Historic season comes to an end in state semifinals

As the famous saying goes, ‘all good things must come to an end.’

The Lady Eagles’ historic postseason run, which included the team’s first trip to the UIL State Softball Tournament in Austin, ended in the state semifinals. Holliday fell to Diboll 9-3 on Wednesday, June 2, at Red and Charline McCombs Field.

Holliday had several opportunities to grab early momentum but a trio of baserunning miscues cost scoring opportunities early. Evelyn Perkins was tagged out at the plate trying to score on a wild pitch in the bottom of the first. Kinley Marek was caught too far off second base on a grounder to the shortstop in the bottom of the third and Allie Davis got thrown out at the plate on a grounder to second in the fourth.

Diboll took an early lead in the top of the third, plating three runs, all with two outs. A double into the gap allowed the first run to score before back-to-back singles and a double stretched the advantage to 3-0.

Holliday answered with a run in the bottom of the third. Marek rifled a double into the right-center alley, plating Salem Henry from first. Henry pinch-ran for senior Abby Turner after Turner reached via HBP. Perkins chopped a grounder between second and third but Marek was tagged out at second trying to retreat to the base.

In the bottom of the fourth, the Lady Eagles rallied to tie the game. Addison Lindemann singled to right to lead off the inning and Bree Zellers worked a walk. Kaitlynn Weatherread lined a double into the right-center alley scoring Caroline Case (courtesy running for Lindemann). After the play, Zellers caught the Diboll defense napping and raced home to pull even while Weatherread moved up to third. Turner followed with a hard-hit grounder to second but rather than going to first, the second baseman fired home to gun down Davis who was called on to pinch run.

Going into the top of the fifth, it felt like the Lady Eagles had all the momentum. They had just scratched across a pair of runs to tie the game.

Diboll quickly changed that thought.

The Lady Jacks pounded out five runs on seven hits to break the game open and added another in the sixth to finalize the scoreline of 9-3.

Although the season is over, this group and particularly this group of seniors, will be long-remembered in Holliday history.