run traveled further than the previous as she crushed the ball all night, eventually leading to an intentional walk in her fifth plate appearance.
"That was just unbelievable," Ebner said of Jeter's performance. "You're excited after the first one, then you're ecstatic after two. The third one, you're just like, 'holy smokes.' But then she gets the fourth one and even she was just like, 'oh my gosh.' She stayed focused and just stayed in the zone and got it done. What do you say? It was unbelievable and I'm glad I got to witness it."
In game 1, Olivia Bauerschlag was 2-for-4 with three RBIs and two runs, Kierstyn Moore was 3-for-4 with three runs and one RBI, Jaley James went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and two runs, Blackmon went 3-for-4 with one RBI and a run, and Kylie Grafa was 2-for-4 with one RBI.
In game 2, James went 3-for-4 with four RBIs and three runs, Laney Bell was 2-for-3 with one RBI and one run, Bauerschlag went 2-for-5 with two runs and one RBI, and Doty was 2-for-5 with a run.
Now No. 1 Grandview faces Rogers in the Class 3A Region III area playoffs.
"They've got a few good hitters that we'll have to pay attention to," Ebner said. "Their pitcher will move the ball in and out. We'll have to be patient at the plate, wait for our pitch and drive it. They'r e a scrappy team so we're going to have to go in there with some high energy. Hopefully we can jump out early in the game and score some runs and keep it going."
Rogers (21-7) beat Teague, 6-3, in the bi-district playoffs.
Grandview and Rogers are scheduled for a one-game playoff at 6 p.m. Thursday at Waco ISD Softball Complex.
